Tyrrell Hatton won the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic as Rory McIlroy bounced back to finish fourth in 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 win 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 at 15 under for the tournament in a thrilling finish.
“It feels amazing. I said earlier in the week that this is one of the events you want to have on your resume. 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 great champions before me, to have my name on that trophy is a dream come true.
“I was really nervous on the back nine. I think I wanted it a little too much. I knew the position I was in. A little sloppy on the last one, but to see that putt go in, it felt great. happy for victory”.
Hatton was unable to make any inroads during the opening four holes as he and Hillier each had a bogey and birdie.
The key moment of the day came on the fifth hole, when Hillier ended up in trouble and needed a few chips to get out of trouble. On his first chip, he touched the ball again on the move, but it didn’t count as another stroke, which left Hatton confused.
“I actually thought I had the score wrong! He two-putted 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.
Tyrrell Hatton won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the first time
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 birdied the 12th.
Hillier holed out and bogeyed the final hole, forcing Hatton to make a winning par from around five feet, which he holed to become the fifth English player to win the Dubai Desert Classic.
McIlroy returns to fourth place
McIlroy was unable to repeat his heroics from last year, winning from 10 shots behind, as he settled for joint fourth with Nikas Norgaard behind Hatton, Hillier and Laurie Canter.
After finishing 2024 strongly and winning the Dubai Desert Classic 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 strokes 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 finished just three shots from Hatton.
Rory McIlroy was unable to make it a third consecutive Dubai Desert Classic title
“I left myself with a lot to do after three days. I had chances and I was burning the edges. I felt like I putt really well without putting anything in,” said McIlroy, who recorded his 12th consecutive 10 this event.
“I don’t think I played that much different than the last couple of days, I just held some shots and made some good ups and downs when I needed to.
“I feel like I got better and better as the week went on, which bodes well for the coming weeks.”
McIlroy will be in action on January 27 at the TGL as his Boston Common Golf team takes on Jupiter Links, before heading 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 at TGL?
The next TGL match sees the New York Golf Club in action on January 22 against Atlanta Drive GC (kick-off 12pm UK time), before Jupiter Links GC play Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf on January 27 (11:30 start).
Next feature Los Angeles GC v Boston Common Golf on Wednesday 5th February (2pm kick-off), with each match of the 2025 and 2026 seasons exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more NOW.
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