Tyrrell Hatton celebrates with his Legion XIII teammates after taking down the team and individual title on Sunday at Real Club Valderrama. Octavio Passos

Only two weeks after withdrawing from LIV Golf Korea so that he and wife, Emily, could welcome their first child, a competitively rusty Hatton allowed two-time major winner Rahm back into the contest, as well as Garcia, whose long career includes four victories at Valderrama and 17 top-10 results in 18 starts there.

But Hatton held on with a scrappy, one-under-par 70 giving him a total of 11 under – two shots ahead of Rahm (67). Hatton bounced back from a bogey at the sixth with a birdie at nine, and from bogeys at 10 and 12 with another birdie at 13. The 34-year-old put the tournament to bed with clutch birdies at 16 and 17 and a tricky par save at the last.

“It feels amazing that I’ve done it in my first event as a dad,” Hatton said. “I said to Emily, like one of my motivations probably moving forward is when Althea grows up, she will know that I was pretty good at golf sometimes, and I would love to continue to be able to win tournaments when she’s old enough to remember that happening.

“Yeah, it’s definitely given me a different kind of motivation with practice and what I hope to achieve in golf before obviously I get older and my best years are behind me.”

A long time coming @TyrrellHatton claims his second individual LIV Golf League title #LIVGolfAndalucia | @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/YuZBZvHs5N

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 7, 2026

After Rahm, Abraham Ancer (68) was third at eight under, Garcia (70) was fourth at seven under, and Dustin Johnson, Thomas Detry, David Puig and Cam Smith shared fifth at five under.

The notoriously tricky Valderrama was always going to be tough for 54-hole leader Hatton to maintain his lead. Cork trees line Valderrama’s severely sloping fairways, while its small, tilted greens demand precise iron shots. Gusting winds from the nearby Sotogrande coastline add to the challenge.

“Yeah, I found today really stressful,” Hatton said of LIV Golf Andalucia, which for the first time in the event’s four-year history comes with Official World Golf Ranking points. “I feel like I hit a lot of good iron shots that didn’t end up on the green. Obviously you saw a lot of pretty angry reactions from myself, but I’m happy with how I just kept plugging away and in a sense kind of got my reward with how I finished.”

Hatton kept picturing his wife and baby girl, perhaps offering a dose of perspective as Rahm and Garcia came within one shot of his lead.

“To be honest, I thought no matter how today went, I’m still going to be home tonight, and I’ll walk in to a crying newborn, and I’ll be doing nappies tonight,” Hatton said. “That was going to happen regardless. I’m really excited to get home to Emily and our little girl.”

Valderrama, the Andalucia club famous for staging the 1997 Ryder Cup, has also hosted a multitude of DP World Tour tournaments and two World Golf Championships. “It feels surreal to win, let alone the kind of place as iconic as this,” Hatton said.

Tyrrell Hatton playing his approach en route to a gritty par to close out his first LIV victory since 2024. Octavio Passos

Rahm’s Legion XIII side secured a victory in the team element. Individually, the Spaniard had never looked happier finishing second.

“Obviously I had a fantastic week myself, and very happy for Tyrrell to have just become a father just over two weeks ago and having his little girl and being a proud girl dad,” Rahm said.

“As good as he is, if someone is going to beat me, there’s very few people I’ll be happy for, and he’s one of them. It was very well-earned and happy that he on and help the team as well. As far as I’m concerned, couldn’t ask for much more.”

Hatton now owns 14 professional wins, among them the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2020, eight DP World Tour titles and two LIV victories. Among his victories are lifting trophies at St. Andrews (as a three-time Dunhill victor), Bay Hill, Wentworth and now Valderrama.

Next, he heads to Shinnecock for the U.S. Open, a major he co-led through 15 holes on the final round last year at Oakmont only to fade to a T-4 finish. Hatton will no doubt be buoyed by a T-3 at the Masters and his Valderrama victory.

LIV Golf Andalucia was also the cut-off for the league’s exemption into the 154th Open Championship, which was given to the top player not already exempt from its points standings. Chile’s Joaquin Niemann finished T-24 at Valderrama, enough to lock up third in points before the deadline and secure the start at Royal Birkdale next month.

