Tyrrell Hatton won the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic as Rory McIlroy charged back to finish fourth on a dramatic final day on Sunday.
Hatton, who is likely to be part of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup squad later this year, continued his strong performance from last week’s Team Cup to claim his first Rolex Series title since 2021.
The 33-year-old overturned his one-shot deficit to overnight leader Daniel Hillier to win by one shot on 15 under for the tournament in a thrilling finish.
“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,” said Hatton, who competes in the LIV Golf League.
“To add my name to the list of amazing champions before me, to have my name on that trophy is a dream come true.
“I was pretty nervous on the back nine. I guess I wanted it a little bit too much. I knew the position I was in. A bit scruffy on the last but to see that putt go in felt amazing. I’m just so happy to win.”
The final leaderboard of the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Hatton was unable to make any inroads during the opening four holes as he and Hillier had a bogey and birdie each.
The key moment of the day came on the fifth hole when Hillier ended up in the rough and needed a couple of chips to get out of trouble. With his first chip, he touched the ball again on his swing but this did not count as another shot, which Hatton was confused by.
“I actually thought I had the score wrong! He double hit on the chip shot and thought it was an extra shot and I was told before the 13th, and I went ‘oh I thought I was two clear’, not one,” he said.
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Tyrrell Hatton won the Dubai Desert Classic by one shot to grab his fifth Rolex Series title.
Hatton birdied the fifth, while Hillier made his second bogey of the day so the Englishman took the lead. Hillier rallied well with back-to-back birdies to start the back nine to get back within one, then both players bogeyed the 12th.
Hillier dug in and managed to birdie the last hole, forcing Hatton to make a winning putt of around five feet, which he pulled off to become the fifth English golfer to win the Dubai Desert Classic.
Tyrrell Hatton won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time
McIlroy fights back to fourth
McIlroy was unable to repeat his heroics from last year of winning from 10 shots behind, as he settled for joint-fourth with Nikas Norgaard behind Hatton, Hillier and Laurie Canter.
Having finished 2024 off strongly and won the Dubai Desert Classic title a record four times, including the last two years, McIlroy’s unimpressive opening two days proved costly.
His six-under 66 on Sunday was three shots better than his next best round this week and was enough to move from 12th to fourth, as he made five birdies on the back nine to finish just three shots off Hatton.
Rory McIlroy was unable to make it third successive Dubai Desert Classic titles
“I left myself with too much to do after three days. I had chances and was burning the edges. I felt like I putted pretty well without anything going in,” said McIlroy, who recorded his 12th consecutive top 10 at the event.
“I don’t think I played that differently to the last couple of days, I just held a couple of putts and made a couple of good ups and downs when I had to.
“I feel like I got progressively better as the week went on, which bodes well for the next few weeks.”
McIlroy will next be in action on January 27 in the TGL as his Boston Common Golf side take on Jupiter Links, before he heads to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am on January 30 to February 2 – with both events live on Sky Sports.
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What’s next in TGL?
The next TGL match sees New York Golf Club back in action on January 22 against Atlanta Drive GC (12am start UK time), before Jupiter Links GC play Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf on January 27 (11.30pm start).
Los Angeles GC next feature against Boston Common Golf on Wednesday February 5 (2am start), with every match of the 2025 and 2026 seasons exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.
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