Rory McIlroy kickstarts his 2025 season this week on the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional, stay on Sky Sports activities, with the defending champion instantly having the chance to create historical past.
McIlroy headlines a robust discipline at Emirates Golf Membership for the primary of the DP World Tour’s Rolex Sequence occasions, with the Northern Irishman making his first worldwide begin since profitable the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in November.
That two-shot win noticed him declare the Race to Dubai for a 3rd successive yr and the Harry Vardon Trophy for a sixth time, two wanting Colin Montgomerie’s all-time Order of Advantage document, with McIlroy now chasing additional silverware in a metropolis the place he has loved extra success than another.
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Highlights from the ultimate spherical of the DP World Tour Championship on the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai
McIlroy has already received the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional extra occasions than another participant, with final yr’s victory his fourth title, with this week an opportunity for him to interrupt his personal document and change into the primary participant to elevate the Dallah Trophy.
How good is McIlroy’s Dubai document?
There are few who know the Majlis Course higher than McIlroy, who made his debut as a 16-year-old novice within the 2006 version and claimed his maiden DP World Tour title on the similar occasion three years later.
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Rory McIlroy received his maiden DP World Tour title on the 2009 Dubai Desert Traditional
McIlroy has not completed outdoors of the highest 10 on the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional in 9 appearances since that 2009 victory, the place he turned the match’s youngest champion, ending sixth a yr later, tenth in 2011, fifth in 2012 and ninth in 2014 earlier than a three-shot win in 2015.
He added a sixth-place in 2016 and completed runner-up to Haotong Li in 2018, then adopted an exhilarating one-shot victory over Patrick Reed in 2023 by efficiently defending his title with a win over Adrian Meronk – by the identical margin – final January.
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Highlights from the ultimate spherical of the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Traditional on the Emirates Golf Membership, received by Rory McIlroy
Add in McIlroy’s three DP World Tour Championship victories and it means seven of his 18 profession DP World Tour titles have are available Dubai, making it the right place for him to start out a brand new season.
Who else is within the discipline?
Viktor Hovland returns to the occasion for the primary time since his 2022 victory, whereas two-time main winner and Ryder Cup team-mate Jon Rahm – who has received the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai thrice – makes his debut.
Tommy Fleetwood options after profitable all 4 of his matches in Nice Britain and Eire’s Group Cup victory final week, with fellow Rolex Sequence winners Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton all within the discipline.
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Rory McIlroy received 4 occasions worldwide in 2024 however might his season be thought-about successful?
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, is certainly one of no less than six LIV Golf League gamers in motion, whereas Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, former world No 1 Adam Scott and PGA Tour rising star Akshay Bhatia are among the many different notable names concerned.
What occurred in final yr’s occasion?
McIlroy was 10 strokes off the midway lead earlier than charging into rivalry with a third-round 63, taking him inside two photographs of Cameron Younger, then pulled away from the sector throughout a powerful final-round show.
He moved right into a share of the lead contained in the opening 4 holes and grabbed the solo benefit on the sixth after errors from each Younger and Meronk, with back-to-back birdies from the eighth seeing McIlroy attain the flip with a three-stroke cushion.
McIlroy noticed his benefit reduce from 4 to at least one when Meronk posted back-to-back birdies on the again 9, though the four-time main champion carded a two-under 70 to carry off the chasing pack and declare a one-shot victory.
That win was the primary of 4 worldwide titles in one other major-free season for McIlroy, profitable the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour forward of the season-ending success in Dubai.
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An emotional Rory McIlroy couldn’t maintain again the tears after clinching the 2024 DP World Tour Championship title and the Race to Dubai
Will McIlroy win once more and gas huge 2025?
The 35-year-old has had extra top-two finishes than missed cuts throughout his outstanding skilled profession already, spanning some 18 seasons, with McIlroy now centered on persevering with his push in direction of turning into probably the most profitable European golfer in historical past.
“I’ve come this far, I might as well try and get to eight or nine [Race to Dubai titles],” McIlroy mentioned after his final victory in November. “I’m trying to achieve something that no one else in the game has achieved if I am to surpass Monty [Colin Montgomerie].”
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Have a look again at one of the best of Rory McIlroy’s 4 worldwide wins in 2024 – the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional, the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans, the Wells Fargo Championship and the DP World Tour Championship
The precedence for McIlroy – no matter his efficiency in Dubai this week – shall be to attempt to declare an elusive fifth main title this season and first since his 2014 PGA Championship success, having come agonisingly shut on a number of events since so as to add to his main tally.
“I think he is more determined than ever to come out firing next year,” Shane Lowry mentioned in November. “Obviously The Masters will be on the forefront of my mind and same as myself, he’ll be looking towards the other big tournaments and The Ryder Cup.”
Dwell DP World Tour Golf
Thursday sixteenth January 7:30am
Why else is that this week essential?
Rolex Sequence occasions provide extra Ryder Cup qualification factors than common DP World Tour occasions, which means any European winner this week would considerably improve his hopes of that includes in Luke Donald’s aspect at Bethpage Black in September.
It can probably be Rahm and Hatton’s solely DP World Tour look – outdoors the majors – earlier than the qualification interval ends in August, because of their participation within the LIV Golf League, which means this week is a restricted alternative for them to assist attempt to safe an automated Ryder Cup spot.
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Luke Donald explains the significance of the Group Cup in preparation for the Ryder Cup later this yr
These occasions additionally provide no less than double the Race to Dubai factors obtainable at any occasion to date this season, with the match value 8,000 factors, which means the winner will instantly transfer high of the season-long standings.
How can I watch the motion?
Sky Sports activities can have prolonged protection from all 4 rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional, with Featured Teams stay from 4am every morning on Sky Sports activities Golf and bringing bonus motion forward of the primary motion.
Full protection begins at 7.30am on Thursday and Friday forward of getting beneath approach from 7am over the weekend, with all 4 rounds of the PGA Tour’s American Categorical and the Latin America Novice Championship additionally stay on Sky Sports activities. Stream the DP World Tour, majors and extra with NOW.