Main Image: Octavio Passos / Getty Images

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RELATED: LIV Golf hopes moving to 72 holes will help its World Ranking bid. Rory McIlroy isn’t sold

Conventional wisdom suggests the move, which should help pave the way for World Ranking legitimacy and reopen traditional major qualification routes for LIV pros, will be popular with stars such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, but as the latter explained on Wednesday, that may not be exactly true.

“At the end of my first season, there was a questionnaire that was filled out,” Hatton told reporters at the Abu Dhabi Championship. “One of the questions was about moving to 72 holes, and of everyone who filled it out, I think there was only three guys, initially, who had said [yes] about moving there [to 72 holes].”

That’s a pretty remarkable revelation from Hatton. The Legion XIII pro’s first season on LIV came in 2024, meaning the survey was taken sometime in the past 15 months. Could the sentiment of the league’s stars really change that quickly or was this decision made above their heads? In all likelihood, a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B.

Either way, Hatton said that he’s personally “quite happy” with the change, which makes sense. Unlike many of the league’s big names, such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, Hatton is in the prime of his career. He’s now a two-time Ryder Cup winner, finished T-14 at this spring’s Masters and was in the mix late Sunday at the U.S. Open before ultimately finishing T-4. The next logical step for him is to win his first major, and this change should make qualification for those marquee tournaments a much easier process.

As for the thoughts of the rest of the league, we can’t say, but something tell us that if that survey was retaken today, the results would look very different indeed.

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Hatton will tee it up in the event for the 11th time in his career and joins already announced reigning Masters Champion and career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy in the field for the first Rolex Series event of the 2026 Race to Dubai.

Hatton secured the half point that sealed the win for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, as he and McIlroy helped their side to defeat the United States 15-13 and record a first away win since 2012.

Hatton’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic win in January preceded a tied fourth finish at the U.S. Open and top 20 finishes at both The Masters and The 153rd Open Championship, helping him to qualify for a fourth Ryder Cup appearance.

Tyrrell Hatton – 2024 Hero Dubai Desert Classic – FADEL SENNA

The eight-time DP World Tour winner fired four under par rounds at Emirates Golf Club to win the famous Dallah trophy by one-stroke – in doing so securing a second Rolex Series victory of his career – and he’s looking forward to returning to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic with the aim of retaining his title.

The Englishman said: “I’m delighted to be heading back to Emirates Golf Club to defend my title. It’s a golf course that has really suited my game over the years, and the week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January was incredibly special for me.

“It’s always good to go back to a place where you’ve won before, and I’m really excited to have a chance to contend for the title again to follow on from what has been a pretty incredible year.”

Away from the world-class golfing action, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic will once again deliver an unmatched festival atmosphere. Tournament Town will be the hub of off-course excitement, packed with live entertainment, family activities, food trucks, arts and crafts, and interactive experiences for all ages. From music and performances to wellness experiences and kids’ activations, it’s the perfect day out for families and friends alike.

2024 Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Already GEO-certified for the third consecutive year, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic continues to set the benchmark for sustainable golf events. In 2026, organisers will also build on the tournament’s strong commitment to health, wellness and mental fitness.

In line with its sustainability goals, the 2026 tournament will prioritise greener transport options for spectators. With the metro on the doorstep and convenient taxi links, fans can enjoy a smooth and eco-friendly journey to Emirates Golf Club.

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, added: “Reflecting the tournament’s stature as one of the premier events on the global golfing calendar, we are thrilled that Tyrrell has chosen to return to defend his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title. He joins the growing line-up of Ryder Cup stars, Masters champions, and dynamic emerging talents.

“As the countdown advances, we have expanded our signature premium experiences both on and off the course to complement the outstanding golf, ensuring next year’s tournament will be truly exceptional.”

Now entering its 37th edition, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the oldest professional golf event in the Middle East and a flagship Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour, combining world-class sport with sustainability leadership and unforgettable fan experiences.

Main Image: Angel Martinez/Getty Images

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It had to be the loudest Hatton has ever been jeered on a golf course. It also didn’t matter.

