If Rory McIlroy is to emulate the history of the likes of Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo, he will have to repeat his own history here at the Desert Classic.

Jon Rahm missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic. Ewen Ferguson was taking full advantage.

Daniel Hillier birdied the final two holes to shoot 2-under 70 on Saturday and take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for a “scrappy” opening round of 70 in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Seeking a third straight win at Emirates Golf Club, McIlroy carded four birdies and two bogeys to lie five shots off the lead shared by American amateur David Ford, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Australian David Micheluzzi.

A 22-year-old American amateur making his debut on the DP World Tour upstaged Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and many of the world’s top players at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy faced a 10-shot deficit to Cameron Young at the midway point of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. He then carded a 9-under 63 on Saturday, which helped propel him to a victory the following day.

Daniel Hillier of New Zealand birdied the final two holes to shoot 2-under 70 on Saturday and take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy knows what Tyrrell Hatton can do, and the Englishman's Dubai win was further evidence he'll be an "asset" in the Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy is not playing at the level we have come to expect, but has precedence to lean on at the Hero Desert Dubai Classic.

Rory McIlroy kickstarts his 2025 season this week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, live on Sky Sports, with the defending champion immediately having the opportunity to create history.

Rory McIlroy was presented with the Seve Ballesteros Award at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic last week, having won his sixth Race to Dubai title at the end of 2024