Read about how Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters Champion, takes a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 37th Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Plus, we have all the goings on around Emirates Golf Club for you to check out! Just click on the ISSUU link below or download Sunday’s Daily News to your favourite device.

The Daily News will be out bright and early for each of the four rounds at Emirates Golf Club to keep you up to date all the way to Sunday’s finale.

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Read about how Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters Champion, fired a six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the 37th Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Plus, we have all the goings on around Emirates Golf Club for you to check out! Just click on the ISSUU link below or download Saturday’s Daily News to your favourite device.

The Daily News will be out bright and early for each of the four rounds at Emirates Golf Club to keep you up to date all the way to Sunday’s finale.

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Read about how Francesco Molinari, the 2018 Open Champion, fired a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the 37th Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

What’s it like coaching Tommy Fleetwood? His long-time coach Graham Walker explains. Plus, here’s why Luke Donald withdrew from this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic after being hampered by a wrist niggle, flu-like symptoms and back muscle spasms.

Plus, we have all the goings on around Emirates Golf Club for you to check out! Just click on the ISSUU link below or download Thursday’s Daily News to your favourite device.

The Daily News will be out bright and early for each of the four rounds at Emirates Golf Club to keep you up to date all the way to Sunday’s finale.

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World Number Two Rory McIlroy will be looking to launch 2026 off with a bang by aiming for a record-setting fifth Dallah trophy in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where he has the chance to make further history in the Rolex Series event.

The Northern Irishman will be joined in the world-class field by the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, all vying for a slice of the US $9 million prize pot.

Plus we have all the going’s on around Emirates Golf Club for you to check out! Just click on the ISSUU link below or download Thursday’s Daily News to your favourite device.

The Daily News will be out bright and early for each of the four rounds at Emirates Golf Club to keep you up to date all the way to Sunday’s finale.

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GEO Certified®, the widely regarded, credible distinction for responsible golf events is overseen by the international non-profit organisation GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, dedicated to support and recognition for sustainability and climate action in golf.

Liquid of life at Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Criteria cover aspects of event staging as well as awareness-raising efforts and lasting legacies, with continual improvement points for future events an integral part of the process.

The HDDC’s successive GEO certifications reflect Dubai’s global leadership in sport and sustainability. Dubai is committed to drive positive environmental change, setting the bar and outlining the path towards a greener future for cities worldwide.

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“Give me a sec,” he eked out while wiping his eyes. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get it out but everyone at home … I don’t know, but I mean, this is awesome. I’m not going to be able to keep it together. Yeah, it’s awesome. I can’t wait to see everyone. And then I’m playing the Open next week.”

Gotterup, a man with plenty of giddy-up in his swing but who often struggles on the greens, was proficient in both driving and putting disciplines, especially the latter in the final round. His closing four-under 66 at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, was good for a two-stroke victory over McIlroy and England’s Marco Penge.

RELATED: Here are the clubs Chris Gotterup used to win the Genesis Scottish Open

A former college standout and Rutgers and then at Oklahoma, where he won the Jack Nicklaus Award and Haskins Award in 2022, Gotterup finished at 15-under 265 and became the second player in as many weeks to win twice without posting another top-10 finish to date, joining John Deere Classic winner Brian Campbell. Gotterup is the sixth American to win the Scottish Open.

An emotional Chris Gotterup is at a loss for words pic.twitter.com/xxv74AkA7d

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 13, 2025

A week shy of his 26th birthday, Gotterup collected $1.575 million and untold helpings of confidence. Last year, he claimed a six-stroke victory in the Myrtle Beach Classic held opposite the Wells Fargo Championship, a signature event. This win was more significant coming against a field populated by most of the top players and the added incentive of a berth in year’s final major.

“I was a one-time champion. Two-time champ sounds a lot better,” said Gotterup, whose father Morten is a five-time New Jersey state amateur champion. “I know what I’m capable of and I know when I feel the way I did today, I can beat the best.”

Denied his 30th PGA Tour title, McIlroy shot 68, equaling the highest score he has posted in 12 rounds at the Renaissance Club. Penge closed with a 66.

McIlroy held a one-stroke lead through six holes but sputtered after Gotterup caught him with a 10-foot birdie at the seventh. Each man birdied the eighth—significant because McIlroy would fail to make another birdie the remainder of the day. Gotterup birdied the par-5 10th to take the lead and then jumped two ahead at the par-3 12th when he stuffed his tee shot to 30 inches.

