Tommy Fleetwood arrives at this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic chasing further success on the DP World Tour, with ambitions of lifting the Dallah Trophy and securing a third Rolex Series title.
The Englishman is looking to continue a remarkable run of recent success that saw him win his first PGA TOUR title – and the FedExCup– at last season’s TOUR Championship.
The 35-year-old then added a victory at the DP World India Championship and arrives at Emirates Golf Club at a career-high third in the Official World Golf Ranking.
It is all a far cry from when he became the youngest HotelPlanner Tour Rankings winner in history at the age of 20 in 2011 and since then he has claimed eight DP World Tour victories, helping him lift the Harry Vardon Trophy in 2017.
There have been many changes in both the Tour and the international golfing landscape in those intervening 15 years, but Fleetwood is happy it is still a place where players can follow in his footsteps and chase their own dreams.
“I think this Tour is amazing,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s middle ground. I have kids that are striving to make it in the game. I dreamt all my life as a junior to make it on the DP World Tour and be a winner here. I think it’s where so many of us have dreamt of playing all our lives.
“I think it gives opportunities from people all over the world to qualify for this Tour, and I also think this Tour is a big part in people chasing their dreams elsewhere as well. It’s an amazing Tour with amazing people that play and work on the Tour. And I think it’s been around for a long, long time, and amazing players and amazing tournaments, and it continues to do that.”
Having won season-long honours on three different tours on both sides of the Atlantic and been part of three winning Ryder Cup teams from four appearances, attention has naturally turned to Fleetwood’s Major championship ambitions.
“I think the best players in the world obviously play at a very consistently high level,” he said. “It’s not just about winning one tournament or two tournaments. They work towards making their game as good as they possibly can and see where you go from there and see what you achieve from there. I enjoy doing that. I enjoy that standard and working towards that.”
Before Major season begins, however, he must first attempt to tame the Majlis Course – a challenge he admits has not come easily during his career. This week marks his 15th consecutive appearance at the Desert Classic and, while he has missed just two cuts, he has recorded only two top-ten finishes.
“I think there are times I’ve played very well around this course and I just haven’t put the all-around game together,” Fleetwood admitted. “There’s times where maybe I’ve let myself down on the greens or haven’t scored as well, or times where I’ve not played the par fives as well. It’s just putting everything together where you can contend.
“I think I’ve been in the last group once or twice on Sunday and fallen back. I just haven’t quite put it all together around here. I love the challenge and I really do enjoy playing around here. And there’s a lot of aspects about the course that suit the way I see golf.”
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry has won a Major and holed the retaining putt at a Ryder Cup but insists that does not dim his desire to win every time he tees it up on the DP World Tour.
Lowry arrives at this week’s tournament already a two-time Rolex Series winner but his victory at the BMW PGA Championship in 2022 was his last worldwide individual triumph.
The 38-year-old had a golden chance to end that mini drought at last week’s Dubai Invitational but a double-bogey on the last saw him finish two shots behind eventual winner Nacho Elvira.
“So it wasn’t just the last hole last week that let me down,” Lowry reflected. “It was a few things along the way. But I felt like I played some great golf and I think you need to look at that and look at the positives and bring them forward.
“There’s plenty of players that played last week that are over on the range now trying to find their game but they didn’t feel as bad as I did leaving Dubai Creek Sunday evening.”
While the Irishman admits that is still stinging as he moves across the Emirate to the Majlis Course, he is happy to have the chance to bounce back at one of the DP World Tour’s most storied events for the first time since 2023.
“I think what the DP World Tour is all about is a lot of history,” he said. “Obviously this event is not like a hundred years old but there’s a lot of history to it. Since 1989, you look at the winners, it’s one of the great places to come.
“The trophy is iconic, and you want to put your name on that trophy. I think that’s what the DP World Tour is about. It’s a lot about history and a lot about great events around the world. I think this is certainly one of the great events on any tour that we play. Like it is one of the events that you would love to have on your mantelpiece.
“To see this event grow, and even the build-out around the course, the magnitude of the event and the buzz around the place from even Monday yesterday is pretty cool. Dubai has always been a great place to come and play; the end of the year, it’s always nice to get here.”
Off the course, fans can enjoy Tournament Town featuring live music, entertainment, the new Eat Street food hub, and a whole roster of exciting children’s activities and workshops in the newly expanded Kids Zone, double in size for 2026.
General Admission remains free for everyone on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January while weekend access for adults on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January is AED 100 with advance purchase or AED 125 at the door.
Children under 17 receive free entry across all four days when registered and accompanied by an adult. For those seeking an elevated experience, upgraded hospitality includes The Social on Sixteen overlooking the iconic 16th hole from AED 695, and The Dallah Lounge with all-day inclusive gourmet dining from AED 2,100.
GETTING TO THE TOURNAMENT
There is no free or paid public parking at Emirates Golf Club, visitors are advised to use public transport. To find the fastest route, visitors can plan their visit on the Journey Planner on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic App and access the RTA app for public parking options in the surrounding areas.
The easiest way to reach the tournament is by Dubai Metro, as Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station sits directly outside the main entrance to Emirates Golf Club on the Red Line, offering seamless access to the venue. The station is well connected from key locations across the city, including Mall of the Emirates, Business Bay, Dubai Mall, World Trade Centre and Airport Terminal 3.
Visitors driving in can also park for free at Centrepoint, Etisalat or Jebel Ali Metro stations, then hop on the Red Line to Al Fardan Exchange, arriving right at the front gate.
Taxis will be available at drop-off and pick-up points for spectators at the venue throughout the tournament, making this a convenient option for families and groups.
Bus route 83 stops at Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station, directly outside the Emirates Golf Club entrance, and connects to multiple locations across Dubai.
There is limited paid parking space on Saturday and Sunday available on a first come first serve basis in two carparks adjacent to the venue entrance that can be accessed by foot across the footbridge: Reem Al Sahra Car Park Rental and American University Dubai.
To secure your tickets or for more information, please visit www.dubaidesertclassic.com.
