McIlroy: "First 'Number 1' Launch of the New Year"

DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic Appearance

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, photo) makes his first appearance of the new year. McIlroy will compete from the 26th (local time) for four days at the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) Dubai Desert Classic, held at the Emirates Golf Club (par 72, 7,428 yards) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a total prize fund of $9 million.

McIlroy missed the PGA Tour’s “Tournament of Champions” at Kapalua Plantation Course (par 73) in Maui, Hawaii, which ended on the 8th. He will start the 2023 season at the Dubai Desert Classic. McIlroy had an outstanding year last season, winning three times and becoming the FedEx Cup champion. This season, he also achieved back-to-back victories by winning The CJ Cup in October last year.

McIlroy resisted the temptation of LIV Golf, sponsored by Saudi Arabian capital, and remained on the PGA Tour. He took the PGA Tour side and opposed players who switched to LIV Golf. In this tournament, he will face off against LIV Series players such as Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood (both England), Patrick Reed (USA), and Henrik Stenson (Sweden). McIlroy won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009 and 2015. He confidently stated, "I want to lift the third winner’s trophy."

Victor Perez (France) aims for his second consecutive win. He is on an upswing after securing his third DP World Tour victory eight months after winning the Dutch Open last May, at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. This is a rematch for Minwoo Lee (Australia), the runner-up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Other contenders for the title include 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry (Ireland), Francesco Molinari (Italy), Tommy Fleetwood, and Tyrrell Hatton (both England).