The Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the first Rolex Series of the DP World Tour season, will be held from 18 to 21 January at the Emirates Golf Club and will feature at least eleven Spanish golfers. We say at least because these are the ones confirmed today, but it should not be ruled out that more may enter at the last minute from the reserve list or with an invitation.
The figure of eleven is by no means insignificant. This impressive starting lineup represents a record. It is the highest number of Spanish golfers in the Desert Classic since the tournament moved up the ranks and became one of the most important of the season under its Rolex Series status. The new designation came about in 2022 and resulted in a considerable increase (more than double in the prize pool and almost double in the distribution of Race to Dubai points). This year there are nine million dollars in winnings (one more than last year and the highest in history) and 8,000 European ranking points.
The eleven Spaniards present in Dubai are Pablo Larrazábal, who will play the tournament for the sixteenth consecutive time, Jorge Campillo, with his thirteenth consecutive appearance, Adrián Otaegui, Adri Arnaus, Nacho Elvira, Santi Tarrio, Alex del Rey, Rafa Cabrera Bello, fifteenth consecutive year playing this tournament, Ángel Hidalgo, Sebastián García Rodríguez and Manu Elvira. The figure of eleven Spaniards in Dubai has not been surpassed since 2014, when we had twelve, and was only matched in 2019. It is something to be happy about and shows that there are many Spaniards with a good card in the DP World Tour. Of all of them, the only one with a medical exemption is Sebas.
As we say, there will be eleven Spaniards and this year one of the most classic will be missing: Miguel Ángel Jiménez. The Malaga native cannot play, beyond whether he could by his category or not (he could always have asked for an invitation), he will not be at the Majlis course of the Emirates Golf Club because this year it coincides in the week with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, the first tournament of the PGA Tour Champions calendar, an event that Jiménez cannot miss because Mitsubishi is one of his main sponsors. By the way, Jiménez has played the Desert Classic 29 times. He has only missed five editions (1989, 2001, 2002, 2013 and 2015). Hopefully in the future he can play his thirtieth Desert Classic.
Let’s remember that the Desert Classic maintains an extraordinary love affair with Spanish golf. No wonder, up to six different Spaniards have won this tournament throughout its 34-year history: Seve Ballesteros (1992), José María Olazábal (1998), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2010), Álvaro Quirós (2011), Rafa Cabrera Bello (2012) and Sergio García (2017).
Beyond the Spaniards, the presence of Rory McIlroy, Brian Harman, Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott, Nicolai Hojgaard, Francesco Molinari or Adrian Meronk stands out. In addition, Joaco Niemann and Kalle Samooja from LIV Golf will be there, as well as Bernd Wiesberger, who will make his re-debut on the European Tour after his poor stint at LIV Golf. The Austrian is in the earnings list category. Also noteworthy are the amateurs Michael Thorbjornsen and Caleb Surratt.
