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.
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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
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