Gotterup bogeyed 15 after a slow-play warning but rebounded at the crucial par-5 16th by sinking another 10-footer after McIlroy missed from 12 feet. McIlroy played the par-5s in one over in the final round.

“Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,” said McIlroy, who has finished first, fourth and second in his last three starts in the tournament. “[He] made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. Yeah, after he got a couple ahead, I just couldn’t claw back.”

Warren Little

Appearing rejuvenated—and with less hair from a buzz cut—after a few weeks at home in Northern Ireland, McIlroy said he was in no way frustrated by the result as he prepared to return home for the British Open at Royal Portrush.

“It’s been a great week,” he said. “I’m really happy with where my game is, the way I played over the weekend, the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight. It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that’s about it.”

Ranked fourth in both strokes gained/driving and putting this week, Gotterup clearly won on the strength of his work on the greens after having a below average day off the tee. He came into the tournament 132nd in putting average and 143 in putts per round. But the Maryland native was second in putts per green in regulation. He made the most of his chances.

That was enough to hold off McIlroy and everyone else who got close as the day wore on.

Luke Walker

Gotterup now heads to Royal Portrush feeling flush and expected to move from 158th to among the top 50 in the world. But he leaves Scotland on top of the world. After winning in Myrtle Beach, he expected more of himself, but finished the season poorly. On top of that, a hand he had surgically repaired a few years earlier started aching. He took three months off.

Obviously, it did him a lot good. Proof is in his consistency; his win Sunday marked his 10th top-25 finish. Included in that was a T-23 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Winning in Scotland doesn’t seem so surprising in that context.

“So they are both very special,” he said of his two victories. “The first is the first, and I feel like a lot of people say that the second one is harder just because you have expectations and whatnot. It’s definitely more a validation this week. Myrtle Beach was amazing, but this one, I feel like I’ve been talking to my team about I want to take the next step, and I feel like this is part of that.”

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The top three players in the world – 2025 US PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler, 2025 Masters winner Rory McIlroy, and reigning Open Champion Xander Schauffele – were joined by the most recent Major Champion, with J.J. Spaun rising to number eight in the Official World Ranking following his victory at Oakmont last month.

Fellow Major winners Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa and European Ryder Cup stars Sepp Straka and Viktor Hovland round out the eight members of the world’s top ten to tee it up in Scotland’s national open.

World Number 14 Robert MacIntyre returned to defend his title, with the home hero joining his 2023 Ryder Cup-winning teammates Ludvig Åberg and Tommy Fleetwood and Americans Maverick McNealy and Harris English in ensuring 13 of the top 20 at the Renaissance Club.

European Ryder Cup Captain and former World Number One Luke Donald returned to Scotland as he prepares to lead his side against the United States for the second time this September.

Adam Scott, who finished runner up to MacIntyre in the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open, was one of a further nine Major winners in the field this year, alongside former European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Brian Harman, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Gary Woodland.

A host of DP World Tour winners also teed it up, including Scots Connor Syme and Calum Hill – who have both lifted trophies on the 2025 Race to Dubai – and Ewen Ferguson.

Rolex Series winners in the field included Ryan Fox – who has triumphed twice on the PGA TOUR this season – the 2020 winner of Scotland’s national open, Aaron Rai, 2023 European Ryder Cup star Nicolai Højgaard alongside Paul Waring and Victor Perez – both winners in Abu Dhabi.

The Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, counting on both the Race to Dubai Rankings and the FedExCup.

Chris Gotterup showed calmness and quality to hold off Rory McIlroy and win the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open by two shots.

The 25-year-old shared the third-round lead with the World Number Two, who claimed the title in 2023, and the pair went toe-to-toe in their bid for a Rolex Series victory at the Renaissance Club.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open

