Masters<\/a> <\/strong>had finished at Augusta in Georgia (US), had been looking to expand beyond its borders for some time due to the European winter climate.<\/p>\n\n\n Running from 1982 through 1986, the Tunisian Open was the first trialled tourney outside Europe which was followed in 1987 by a Moroccan tournament which lasted one year. Despite enjoying little success in North Africa, the tour wouldn\u2019t give up and soon turned to the Arab Gulf.<\/p>\n\n
\n When this tournament was first staged in 1989, Dubai looked very different to the sky-scraping neon desert metropolis that it is today. Back then it was just a relatively small fishing port, just beginning to introduce itself as a tourist destination with miles and miles of nothing but sand all the way to Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n\n
\n The Emirates Golf Club, <\/strong>host venue for the inaugural Dubai Desert Classic and first grass turfed golf course in the Middle East, was almost about 15 miles from Dubai\u2019s outer limits with nothing between the course and the city.<\/p>\n\n\n In 1989, the tee for the 8th hole was played towards an empty horizon, save for sand-covered views of the Persian Gulf. In contrast, today the fairways are played towards Dubai\u2019s famous skyline dominated by high rise buildings and hotels. At this point, the only amenities included one hospitality tent, two small grandstands and a scoreboard.<\/p>\n\n
\n That first year was won by Mark James from England when he beat Australian Peter O\u2019Malley in a playoff. Thanks to Dubai Sheikh money, James has since been followed by the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, and a host of other names.<\/p>\n\n
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Four players have won the trophy more than once, Ernie Els who has won it three times, and Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Stephen Gallacher, who have all won it twice. The youngest-ever winner of the Dubai Classic was Northern Ireland\u2019s Rory McIlroy, who was only 19 years old when he won in 2009.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
\n With the exception of the 1999 and 2000 events when it was hosted by the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, it has always been played at the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club; however, the 1991 edition was cancelled due the Persian Gulf war. Unlike many sporting events in 2020 which were cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic, the Dubai Desert Classic was staged as normal.<\/p>\n\n
\n In 2010, the then Dubai Desert Classic, partnered with Omega, a partnership which lasted 11 years up until 2021. For a single 2022 edition Slync.io were chief sponsors. The partnership was ended late 2022. This January, just weeks before the tournament started, Hero MotoCorp<\/strong> has been announced as events sponsors. The Indian giants are one of the largest 2-wheeler manufacturers in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n The tournament can boast a stellar amount of representation from countries all over the world with 28 different winners from 12 countries<\/strong>. There\u2019s also been at least one winner from every continent on the globe. In 2018 Li Haotong from China became the first Asian champion but there still hasn\u2019t been a winner from the Arabian gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n In 2022 the event was finally elevated to become part of the Rolex Series. The list of events which form part of the Rolex Series have changed massively over the years, only three of the original eight remaining. The inclusion of the Dubai Desert Classic meant that three of the five events are located within the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n\n
Recent Dubai Desert Classic Winners<\/h2>\n \n\n\n
Year<\/th> Winner<\/th> Nation<\/th> Score (Below Par)<\/th> Winning Margin<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> 2022<\/td> Viktor Hovland<\/td> Norway<\/td> 276 (-12)<\/td> Playoff<\/td><\/tr> 2021<\/td> Paul Casey<\/td> England<\/td> 271 (-17)<\/td> 4 Strokes<\/td><\/tr> 2020<\/td> Lucas Herbert<\/td> Australia<\/td> 279 (-9)<\/td> Playoff<\/td><\/tr> 2019<\/td> Bryson DeChambeau<\/td> United States<\/td> 264 (-24)<\/td> 7 strokes<\/td><\/tr> 2018<\/td> Li Haotong<\/td> China<\/td> 265 (-23)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr> 2017<\/td> Sergio Garc\u00eda<\/td> Spain<\/td> 269 (-19)<\/td> 3 Strokes<\/td><\/tr> 2016<\/td> Danny Willett<\/td> England<\/td> 269 (-19)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr> 2015<\/td> Rory McIlroy (2)<\/td> Northern Ireland<\/td> 266 (-22)<\/td> 3 Strokes<\/td><\/tr> 2014<\/td> Stephen Gallacher (2)<\/td> Scotland<\/td> 272 (-16)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr> 2013<\/td> Stephen Gallacher<\/td> Scotland<\/td> 266 (-22)<\/td> 3 Strokes<\/td><\/tr> 2012<\/td> Rafael Cabrera-Bello<\/td> Spain<\/td> 270 (-18)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr> 2011<\/td> \u00c1lvaro Quir\u00f3s<\/td> Spain<\/td> 277 (-11)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr> 2010<\/td> Miguel \u00c1ngel Jim\u00e9nez<\/td> Spain<\/td> 277 (-11)<\/td> Playoff<\/td><\/tr> 2009<\/td> Rory McIlroy<\/td> Northern Ireland<\/td> 269 (-19)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr> 2008<\/td> Tiger Woods (2)<\/td> United States<\/td> 274 (-14)<\/td> 1 Stroke<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nDubai Desert Classic Key Stats<\/h2>\n \n\n\n
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Having won the event three times, South African Ernie Els has won the Dubai Desert Classic more than anyone else.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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Ernie also shot a tournament record 61 in 1994 finishing 20 under par.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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This was Ernie\u2019s first European Tour event win. He\u2019s gone on to win 28 titles.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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The best ever score here was set by Bryson DeChambeau in 2019, who scored a record 264.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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American Mark O\u2019Meara became the tournament\u2019s oldest winner in 2000, when he won the title aged 47.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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While Rory McIlroy is the youngest-ever winner, scooping the title aged 19 in 2009.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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