Whether those VR headsets European captain Luke Donald gave his team had prepared Hatton for this exact situation, the 33-year-old Brit was ready. Hatton settled back over his ball and buried the putt to take command of the opening Friday morning foursome match in what would set the tone for a disastrous start for the Americans.

RELATED: The early Friday stat that should have U.S. fans most worried

A couple hours earlier, things seemed much different. Bryson DeChambeau hit the Americans’ opening tee shot, a bomb up near the first green that led to a birdie putt by DeChambeau moments later and a quick dose of red on the leaderboard.

As promised, the LIV star and the U.S. team’s biggest persona had brought a “tsunami” of noise to New York. And captain Keegan Bradley hoped putting his biggest hitter out first would land a quick knockout punch. Instead, it was a quick defeat for DeChambeau and teammate Justin Thomas were carted off the 15th green after taking a beating from Hatton and Jon Rahm.

“Well, we were aware it was going to be a tough day. Two of their better favorites up there, two of the crowd favorites,” Rahm said after. “We knew the crowd was going to be loud, and well, we are going to need our best. And even though we didn’t have our best start during the first seven holes, we battled, we stayed in it and from then on we started hitting good shots and getting really positive vibes.”

Bryson DeChambeau. Carl Recine

With the 4-and-3 win, Rahm and Hatton improved to a perfect 4-0 record together in the Ryder Cup. Meanwhile, DeChambeau and Thomas lost in their first time paired in the event.

Early on, it looked like their maiden partnership might work. The duo held that 1-up lead and looked in position to extend when Hatton hooked a tee shot left on No. 6. “Over here, Jon,” one fan yelled. “It’s near the sh–er!” Rahm found his ball in a terrible lie, but hit a brilliant recovery shot leading to a halved hole.

RELATED: What was supposed to be America’s secret weapon never showed up

As the teams left the green, U.S. assistant captain Gary Woodland got on a walkie-talkie and said JT and Bryson were ready for their sandwich. The two got their order shortly after, but they also got a burst from Team Europe. On No. 7, it once again looked like the Americans had the upperhand after Rahm’s tee shot wound up in the trees to the right, resting against a stick.

With DeChambeau watching like a hawk, Hatton did his best to remove debris surrounding the ball, but opted to leave the stick there. He announced that the ball had oscillated, but not moved. Then he proceeded to hit a remarkable punch out onto the green to set up a winning par as Europe tied the match. A nice Hatton tee shot on the par-3 eighth and a converted birdie putt by Rahm gave Europe a lead it wouldn’t relinquish and quieted a mostly American crowd that had been expecting DeChambeau to deliver most of the scoring fireworks.

“Obviously the tee shot on 6 wasn’t great, but Jon hit an amazing recovery shot, and I don’t think anyone thought that we’d be putting second,” Hatton said. “And then, yeah, I mean, the second shot into 7 is a little bit of a hit-and-hope. Thankfully it kind of went straight. We’re fortunate to have a clean sort of line. Just hope the stick wouldn’t affect it too much.”

For captain Bradley, he was left to hope that one match wouldn’t affect his team’s chances too much. And that a little encouragement from Michael Jordan would help after Thomas’ six-foot par attempt on 15 lipped out to end the proceedings.

“Let’s go, JT,” Jordan said to his disappointed buddy as he climbed on the back of a golf cart. “Hang in there, dog.”

Main Image: Michael Reaves/PGA of America

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After Hatton’s two-under 68 on at Oakmont on Saturday, the LIV Golf pro was asked why his volatile temperament seems to fit golf’s most volatile major. His answer was couldn’t have been better if he scripted it.

Tyrrell Hatton on how his temperament matches up well for a U.S. Open test: “I have a head off whenever I play. Everyone comes to the U.S. Open and has a head off, so it brings them to my level for a week.”

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) June 14, 2025

New excuse unlocked: I’m only cursing like Samuel L. Jackson and snapping clubs like toothpicks so I’m mentally prepared to capitalise when the conditions turn on everyone else. Galaxy-brain stuff.

OK, so we’re being a bit facetious, but Hatton has point. As Bane famously tells Batman in ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ “You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it.” In other words, when Rory smashes tee markers, Jon Rahm bellows, and Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball, they’re in crisis. If those things happen to Hatton, it’s just another day at the office.

