Patrick Reed produced a composed and controlled performance to win the 37th Hero Dubai Desert Classic, closing with a level-par 72 to secure a four-shot victory at Emirates Golf Club and claim his maiden Rolex Series title and fourth DP World Tour title of his career.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic

The American entered the final round with a four-shot advantage but was made to work hard as playing partner David Puig applied pressure around the turn. Reed finished his front nine one over par for the day after a testing front nine before regrouping on the back nine to pull clear, highlighted by a key birdie at the par-four 13th that restored momentum at a crucial stage.

“It hasn’t fully set in yet,” Reed said. “Today was a lot harder than I expected. I knew it was going to be. I just couldn’t really get anything going on the front nine.”

Reed admitted he initially tried to protect his healthy lead at the start of the day, rather than press.

“Instead of keeping the foot on the gas early, I tried to protect that lead,” he said. “Next thing you know, David goes and birdies eight and nine and shuts it down to two. Then it was a dogfight.”

A timely reminder from his caddie helped shift the mindset, with Reed focusing on execution rather than scoreboard watching.

“We were able to get that birdie on 13 and from there on just hit fairways, hit greens and don’t make any mistakes,” he added.

The victory marked Reed’s first Rolex Series title and his first DP World Tour win since 2020, five years and 336 days ago. It also made him the sixth American to lift the Dallah Trophy, joining a list that includes Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau.

Reed had finished runner-up in this event in 2023, and said lessons learned from past experiences around the Majlis Course proved valuable, particularly against longer hitters late in the round.

“With the firepower David has, I knew I had to keep the pedal down,” he said. “Those long guys can take advantage of the finishing holes here.”

The win sees Reed surge up to second on the Race to Dubai Rankings, and climb inside the world’s top 30.

Andy Sullivan recovered from a shaky front nine to finish birdie-birdie and sign for a one-under-par 71, securing solo second at ten under.

France’s Julien Guerrier carded an eagle, two birdies and a bogey to record his best finish at a Rolex Series event in third at nine under.

Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard, Francesco Molinari and Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World leader Jayden Schaper finished a shot further back, while Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia, England’s Marcus Armitage and Puig – who incurred a two-shot penalty for grounding his club in a bunker at the last – ended the week at seven under.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Getty Images