At the Dubai Desert Classic, Jon Rahm said “we’re living in a golden era right now for golf,” which Rory McIlroy didn’t quite agree with.

Rory McIlroy is making his 2025 debut in the desert. He will be joined by Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Following a week in Abu Dhabi, the European Tour travels just an hour north for the 36th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy appeared to take a dim view of Jon Rahm's comments about the current state of men's professional golf. Rahm told reporters before the Hero Dubai Desert Classic he believed we are living in 'a golden era' with endless possibilities.

Hero Dubai Desert Classic field is 126 players. The Hero Dubai Desert Classic field is made up of many top players as well as a variety of DP World Tour players competing

Hero Dubai Desert Classic features golf stars Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Adam Scott, plus underdogs Dean Burmester, Rasmus Hojgaard, and NicolaiHojgaard.

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025 is celebrating the wide-reaching health and wellness benefits of golf for both spectators and players with the launch of Step Fore It, an exciting new initiative that will challenge tournament visitors to rack up as many steps as possible throughout the event – with prizes for those topping the leaderboard.

Rory McIlroy’s twin wins at the Emirates Golf Club in the past two years could scarcely have evoked more contrasting responses. When he defended his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title last year, he was a picture of contentment.