So far, the proof seems to be in the pudding. Hatton’s play steadily improved throughout the week, shooting 73-70-68 and a final round 72 as the cooler heads around him fell away.

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The 33-year-old Brit has drawn plenty of headlines in recent years based on his opinions of Augusta National. He’s called the course’s fairness into question on numerous occasions, and going as far as to mimic firing a gun at the property while making a triple bogey on No. 13. And that was just during the 2022 Masters.

There are love-hate relationships and then there are hate-hate ones, and Hatton vs. the Masters venue might be a fiercer rivalry than the PGA Tour vs. LIV.

But surely after finishing T-9 last year on the strength of a Sunday 69 and then matching that score in Thursday’s first round to put himself in realistic contention here for the first time, those hard feelings had to be a thing of the past. Right? Not so much.

“I don’t know,” Hatton said when asked if he’s coming around on the course or figuring it out. “Ultimately, I’m still just out there trying my best. It’s been nice to have another good round today. I haven’t seen the forecast, but is it meant to rain tomorrow? … Fingers crossed the rain stays away. The course is in great shape. The greens are for a Thursday pretty rapid already and pretty firm in places. I imagine if the rain stays away then the scoring has the potential to get a little bit worse. That just shows how hard it is around here.”

OK, so maybe he’s softening a bit on the place. But moments later, he was asked about the topic even more bluntly. Are you starting to like this course?

“Do I like any golf course?” Hatton responded, drawing laughs. “It’s just so hard. It’s like, you love being here and it’s very special, but at any moment you can just hit a shot and it just does your head in. I just need to keep hitting perfect shots.”

Fair point, Tyrrell. Your harsh course critiques haven’t been kept to Augusta National. But there he was smiling at a place that’s given him fits. And after a recent stretch of golf that’s given him fits with nothing better than a T-19 in his last four LIV starts.

“If I’m honest, not great,” Hatton said of his form coming into this week. “The last two events on LIV, I’ve needed a really good Sunday to even earn points, and that’s not really a place I want to be competing out on a Sunday.”

“Yeah, I’ve struggled a bit,” Hatton continued. “I feel I’ve put a new driver in play this week with a different shaft, and yeah, that’s been a little bit better for me. Seeing the ball come back to the right again, which is nice. That’s my natural shape. Standing on certain holes and being able to trust that better has been good, and I think that was one of the keys for me today.”

On the day, Hatton hit 11 fairways to go along with 13 greens, while making four birdies to one lone bogey on 17.

“Naturally I’m disappointed with making bogey on 17,” Hatton said. “I don’t feel like I did a huge amount wrong there. But I think that’s kind of this place, as well. You don’t really have to do anything wrong to drop shots.”

OK, so he’s definitely still not a big fan of the course. But that doesn’t mean they can’t keep getting along.

Main Image: Stephen Denton

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Tyrrell Hatton equalled Jon Rahm’s record of five Rolex Series victories by capturing the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after an epic tussle with Daniel Hillier.

The 36th edition saw defending champion Rory McIlroy bid for a historic fifth Dallah trophy and a chance to cement his legacy further in the event’s glittering history.

McIlroy, who clinched his fourth victory in the event 12 months ago, was joined by fellow Major champions Jon Rahm, Adam Scott, Patrick Reed, Padraig Harrington and Jimmy Walker. With the likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Thomas Pieters, Min Woo Lee and Luke Donald also in the field at Emirates Golf Club.

The players competed for a prize purse of US$9 million at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of the year. An identical sum to the 2024 edition, where of that, Tyrrell Hatton earned $1.5m with Daniel Hillier banking $990,000.

Check back here after the event to see who took home the most money!

