By Kent Gray
Bryson DeChambeau will open his defence of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in the company of 2007 winner Henrik Stenson and freshly-minted Abu Dhabi champion Lee Westwood.

The $3.25 million European Tour event’s marquee threesome are out early on Thursday, off the 10th tee at 8am, before a second-round date off the 1st at 12.20pm on Friday.

Also with an early first-round start is Dubai amateur Josh Hill, off the 1st tee at 7.20am in the second group of the day with Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura and Belgian Thomas Detry. With a big local gallery expected to cheer him on, Hill will be hoping a new shaft in his driver plays ball after trouble off the tee saw him miss the cut in his European Tour debut by seven strokes in Abu Dhabi last week.

Dubai amateur Josh Hill shakes hands with former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on January 16, 2020. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

DeChambeau also has redemption as his spur after missing the weekend by six shots at the Desert Swing opener. He will clearly be hoping for a repeat of his Majlis magic 12 months ago when he romped to a seven-stroke victory over Matt Wallace, finishing with a record score (264), winning margin and final round (64) by a champion.

Wallace will be able to keep a close eye on the defending champion with the English off the 10th in the group immediately following DeChambeau, alongside the overdue Tommy Fleetwood and in-form 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen at 8.10am.

Major champions Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia and Shane Lowry are away at 8.20am, also from the 10th, meaning the Desert Classic biggest names are blocked together in an easy to follow three group gaggle for Thursday’s galleries.

Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter and former winner Rafa Cabrera Bello (12.20pm) proceed Bernd Wiesberger, Victor Perez and Matthew Fitzpatrick (12.30pm) in the major afternoon groups.

There will also be much interest in the 1.10pm group headlined by South African 18-year-old Jayden Schaper. Fresh from his victory in the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and eye-catching T-6 European Tour debut at the South African Open a fortnight ago, Schaper’s battle with Hill for amateur honours is one of the key talking points of the 31st battle for the Dallah trophy.

For full 1st and 2nd round tee times, click here.