Tournament: Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Race to Dubai: Tournament 6 of 42
International Swing: Tournament 2 of 8
Venue: Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Prize Fund: US$9,000,000
ASAP Transcript Link: Click here
Hashtag: #HeroDubaiDesertClassic #RolexSeries
Tournament preview
Defending champion Rory McIlroy says he has been “working on having fun” during his two-month break ahead of this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where he is seeking a fifth title at Emirates Golf Club.
The World Number Three returns to competitive action this week in a world-class field, as he also looks to become become the first player to lift the famous Dallah trophy three times in a row.
The Northern Irishman is also seeking to become just the fifth player to win the same DP World Tour event, excluding WGCs, three years running, joining an elite group that includes Ian Woosnam (Monte Carlo Open, 1990-92), Sir Nick Faldo (Irish Open, 1991-93), Colin Montgomerie (BMW PGA Championship, 1998-2000), and Ernie Els (Heineken Classic, 2002-04).
Earlier in the day, the 35-year-old was presented with the 2024 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour for the fourth occasion.
He was presented with the trophy by one of Seve’s sons, Javier, who travelled to Dubai ahead of this week’s opening Rolex Series event, won by his father more than 30 years ago, and by McIlroy on four occasions in 2009, 2015, 2023, and 2024.
Also returning to the Majlis Course this week is McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland, who claimed victory in the 2022 edition of the tournament and is back in Dubai for the first time since that triumph.
Player quotes
Rory McIlroy: “I’ve been working on having fun. Took a couple of trips on my time off. Went to a Borussia Dortmund game on Friday night.
“Just doing things that I’ve always wanted to do. You know, went to New Zealand for a few days, which was a lot of fun which I’ve wanted to do for a while.
“Honestly just trying to enjoy myself. It’s the only part of the year I feel like I can really unwind and do that.
“It’s always been nice to start my year in Dubai. It’s something that I’ve done most of my professional career. The last couple years to come here to Dubai, open the season, have success, obviously it’s really nice to get off to a strong start to the season. That’s the plan again this year.
“I think I talked about it the end of last year, and obviously winning the Seve Ballesteros Award, I think to be able to put my name up alongside the European greats of golf, Seve (Ballesteros), Faldo, (Bernhard) Langer, Woosie (Ian Woosnam), (Sandy) Lyle, like all these guys, it’s amazing.
“My goal is to go out and try to get the best out of myself and play as good as I can, and thankfully that’s ended up in winning a few tournaments here and there.
“But I understand that the window is very slowly closing, and I want to make sure I do everything I can to have the best career I possibly can.”
Viktor Hovland: “I love this place. Even in 2019 when I played my first time, absolutely loved it. It’s iconic. The tournament has been around for a long time. There’s some history here. Great winners, and super honoured to be a part of the history. Good to be back. It’s three years. It goes by so quick. So yeah, super pumped.
“Not really a whole lot of results, oriented goals. It’s mostly about just process and making sure that I’m controlling the things that I can control; that technique-wise, things are in order, and I’m doing the right things that increases the chances of me playing the best that I can. And then whatever happens, happens.
“Yeah, certainly makes me cherish how I used to play golf for the first, say, four years of my career. It’s been very effortless. Just kind of standing over the ball and knowing that, okay, the ball is going to start somewhere there end and up over there somewhere. That’s a pretty stress-freeway of playing golf.
“Obviously I’ve always tried to push myself, and even when it was really good, I kept on pushing it, and maybe setting too high expectations because maybe didn’t realise how good it was or I thought it could continue to get better and better and better. For the most part of my career, every decision that I’ve made to change something up in order to play better, it has worked.
“But you know, last year and some change, I’ve just gotten into some bad habits, and there’s been a couple key moves that I used to make in my old golf swing that I’m currently not doing. And I’ve got to get back to making that movement in order to play my best golf. That’s just kind of where we’re at.”