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Winner: Tyrrell Hatton – $1,530,000

2. Daniel Hillier – $990,000

3. Laurie Canter – $563,400

T4. Rory McIlroy – $415,800

T4. Niklas Norgaard – $415,800

T6. Tom McKibbin – $292,500

T6. Shaun Norris – $292,500

T8. David Micheluzzi – $213,300

T8. Guido Migliozzi – $213,300

T10. Ryan Fox – $161,325

T10. Dylan Frittelli – $161,325

T10. Rasmus Neergaard Petersen – $161,325

T10. Patrick Reed – $161,325

T14. Ricardo Gouveia – $135,000

T14. Rasmus Hojgaard – $135,000

16. Ewen Ferguson – $126,900

T17. Jordan Gumberg – $114,300

T17. Calum Hill – $114,300

T17. Min Woo Lee – $114,300

T17. Robert Macintyre – $114,300

T21. Tommy Fleetwood – $97,650

T21. Julien Guerrier – $97,650

T21. Jacques Kruyswijk – $97,650

T21. Keita Nakajima – $97,650

T21. Jayden Schaper – $97,650

T21. Jason Scrivener – $97,650

T27. Alexander Bjork – $84,150

T27. Matthew Jordan – $84,150

T27. Joost Luiten – $84,150

T27. Connor Syme – $84,150

T31. Marcus Armitage – $70,650

T31. Ivan Cantero – $70,650

T31. Francesco Laporta – $70,650

T31. Mike Lorenzo Vera – $70,650

T31. Thorbjorn Olesen – $70,650

T31. Sebastian Soderberg – $70,650

T37. Akshay Bhatia – $56,700

T37. Todd Clements – $56,700

T37. Joel Girrbach – $56,700

T37. Casey Jarvis – $56,700

T37. Alexander Knappe – $56,700

T37. Adam Scott – $56,700

T37. Johannes Veerman – $56,700

T37. Preston Summerhays (am) – $0

T45. Maximilian Kieffer – $44,100

T45. Romain Langasque – $44,100

T45. Richie Ramsay – $44,100

T45. David Ravetto – $44,100

T45. Matt Wallace – $44,100

T45. Bernd Wiesberger – $44,100

T45. Robin Williams – $44,100

T52. Kiradech Aphibarnrat – $32,850

T52. Dan Bradbury – $32,850

T52. Louis De Jager – $32,850

T52. Haotong Li – $32,850

T52. Marcel Schneider – $32,850

T52. Tom Vaillant – $32,850

T58. Nacho Elvira – $26,100

T58. Alfredo Garcia Heredia – $26,100

T58. Richard Mansell – $26,100

T58. Adrian Otaegui – $26,100

T58. Marcel Siem – $26,100

T58. Elvis Smylie – $26,100

T58. Andy Sullivan – $26,100

T65. Jens Dantorp – $21,600

T65. Nicolai Hojgaard – $21,600

T65. Jordan Smith – $21,600

T68. Joe Dean – $18,900

T68. Angel Hidalgo – $18,900

T68. Jeong Weon Ko – $18,900

T68. Adam Bresnu (am) – $0

T72. Nicolas Colsaerts – $17,100

T72. David Ford (am) – $0

T74. Ugo Coussaud – $14,000

T74. Jannik De Bruyn – $14,000

T74. Daniel Gavins – $14,000

T77. Sam Bairstow – $13,900

T77. Fabrizio Zanotti – $13,900

79. Grant Forrest – $13,850

Main Image: Supplied

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It turns out Hatton, who destroyed a plastic tee marker on the seventh hole a day earlier in the third round at the Emirates Golf Club, saved his composure for when it counts most.

The Englishman, who was T-9 at the Masters last year and now plays on LIV Golf with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team, shot a final-round 69. At 15-under-par (273) Hatton won the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2025 by one shot over New Zealand’s Hillier (71), while England’s Laurie Canter was third at 13 under. Hatton and Rahm were among six LIV golfers able to tee it up in Dubai given their league does not start up until early February.

A telling early sign of Hatton’s calmer demeanour came at the fifth hole Sunday at the Majlis Course when he was asked to do a walk-and-talk TV interview between the tee and fairway. Sky Sports’ Tim Barter asked the 33-year-old if he realized he was making his 200th DP World Tour start.

“You’ve had seven wins, 57 top 10s, $120,000 per start. How do you feel about that?” Barter probed.

“That’s actually mad to hear that; I can’t believe this is my 200th event,” Hatton said. “Mind you, I look like I’ve had a tough paper route, don’t I? I’ve got few more wrinkles. But I’d like to have a few more wins, too.”

