Tyrrell Hatton emerged victorious in the 2025 Dubai Desert Classic while Rory McIlroy made a strong comeback to finish fourth on an eventful final day on Sunday.
Coming off a strong performance in last week’s Team Cup, Hatton secured his first Rolex Series title since 2021 by overcoming a one-shot deficit to Daniel Hillier and ultimately winning by one shot with a score of 15 under.
“It feels amazing. I said earlier in the week this is one of the events you want to have on your CV. It’s such an iconic event on the DP World Tour,” Hatton expressed, as he looks forward to potentially being part of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup squad later this year.
On the back nine, Hatton admitted feeling nervous but managed to secure victory with a strong finish and a crucial putt. “To add my name to the list of amazing champions before me, to have my name on that trophy is a dream come true,” he added.
Hatton and Hillier had a close battle during the early holes, with Hatton eventually taking the lead thanks to a key moment on the fifth hole where Hillier faced challenges ending up in the rough.
Tyrrell Hatton won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time
McIlroy, while unable to replicate his past success, delivered a strong performance to finish joint-fourth behind Hatton, Hillier, and Laurie Canter.
Rory McIlroy was unable to make it third successive Dubai Desert Classic titles
McIlroy expressed his disappointment at leaving himself with too much ground to cover after the first three days but remains optimistic for future events.
“I feel like I got progressively better as the week went on, which bodes well for the next few weeks,” McIlroy remarked, looking ahead to his upcoming events in the TGL and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am.
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What’s next in TGL?
Stay tuned for the upcoming TGL matches, including New York Golf Club facing Atlanta Drive GC and Jupiter Links GC taking on Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf.
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