WIN: Chris Gotterup, -15/265, $1.575 million

T-2: Marco Penge, -13/267, $788,175

T-2: Rory McIlroy, -13/267, $788,175

T-4: Nicolai Hojgaard, -12/268, $407,250

T-4: Matt Fitzpatrick, -12/268, $407,250

6: Justin Rose, -11/269, $322,200

7: Sepp Straka, -10/270, $287,550

T-8: Xander Schauffele, -9/271, $233,400

T-8: Scottie Scheffler, -9/271, $233,400

T-8: Ludvig Aberg, -9/271, $233,400

T-11: Viktor Hovland, -8/272, $189,675

T-11: Wyndham Clark, -8/272, $189,675

T-13: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, -7/273, $153,450

T-13: Taylor Pendrith, -7/273, $153,450

T-13: Kristoffer Reitan, -7/273, $153,450

T-13: Andrew Novak, -7/273, $153,450

T-17: Adam Scott, -6/274, $120,510

T-17: Harry Hall, -6/274, $120,510

T-17: Andy Sullivan, -6/274, $120,150

T-17: Matti Schmid, -6/274, $120,510

T-17: Tom Kim, -6/274, $120,510

T-22: Nick Taylor, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Grant Forest, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Nico Echavarria, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Jordan Smith, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Jorge Campillo, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Maverick McNealy, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Matt McCarty, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Richard Mansell, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Justin Thomas, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Antoine Rozner, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Harris English, -5/275, $80,625

T-22: Jake Knapp, -5/275, $80,625

T-34: Sebastian Soderberg, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Alex Smalley, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Laurie Canter, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Si Woo Kim, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Michael Kim, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Tommy Fleetwood, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Elvis Smylie, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Marcel Siem, -4/276, $52,950

T-34: Kevin Yu, -4/276, $52,950

T-43: Yannik Paul, -3/277, $40,950

T-43: Jesper Svensson, -3/277, $40,950

T-43: Ugo Coussaud, -3/277, $40,950

T-43: Victor Perez, -3/277, $40,950

T-47: Aaron Rai, -2/278, $34,860

T-47: Corey Conners, -2/278, $34,860

T-47: Sam Burns, -2/278, $34,860

T-50: Keith Mitchell, -1/279, $29,754

T-50: Matt Wallace, -1/279, $29,754

T-50: Jhonattan Vegas, -1/279, $29,754

T-50: Brian Harman, -1/279, $29,754

T-50: Francesco Laporta, -1/279, $29,754

T-55: John Parry, E/280, +E/280, $25,920

T-55: Keita Nakajima, +E/280, $25,920

T-55: Bud Cauley, +E/280, $25,920

T-55: Romain Langasque, +E/280, $25,920

T-55: Daniel Berger, +E/280, $25,920

T-60: Alejandro Del Rey, +1/281, $23,220

T-60: Gary Woodland, +1/281, $23,220

T-60: Sami Valimaki, +1/281, $23,220

T-60: Daniel Brown, +1/281, $23,220

T-60: Thorbjorn Olesen, +1/281, $23,220

T-65: Jacques Kruyswijk, +2/282, $19,800

T-65: Ryan Fox, +2/282, $19,800

T-65: Robert MacIntyre, +2/282, $19,800

T-65: Sam Bairstow, +2/282, $19,800

T-65: Luke Clanton, +2/282, $19,800

T-65: Dale Whitnell, +2/282, $19,800

T-71: Padraig Harrington, +3/283, $18,810

T-71: Thomas Detry, +3/283, $18,810

73: Martin Couvra, +4/284, $18,540

74: Ryan Gerard, +5/285, $18,360

T-75: Jacob Bridgeman, +6/286, $18,000

T-75: Connor Syme, +6/286, $18,000

T-75: Sam Stevens, +6/286, $18,000

78: Henrik Norlander, +7/287, $17,640

79: Byeong Hun An, +8/288, $17,460

Main Image: Getty Images

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Scheffler continued his impressive season when he successfully defended his title at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday on Sunday, and he will now headline a star-studded lineup in the Rolex Series event at the Renaissance Club from July 10-13.

Scottie Scheffler celebrates winning the 2024 Masters. Andrew Redington

The three-time Major winner makes it seven of the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking teeing it up in Scotland’s national open, as he joins Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Ludvig Åberg and Sepp Straka.

The field also includes defending champion Robert MacIntyre – who along with McIlroy and Schauffele completes the list of the past three Genesis Scottish Open winners – as well as Major Champions Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, six-time PGA TOUR winner Max Homa and most recent Genesis Championship winner Byeong Hun An.

Scheffler’s win at Muirfield Village was his third of the season, including his third Major title at the US PGA Championship, as he joined Tiger Woods as the only players to successfully defend their titles at Jack’s Place.

The 28-year-old returns to the Genesis Scottish Open after a tied third place finish on his last appearance at the Renaissance Club in 2023.

Scheffler said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to the Genesis Scottish Open next month.  It’s an event and a course I enjoy playing given we only get to play links golf a couple of times a year. Playing in such a strong field and in front of the Scottish fans is always fun for us.”

The Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, counting on both the Race to Dubai Rankings and the FedExCup, and boasts Genesis, the luxury automotive brand from South Korea, as title sponsor. Genesis title-sponsor two tournaments on the PGA TOUR’s 2025 schedule, with the Genesis Scottish Open following The Genesis Invitational in February, won by European Ryder Cup star Åberg.

RELATED: Rory McIlroy confirmed for India debut on DP World Tour

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The Masters Champion leads the Race to Dubai, having already secured his place in the field for the first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs thanks to that thrilling victory at Augusta National, in addition to a fourth-place finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the first Rolex Series event of the season.

Staged by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the DP World Tour, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is the first event of the DP World Tour’s end of season showpiece, leading straight into the DP World Tour Championship where the Race to Dubai champion will be crowned. The top 70 available players at the conclusion of the Back 9 events will gather in Abu Dhabi for the fourth Rolex Series event of the year as the season comes to a close.

McIlroy became the first European to win the career grand slam earlier this year when he added a Green Jacket to his four previous Major victories at the 2011 U.S. Open, the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and The Open in 2014 and he will look to clinch a fourth successive Race to Dubai title when he returns to the Middle East in November.

The Key Holes: What to look out for at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stated: “Abu Dhabi has firmly established itself as a world-class golfing destination by hosting internationally recognised tournaments that attract elite players from around the globe. We are proud to welcome Rory McIlroy – one of the sport’s greatest talents – to the 2025 edition.

“Since its inception, the Championship has played a pivotal role in supporting sports tourism and generating tangible economic benefits for the region. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the DP World Tour in delivering another outstanding event befitting the prestige of the Rolex Series.

“Hosting global sporting events reflects Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s commitment to enhancing both the local and international sports landscape. These events highlight the UAE’s proven capabilities in organising large-scale tournaments and reinforce our reputation as a trusted destination for world-class sports competitions.”

McIlroy said: “I love ending the season in the Middle East and I’m excited to return to Abu Dhabi again for the first of two big events later this year.

“I’ve started the year well and I’ve got a good record at Yas Links so hopefully I can continue doing what I’m doing and give myself a chance of finishing the season strongly and having a shot of getting another Race to Dubai under my belt.”

Paul Waring – 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – Getty Images

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship returns to Yas Links for the fourth season after England’s Paul Waring won his maiden Rolex Series title in 2024.

The top 70 available players on the Race to Dubai will battle it out at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which returns for its 20th edition in 2025, with the top 50 qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.

RELATED: Rory McIlroy confirmed for India debut on DP World Tour

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McIlroy completed the career grand slam in memorable fashion earlier this month when he added the Green Jacket to his four previous Major victories at the 2011 U.S. Open, the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and The Open in 2014.

Rory McIlroy – 2025 Masters Champion – JD Cuban

The reigning Race to Dubai champion – who triumphed at the Genesis Scottish Open in 2023 – captured the imagination of sports fans around the world as he emerged victorious on a thrilling final day at Augusta National, ultimately prevailing over fellow European Ryder Cup stalwart Justin Rose in a play-off.

It was a third win of 2025 for the Northern Irishman, following his victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and THE PLAYERS Championship on the PGA TOUR, and he will return to the Genesis Scottish Open seeking to add to that famous victory two years ago, when he produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish to edge out home favourite Robert MacIntyre by one stroke.

WHAT. A. SHOT.@McIlroyRory leaves 10ft for birdie to win back-to-back Rolex Series events #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/FMkntQdATs

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 16, 2023

MacIntyre went on to claim the title at his national Open last season, and the Ryder Cup team mates will once again battle it out with a stellar field in East Lothian in July, including Major winners Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas, six-time PGA TOUR winner Max Homa and 2024 Genesis Championship winner Byeong Hun An, with more global stars to be announced.

McIlroy, who made history with his Genesis Scottish Open win as the first player to triumph in the national opens of both Scotland and Ireland as well as The Open, said:

“Winning a national open is always special, and I’m pleased to have the chance to compete for another Genesis Scottish Open title.

“It has certainly been a memorable year so far, and I’m looking forward to carrying on the momentum to the home of golf this summer.”

The Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, counting on both the Race to Dubai Rankings and the FedExCup, and boasts Genesis, the luxury automotive brand from South Korea, as title sponsor. Genesis title-sponsors two tournaments on the PGA TOUR’s 2025 schedule, with the Genesis Scottish Open following The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in February, won by European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg.

The event benefits from the continued commitment of the Scottish Government and VisitScotland, and retains its place in golf’s global calendar the week ahead of The Open as part of these agreements through to 2025.

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