Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026: Course and current form stats

Andy Swales
Published on 19 Jan 2026 at 13:00
Updated on 19 Jan 2026 at 13:44
3.0 min read

Dubai Desert Classic golf course view — Get the key stats for this week's Dubai Desert Classic

Golf stats expert Andy Swales provides the form figures while the Betfair team recommends players to follow as the DP World Tour moves to the Emirates Golf Club for this week's event...

Course and form stats for this week's event in Dubai
Two-time winner McIlroy has sparking record
Defending champion Hatton and Canter are also contenders

Dubai Desert Classic - Contenders based on current form

Last week's winner at the Dubai Invitational arrives with his sights set on more success. His course form here, with a previous best 20th-place finish in 2020 and a 58th last year, doesn't indicate that the Spaniard will pull off consecutive victories. But his previous finish at last week's venue, which saw him come 28th, didn't bode well either and he overcame that.

Daniel Hillier 33/134.00

The New Zealander was a runner-up at the Dubai Invitational, following top 10 finishes at the Australian PGa Championship and Australian Open, so he is a man in form. He finished second here 12 months ago so everything points towards another strong showing.

Shane Lowry 18/119.00

The Irishman was tied for third at last week's event and, while he missed the cut on his most recent appearance here, he boasts an 11th and 12th-placed finish.

Dubai Desert Classic - Contenders based on course form

Rory McIlroy @ 4/15.00

The Masters champion would have liked to win last week's tournament but his tied third-place finish was encouraging and a platform for success where his previous four appearances read - 4/1/1/3.

Tyrrell Hatton @ 10/111.00

The defending champion was knocking on the door here before he won 12 months ago, finishing fourth in 2022 and 22nd the year before.

Laurie Canter @ 55/156.00

Could we see an English winner in consecutive years? If anyone can keep the flag flying it may be Canter who was third last year and fourth in 2021. Between those performances he has a missed cut and 73rd but let's focus on the positives.

Stroke Averages

Lowest 10 At Emirates (2020-25)
Average .... (Rounds)
68.50: Rory McIlroy (16)
70.15: Tyrrell Hatton (20)
70.40: Tom McKibbin (10)
70.42: Adrian Meronk (12)
70.58: Calum Hill (12)
70.63: Tommy Fleetwood (24)
70.81: Johannes Veerman (16)
70.94: Thorbjorn Olesen (16)
70.95: Bernd Wiesberger (22)
70.96: Ryan Fox (24)
Min. No. of Rounds = 10
Only those entered this week are included in table

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

Now read Steve Rawlings' in-depth preview of this week's event

Last 10 Weeks / Emirates (2016-25)

Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W3	W2	W51	W50	W49	W48	W47	W46
Rory McIlroy	3				14			2
Tommy Fleetwood	25							3
Viktor Hovland					23
Tyrrell Hatton							5	14
Shane Lowry	3							11
Ryan Fox	27				14	39
Patrick Reed	26						33	28
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen	19				1	MC		3
Thomas Detry					6
Jayden Trey Schaper	20		1	1	2			20
Laurie Canter					Wd			3
Thriston Lawrence	10			14	33			24
Tom McKibbin	38				16		20	16
Nicolai Hojgaard	52							11
Thorbjorn Olesen	7				28		MC	29
Shaun Norris	20			2	5	Wd	MC	50
Joakim Lagergren	27		32		33			37
Daniel Hillier	2				6	5		16
David Puig	3				MC	1	16
Nacho Elvira	1			46	30			51
Angel Ayora	13		21	46	8			8
Eugenio Chacarra	15		25	3	28			37
Elvis Smylie					8	19		42
JC Ritchie			9	32				1
Martin Couvra	42			7	30			52
Victor Perez								MC
Andy Sullivan	52				8			34
Joaquin Niemann					MC	MC	MC
Jacob Skov Olesen	30		MC	40	40			11
Niklas Norgaard Moller	33				53		41	14
Richard Mansell	Wd				30			49
Jorge Campillo				23	23			37
Ewen Ferguson	20				10			28
Antoine Rozner	10			14	46		25	58
Grant Forrest	20			MC	23			28
Ding Wen Yi					18	2
Oliver Lindell	15		32	46	40			28
Joost Luiten	20			MC	10			48
Julien Guerrier	3			MC	6
Dan Bradbury	30			62	2
Marcus Armitage	7		15	40	21			42
Jacques Kruyswijk	15			MC	46			37
KazumaKobori					MC	25		42
Calum Hill	47			32	40			34
Nicolai Von Dellingshausen	47				63			22
Matthew Jordan								45
Jung Hwan Lee	33			68	23
Richard Sterne			MC	MC
Romain Langasque				75	59
Alex Fitzpatrick			37		65	19
Todd Clements			MC	MC
Casey Jarvis			3	32		10	1
Matteo Manassero	38				43			61
Connor Syme	30				51			47
Francesco Laporta			25	MC
Brandon Robinson-Thompson			MC	32				34
Angel Hidalgo Portillo	38			MC	46
Michael Hollick			9	9	4	MC	MC	44
Alejandro Del Rey	42			40	23		31
Marcel Schneider			37	23
Johannes Veerman	54				63			24
Ugo Coussaud					39	56
Guido Migliozzi	33			MC	52
Paul Waring	27				57
Joe Dean			MC	MC
Darius Van Driel	42			46	53
Zac Blair	50						7	9
Mikael Lindberg			44	14
Frederic LaCroix	33				46
Manuel Elvira			7	46
Sam Bairstow				MC	MC	10
Yuto Katsuragawa	47			MC	46	66
Sebastian Soderberg
Joel Girrbach				14	51	MC
Jeff Winther			54	23
Marcel Siem	13		37	56	62
Rafael Cabrera-Bello					23	MC
Andrea Pavan			48	64
Tom Vaillant			25		30	14
Jeremy Paul	44						MC	46
Brandon Stone			9	23		31
Ben Schmidt			MC	46
Ashun Wu	Wd
Jason Scrivener					46	41
Jeong Weon Ko
Darren Fichardt				MC
David Ravetto	57		MC	56	43
Bernd Wiesberger					23	10
Sean Crocker					30	MC
Danny Willett	45				MC			60
Kiradech Aphibarnrat					30	66	16
Scott Jamieson			9	MC
Jack Senior			25	MC	23	56
Richie Ramsay
Dylan Naidoo	58		62	MC	58
Rikuya Hoshino	47				56		MC	8
Marcus Kinhult			58	MC
Adrian Otaegui	15
Jens Dantorp			Wd	MC
Ivan Cantero Gutierrez			MC	MC
Niklas Lemke			32	32
Pablo Larrazabal	54			75	33
Ricardo Gouveia					MC	8
Yuvraj Sandhu						7
Francesco Molinari	47				10			34
Kyoung-Hoon Lee							MC
Ryggs Johnston	33		MC	68	33
David Micheluzzi				MC	MC	MC
Frederik Schott					MC	41
Dylan Frittelli	10		37	14	59		MC
Zander Lombard			5	62		7	MC
Eddie Pepperell			43		MC	56
Jordan Gumberg					39	74
Hennie Du Plessis			25	64		2		4
Shubhankar Sharma			32		MC	56
Dustin Johnson							MC
Adrian Meronk					55		5
Ross Fisher			MC	MC
Andrew Johnston		4			MC	MC
Padraig Harrington	46
Ockie Strydom	56			32	59			19
Luke Donald
Christiaan Maas
Daniel Gavins	38				65
Ahmad Skaik
Ethan Fang
Renato Paratore			44		MC	MC
David Law				MC	51	41
Maximilian Steinlechner					MC	MC
Oihan Guillamoundeguy			9	46
James Morrison				23	69	33
Filippo Celli					MC	MC
Stefano Mazzoli			MC		23	25	MC
Daniel Van Tonder			15	14	10		MC	30
Sebastian Rodriguez Garcia			MC	75	51	56
Daniel Young				40	18	MC

