McIlroy "Two Consecutive Weeks in Middle East Tour"..."Got a Feel for the Win~"

DP World Tour 'Rolex Series' Dubai Desert Classic Victory Bid, World No. 2 Morikawa and No. 5 Hovland Join

Lori McIlroy challenges for her first win of 2022 at the Dubai Desert Classic.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Got the hang of it."

‘Number 8’ Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) has embarked on his ‘Middle East expedition’ for the second consecutive week. This time, the battleground is the Dubai Desert Classic (total prize money $8 million), which opens on the night of the 27th (Korean time) at the Emirates Golf Club (par 72, 7,364 yards) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Moreover, this tournament is the second event of the ‘Rolex Series,’ which bundles five premium matches of the DP World Tour (European Tour). World No. 2 Collin Morikawa (USA) and No. 5 Viktor Hovland (Norway) are competing for the championship.

McIlroy started his 2022 tour at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which ended on the night of the 23rd, instead of the PGA Tour. Every year, he seems to warm up on the DP World Tour before moving on to the PGA Tour. His achievements are also remarkable, having amassed a total of 14 wins, including seven victories in the four major championships co-hosted by the PGA Tour and the World Golf Championships (WGC) series. This tournament is also a ‘promised land’ where he won twice, in 2009 and 2015.

It is interesting that McIlroy sufficiently tuned his practical shot sense while finishing tied for 12th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. He revealed his hunter instinct as the rounds progressed: even par in the 1st round, 3 over par in the 2nd round, 5 under par in the 3rd round, and 3 under par in the 4th round. The 18th hole (par 5) on the final day was representative. From a massive 664-yard distance, he attempted a ‘2-on’ by carrying the water hazard. Although the draw shot hooked into the water, resulting in a bogey, his competitive spirit was exceptional.

Paul Casey has stepped up to defend his title at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Paul Casey (England) aims to defend his title, while ‘Abu Dhabi champ’ Thomas Pieters (Belgium) dreams of ‘back-to-back wins.’ Casey especially relies on his perfect compatibility with the Emirates Golf Club, where he achieved a 4-stroke victory last year. Lucas Herbert (Australia), the 2020 champion, is challenging to reclaim the top spot after two years, and past champions such as Danny Willett (England) in 2016 and Sergio Garcia (Spain) in 2017 have joined the field.

Morikawa is another point of interest. After aiming to become the ‘new golf emperor’ with an Abu Dhabi win, he was disappointed, finishing tied for 62nd after struggling with 1 over par from the first day. Since the Hero World Challenge, a premium PGA Tour event in December last year, he has repeatedly missed opportunities to be ‘Number 1.’ On the other hand, Hovland is on the rise, finishing tied for 4th in Abu Dhabi. European powerhouses such as Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood (both England) have also gathered in full force.