Although Rory McIlroy has not played well in his first tournament of 2025, he is certainly not out of it at the halfway point.

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 makes his 2025 debut in the DP World Tour event – here are all the details on how to watch the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic online and on TV.

Rory McIlroy is making his 2025 debut in the desert. He will be joined by Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Rory McIlroy’s twin wins at the Emirates Golf Club in the past two years could scarcely have evoked more contrasting responses. When he defended his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title last year, he was a picture of contentment.

After starting with an opening round of 70, McIlroy gained another stroke after carding a 71, meaning he is three-under par for the tournament. With McIlroy predicting testing conditions at Emirates Golf Club over the weekend,

Three-time DP World Tour victor Ewen Ferguson the halfway leader in Dubai after remarkable final hole; defending champion Rory McIlroy nine adrift; watch the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday on Sky Sports Golf,

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.

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert 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.

Hero Dubai Desert Classic is the first big event of the year on the DP World Tour schedule as Rory McIlroy seeks a fifth event win in the United Arab Emirates. Ryan Ballengee previews the event.