Composure, too, came in the form of his patient decision at the par-5 18th with victory in the balance. When Hatton mishit his 3-wood tee shot, overnight leader Hillier saw a door opening to force a playoff. Hatton laid up from the rough before overcooking a wedge approach. The former winner on the PGA Tour at Bay Hill then left himself with a five-foot par putt for the win given Hillier had made a timely birdie. That left Hatton with a knee-knocker that will undoubtedly impact his hopes of automatic qualification for Europe in September’s Ryder Cup.

He buried it and let out a primal scream. Composure was no longer needed.

The moment Tyrrell claimed his FIFTH Rolex Series win #HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/1Ri15uMd9V

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 19, 2025

“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous on the back nine,” Hatton said. “I guess I just maybe wanted it a bit too much. I knew the position I was in and a little bit scruffy down the last. But to see that putt go in was amazing. Just so happy to win.”

Hatton revered the Hero Dubai Desert Classic growing up as a junior golfer in Buckinghamshire. While his DP World Tour trophy cabinet included the 2020 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the European circuit’s flagship event, and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews last year for a third time, Dubai was one of his most meaningful victories.

“I think my first year [playing the event] in 2014 was a surreal experience,” he said. “The kid inside me back then was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ I remember as a kid, waking up early in the morning on Thursday and Friday and being excited to watch the Desert Classic.”

For the first time in three years, the event was not won by McIlroy, who was gunning for a fifth career win at the Emirates. The four-time major winner fired a 66 on Sunday to finish T-4 at 12 under. The Northern Irishman started the day seven shots off the lead but reeled off six birdies between the third and 16th holes to be an outside chance. At the 18th, McIlroy’s tee shot settled in a fairway divot, but the World No. 3 carved a majestic 5-wood for his second shot that faded toward the hole and left a good chance at eagle. He missed it, but a birdie left McIlroy walking away from his 2025 debut with optimism.

Rory McIlroy – Pedro Salado

“I left myself too much to do after three days,” said McIlroy, who now has 12 consecutive top 10 finishes in Dubai. “I had chances, I was burning the edges.

“I think playing a week like this, it sort of gives me a good appreciation for what I need to do the next few weeks.”

As for Hatton, victory could not have come at a better time in the Ryder Cup cycle as he turns his attention to LIV Golf’s opening event in Saudi Arabia next month. Since the qualification period began last Fall, Hatton, when he has teed it up on the DP World Tour, has finished T-18, T-10, 1, 2, 6, 5, 1. He is also projected to vault to the top of the European team’s points list after the Dubai win and to No. 8 on the Official World Golf Rankings.

“This event and the four majors are massive for me to try earn as many points be an automatic qualifier,” Hatton said. “This is a big step in the right direction.”

Main Image: FADEL SENNA

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Birdie-birdie finish

Daniel Hillier will take a one shot lead into the final round.#HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/F71vbx9ME4

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 18, 2025

The 26-year-old, whose maiden DP World Tour title came at the 2023 Betfred British Masters, was in the final group, one shot behind the overnight leader, Ewen Ferguson. The pair started the day with breathing space from the chasing contenders, which included the likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Min Woo Lee and Rasmus Højgaard.

Hillier got off to the brighter start, birdieing three of his first five holes. The Scot, Ferguson, meanwhile, was heading in the opposite direction, two over through nine.

A four-shot lead was staring Hillier in the face in what was a turbulent day for all players.

“It was a grind,” said Hillier. “I figured it was going to be that way at the start of the day with all that wind. It was tough, but I enjoyed it out there.”

However, three consecutive bogeys from the 13th left the door ajar for the chasing pack, and England’s Hatton took full advantage with a 68 to set the clubhouse target at 12 under par.

Hillier responded with a birdie from six feet at the 17th, then cleared the water by a whisker with his second shot to the last hole, setting up a routine up-and-down gain as he signed for a two-under 70 and a 13-under total.

“Well, we thought we had plenty of club going in there. We were trying to hit it long left. Only 200 to carry the water, and I hit 5-wood.

“Usually that’s a 235, 240-yard club, and it just spun into the first cut.”

Ferguson ended up signing for a two-over 74 to lie third on ten under, with England’s Laurie Canter and Hillier’s countryman Ryan Fox tied for fourth, a shot further back.

