Dubai Desert Classic To Finish On Monday After UAE Heavy Rains
The Rolex Series event will conclude on Monday due to the rainfall in Dubai
The Dubai Desert Classic has been forced into a Monday finish due to the rare rainstorms in the UAE this week.
The start of play at the Rolex Series event was delayed by six hours on Thursday, with the event closed to fans on the opening day.
Greenkeepers had to repair damaged and flooded bunkers to get play back underway, with parts of the course also flooded. Round two finally got started late on Friday and will conclude on Saturday, with round three scheduled for Sunday and Monday set for the final round.
Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed, who were involved in the 'teegate' controversy earlier in the week, both shot six-under-par 66s in the opening round.
"The Hero Dubai Desert Classic will be played over 72 holes, concluding on Monday," the DP World Tour said in a statement.
The planned schedule at Emirates Golf Club is as follows:
- Saturday January 28 – Round two concludes
- Sunday January 29 – Round three scheduled
- Monday January 30 – Round four scheduled
Dubai Police issued a statement urging motorists to be extra cautious, adhere to safety rules and reduce driving speed amid the rainfall, with some roads closed, schools shutting early and the prospect of more showers into Saturday.
It means that there will be no elite-level professional golf finishing on Sunday this weekend, with the Farmers Insurance Open concluding on Saturday evening.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
The Dubai Desert Classic prize money stands at $9m, with the winner set to pick up a cheque of over $1.5m on Monday afternoon.
Last year, the tournament was won by Viktor Hovland, who is not in the field this week to defend his title. Several high-profile LIV Golf players are appearing, including Reed, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood.
To all the greens staff who helped get the golf course playable today after the overnight rain in Dubai, thank you!! @DubaiDCGolf #HeroDDCJanuary 26, 2023
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Who Will Be PGA Tour Champions King? The 10 Players In Contention For The Charles Schwab Cup
The season-long race for the Charles Schwab Cup comes to a head in Arizona this week – here are the 10 players still in contention to win it
By Mike Hall Published
-
World Wide Technology Championship Picks, Predictions And Odds
Ahead of the PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, some of the Golf Monthly team has picked out a few likely contenders
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Tee Times: Rounds One And Two
Rory McIlroy is closing in on his sixth Race to Dubai title and he's grouped with his two closest challengers in the first two rounds of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
By Mike Hall Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The DP World Tour Play-Offs section of the season begins with the first of two elevated events to decide the Race to Dubai champion
By Mike Hall Published
-
How Much Money Rory McIlroy Has Made Every Year On The PGA And DP World Tours
Rory McIlroy is one of the highest paid golfers in the history of the sport - but how much has he won each year on the PGA and DP World Tours?
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Did Rory McIlroy Forecast ‘Cutthroat’ PGA Tour Changes?
The PGA Tour is set to vote on several key changes to the circuit - including the reduction of field sizes, which McIlroy called for earlier this year...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Jon Rahm And Ludvig Aberg Among Big Names Missing Abu Dhabi Championship As Rory McIlroy Headlines Field
The entry list for the first DP World Tour Play-Offs event is in, with the top 70 teeing it up at Yas Links next week
By Elliott Heath Published
-
PGA Tour Pair Clear Favorites As Early Odds Released For 'The Showdown'
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have been strongly tipped to triumph in their exhibition match against LIV golfers Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Showdown: Date And Course Set For Las Vegas TV Match Featuring McIlroy, Scheffler, DeChambeau And Koepka
More details on the venue and date for the made-for-TV contest featuring Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have been released
By Mike Hall Last updated
-
Rory McIlroy Sees Tours 'Doing Their Own Thing For The Foreseeable Future' As Talks Over Future Of Men's Pro Game Continue
The four-time Major winner thinks there could be progress in the talks by the end of the year, but that it could be some time until the main circuits come back together
By Mike Hall Published