Player	`25	`24	`23	`22	`21	`20	`19	`18	`17	`16
Rory McIlroy	4	1	1	3				2		6
Tommy Fleetwood	21	14	59	12	17	11	16	6	MC	50
Viktor Hovland	MC			1		23
Tyrrell Hatton	1	31	38	4	22		38	3	3	8
Shane Lowry			MC	24	27	11	12
Ryan Fox	10	31	20	26	41	30	MC	MC	63
Patrick Reed	10		2
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen	10
Thomas Detry				MC	9	32	48	22	MC
Jayden Trey Schaper	21	38			48	MC
Laurie Canter	3	MC		73	4
Thriston Lawrence	MC	MC	MC	MC						MC
Tom McKibbin	6	14	MC
Nicolai Hojgaard	65	7	38	MC
Thorbjorn Olesen	31	21	16	35			7	29	32	8
Shaun Norris	6		65			56	61
Joakim Lagergren			MC	18	MC	MC	MC	MC	23	MC
Daniel Hillier	2	MC	MC*
David Puig
Nacho Elvira	58	41	MC	35	51	16	MC	MC	11	MC
Angel Ayora
Eugenio Chacarra
Elvis Smylie	58
JC Ritchie			MC
Martin Couvra
Victor Perez			28	60	MC	16	29
Andy Sullivan	58	66	75	47	48	Dq	MC	6	MC	2
Joaquin Niemann		4
Jacob Skov Olesen
Niklas Norgaard Moller	4	63	51			58
Richard Mansell	58	25	51
Jorge Campillo	MC	56	28	55	MC	MC	56	MC	23	50
Ewen Ferguson	16	MC	28
Antoine Rozner		16	78	47	9
Grant Forrest	79	51	51	43	27	16
Ding Wen Yi
Oliver Lindell
Joost Luiten	27	21	51	MC	44	66	MC	MC	23	8
Julien Guerrier	21	70	65	26	MC	32
Dan Bradbury	52	MC	28
Marcus Armitage	31	MC	28	12
Jacques Kruyswijk	21		28				MC
KazumaKobori
Calum Hill	17	41	13
Nicolai Von Dellingshausen			75	60
Matthew Jordan	27	41	20	70
Jung Hwan Lee
Richard Sterne				MC	20	MC	MC	67		MC
Romain Langasque	45	25	16	18	MC	27	20
Alex Fitzpatrick	MC	16
Todd Clements	37	51						68
Casey Jarvis	37	41
Matteo Manassero		MC						MC	54	59
Connor Syme	27	51	38	MC	MC			MC
Francesco Laporta	31			MC
Brandon Robinson-Thompson
Angel Hidalgo Portillo	68	MC	8
Michael Hollick
Alejandro Del Rey	MC	38
Marcel Schneider	52	MC	75
Johannes Veerman	37	16	8	35
Ugo Coussaud	74	70
Guido Migliozzi	8	25	MC	MC	44	MC
Paul Waring	MC	41	65	MC	MC	MC	3	MC	MC
Joe Dean	68
Darius Van Driel	MC		MC*	MC					MC
Zac Blair
Mikael Lindberg			70
Frederic LaCroix	MC
Manuel Elvira	MC	41
Sam Bairstow	77
Yuto Katsuragawa	MC
Sebastian Soderberg	31	41	MC	73	MC	70	MC
Joel Girrbach	37
Jeff Winther	MC	66	MC	MC	27	37
Marcel Siem	58	56						MC	MC	MC
Rafael Cabrera-Bello		31	MC	47	35	MC	MC	6	11	2
Andrea Pavan	MC	MC		18	Ret	MC	MC
Tom Vaillant	52	MC
Jeremy Paul
Brandon Stone	MC			26	2	MC	MC	MC	7	MC
Ben Schmidt
Ashun Wu	MC	MC	20	30	9	6	38	37	MC	24
Jason Scrivener	21	MC	59	MC	41	58	7	6	39
Jeong Weon Ko	68	70
Darren Fichardt	MC			MC			MC	MC	32	MC
David Ravetto	45
Bernd Wiesberger	45	21	20	24	6	MC	MC	32	32	16
Sean Crocker	MC	MC	MC	MC	51	58	MC	MC
Danny Willett				MC	44	43		MC	54	1
Kiradech Aphibarnrat	52			66	60			51	MC	61
Scott Jamieson	MC	31	70	35	27	32	MC	51	60	45
Jack Senior			MC
Richie Ramsay	45	21		32	68	58	56	6	60	MC
Dylan Naidoo
Rikuya Hoshino		MC
Marcus Kinhult	MC	MC	8	MC	60	MC	MC
Adrian Otaegui	58	56	28	47	51	45	MC	22	65
Jens Dantorp	65	MC	28				48
Ivan Cantero Gutierrez	31
Niklas Lemke
Pablo Larrazabal	MC	4	28	35	51	MC	20	MC	MC	54
Ricardo Gouveia	14	74		66				MC	MC	MC
Yuvraj Sandhu
Francesco Molinari		MC	MC
Kyoung-Hoon Lee
Ryggs Johnston	MC
David Micheluzzi	8
Frederik Schott
Dylan Frittelli	10	41						6
Zander Lombard		16	MC		MC	58		MC
Eddie Pepperell		MC	MC		MC	11	38	MC		63
Jordan Gumberg	17
Hennie Du Plessis		51	38
Shubhankar Sharma	MC	16	MC	75	22	MC	29	61
Dustin Johnson
Adrian Meronk	MC	2	MC	4
Ross Fisher	MC	MC	MC	47	60	MC	24	45	MC	26
Andrew Johnston			38		MC	MC	24	45		45
Padraig Harrington	MC	MC	MC	9	6	50
Ockie Strydom	Ret	MC	MC
Luke Donald	MC	66	MC*
Christiaan Maas
Daniel Gavins	74	MC	38	55
Ahmad Skaik				MC
Ethan Fang
Renato Paratore					67	MC	MC	MC	42	26
David Law		MC	59	55	MC	50
Maximilian Steinlechner
Oihan Guillamoundeguy
James Morrison		56	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	23	40
Filippo Celli
Stefano Mazzoli
Daniel Van Tonder				43
Sebastian Rodriguez Garcia		31		70
Daniel Young

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