Blog#301 Hero Desert Classic

Blog#301 Hero Desert Classic

Emirates Golf Club Dubai UAE

Par 72 Jan 16-19, 2025 Purse $9M            

HISTORY This tournament is the 1st of the DP Tours 5 Rolex Cup events.  It actually has a better field than the American Express also being played this weekend.  There are several top LIV and PGA players participating and some are included in the favorites below.  In 2021 the purse was  $3.2M raised to $8M in 2022.  McIlroy is going for his 3rd in a row.

FAVORITES 

Rory McIlroy 4/1 Victor Hovland 14/1 Patrick Reed 30/1

Jon Rahm 5/1 Rasmus Hojgaard 20/1 Akshay Bhatia 35/1

Tyrrell Hatton 9/1 Robert MacIntyre 22/1 Tommy Fleetwood 11/1  

ROUND 1 Only 5 recognizable names in top 26.  I think one of them will win and its Hatton.

1 Ricardo Gouveia-7 65 POR Age 33 OWGR 405 DP wins 0, 1 bogie 8 birdies. Finish 14-8

1 David Micheluzzi-7 65 POR 65 Age 28 OWGR 225 DP wins 0, bogie free RD. Finish 8-10

1 David Ford-7 65 USA Amateur Age 22 OWGR 3267. Finish 72+4

5 Ewen Ferguson-5 67 SCL Age 28 OWGR 141 DP wins 3 Bogie free RD. Finish 16-7

9 Daniel Hiller-4 68 NZL Age26 OWGR 223 DP wins 1 Bogie free until #18 DB. Finish 2-14

18 Jon Rahm-3 69 SPN Age 30 OWGR 31 DP wins 0, 3 bogies 1 eagle 4 birdies. Finish Cut 

26 Tom McKibbin-2 70 NI Age 22 OWGR 114 DP wins 1,One DB 4 birdies.          Finish  6-11         

26 Rory McIlroy-2 70 NI Age 35 OWGR 3 DP wins 18, two bogies 4 birdies. Finish 4-12

26 Patrick Reed-2 70 USA Age 34 OWGR 132 DP wins 3, Four birdies 2 bogies. Finish 10-9  

48 Tommy Fleetwood-1 69 ENG Age 33 OWGR 10 DP wins 7, one DB 3 birdies. Finish 21-5

48 Tyrrell Hatton-1 71 ENG Age 33 OWGR 17 DP wins 7,1 DB 1 bogie 4 birdies. Finish Wins

48 Rasmus Hojgaard-1 71 DEN Age 23 OWGR 42 DP wins 5, 4 bogies. Finish 14-8

111 V. Hovland+3 75 NWA  Age27 OWGR 8 DO wins 2, Six bogies 3 birdies. Finish Cut

ROUND 2

1 Ewen Ferguson-12 65 Eagle on 18 2nd shot 5’ from pin, with 5 birdies 0 bogies in 2RDs.

2 Daniel Hiller-11 65 Eagles #18 after DB RD 1 with 5 birdies.

3 Tyrrell Hatton-8 65 One bogie 8 birdies including #18.

7 Rasmus Hojgaard-6 66 Also moves up 41 spots Bogie free RD 6 birdies.

33 Rory McIlroy-3 71 Two more bogies total of 4 in 2RDs, looks like no three peat.

87 Jon Rahm+2 77 Two DBs 2 bogies for a total of 6 bogies, Ferguson had 0 bogies.

ROUND 3 McIlroy shoots 69 is-6, Hojgaard in water on 18 for bogie-7. 

1 Daniel Hiller-13 70 Despite 4 bogies  birdies #17&18 for lead.

1 Tyrell Hatton-12 68 Four birdies 0 bogies back 9, on 18  makes 20’ birdie putt. 

2 Ewen Ferguson-10 Bogies 16&17 to lose lead but birdies #18 to stay in the race. 

FINAL ROUND One of the above 3 should win unless someone comes from 4 back or more.

1 Tyrell Hatton-15 68 Bogies 1st hole then 5 birdies 1 bogie, 2 putts 18 to win by 1.     $1.5M

2 Daniel Hiller-14 71 Also bogies 1st hole, 2 more to trail by 2, birdies 18 but 1 short.   $962M

4 Rory McIlroy-12 66 Bogies #2 then 7 birdies on last 16 holes, not enough!         $404M

16 Ewen Ferguson-7 Completely falls apart after 2 good opening RDs 1DB 3 bogies.   $123M

FEEL GOOD STORY David Ford, North Carolina U is  #1 ranked college player who eagled 

his 1st hole and finished RD 1 tied for 1st.  He will get his PGA card and turn pro in May.