“Yeah, it will be good,” said Hillier, commenting on Sunday’s final grouping. “I don’t think I’ve played with Tyrrell before, so that should be fun.

“It will be a good test. He’ll be raring to get his hands on that trophy, but I’d love to do the same. It will be a fun day.”

Whoever picks up the winner’s cheque, in this US$9 million prize pool, will take home a tasty $1.53 million. A nice start to 2025!

“It would be life-changing. Last year was pretty tough. It was a bit of a grind.

“I was getting pretty frustrated with myself towards the end of the year. Gave myself a little bit of a break and time to reset, and I’m feeling refreshed. Yeah, excited for tomorrow.”

Defending champion and four-time winner of the event, Rory McIlroy, is at six under par, seven shots back from Hillier.

Main Image: Getty Images / David Cannon

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The foursome will join defending champion Rory McIlroy, who is aiming to lift the famous Dallah Trophy for a record fifth time, as well as Major winner Jon Rahm and Olympic Silver Medallist Tommy Fleetwood in a world-class field at the US$9 million Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour’s 2025 Race to Dubai.

Robert MacIntyre – 2024 Genesis Scottish Open – Octavio Passos

MacIntyre made his Ryder Cup debut as he joined McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm and Hatton in Europe’s victory in Rome in September 2023 and has since enjoyed a memorable 2024 season. The Scot claimed his first PGA TOUR title at the RBC Canadian Open in June and added a third DP World Tour title – and a first on the Rolex Series – with an emotional victory on home soil at the Genesis Scottish Open.

MacIntyre – who has two top-ten finishes in four previous appearances at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic – said: “I’m looking forward to getting back to the Emirates Golf Club in January. It’s a place where I have played well in the past, and it would be great to get the new season off to a strong start again.”

Tyrrell Hatton – 2024 Alfred Dunhilll Links Championship – Getty Images

Hatton, who claimed his seventh DP World Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October, has four previous top-ten finishes at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Englishman has also tasted past success in the region, triumphing in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and is seeking a fifth Rolex Series win.

Hatton said: “I always enjoy coming to Dubai and the Emirates Golf Club. I’ve had success in the region in the past so I look forward to getting 2025 off to strong start in the desert.”

Adam Scott – 2013 Masters – Getty Images

Scott is also no stranger to success in the Middle East, with the 2013 Masters champion counting two wins in Qatar on his illustrious career record. The Australian also ended one of his best seasons to date on the DP World Tour with a tied third place finish at the DP World Tour Championship last month on the way to a top 10 finish on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Scott said: “It’s always been an enjoyable experience when I’ve been able to add the Hero Dubai Desert Classic to my early season schedule, and I’ll be aiming to continue and build on the form that I ended 2024 with.”

Akshay Bhatia – 2023 Barracuda Championship – Isaiah Vazquez

The trio will be joined in the field by rising American star Akshay Bhatia, who will tee it up at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time. The 22-year-old was a decorated amateur, and represented the United States in the Junior Presidents Cup, Junior Ryder Cup and Walker Cup before turning professional in 2019.

He claimed his first DP World Tour and PGA TOUR title at the co-sanctioned Barracuda Championship in 2023, adding a second PGA TOUR title earlier this year at the Valero Texas Open.

Bhatia said: “I can’t wait to tee it up in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about the tournament and everything about the week in Dubai, and I’m looking forward to the experience.”

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of Hero Dubai Desert Classic, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome such a stellar lineup of players for the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The addition of Ryder Cup stars, Major champions, and exciting young talents highlights the tournament’s status as one of the premier events on the global golfing calendar.

“With world-class golf alongside standout premium fan experiences and off-course fun for all the family in Tournament Town, next year’s event promises to be truly unforgettable.”

Established in 1989, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the oldest golf competition in the Middle East and next year’s event will be the 36th edition of the tournament. A key fixture on the DP World Tour and a part of the esteemed Rolex Series, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic was instrumental in introducing golf to the Middle East and producing some of the sport’s most memorable moments. The 2025 event will mark its second consecutive year being GEO Certified®, having become the only tournament to do so in the Middle East and on the DP World Tour Rolex Series.

Main Image: Andrew Redington

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