Rory McIlroy will tee it up at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic looking to go one better than he did a fortnight ago in Abu Dhabi as he seeks a second title at Emirates Golf Club to go with his maiden European Tour victory in 2009.
The Northern Irishman finished runner-up at Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the fourth time in his career two weeks ago, narrowly missing out on a closing eagle at the last which would have put him in a play-off with eventual winner Gary Stal.
McIlroy’s form figures in his last six events on The European Tour now read: second, tied second, tied second, first, first, first, stretching back to his victory in The Open Championship last summer. Given McIlroy’s impressive record in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, it would be little surprise if he were to extend that incredible run in the emirate this week.
Since his win six years ago, McIlroy has not finished outside the top ten in the final event of the annual Desert Swing, and he will hope to continue that form this week as he looks to increase his advantage atop the Official World Golf Ranking.
In second place on the global list is Henrik Stenson, who triumphed in this event in 2007 and has won a total of four titles in the Middle East – a feat that ties him alongside Ernie Els as the most successful player in the region.
Stenson heads to Dubai fresh from a solid performance in last week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, where he recorded a top 15 finish behind Branden Grace, who claimed a sixth European Tour title at Doha Golf Club.
Grace held off a late charge from Marc Warren to record his second title of the season and climb to third place in The Race to Dubai.
Defending champion Stephen Gallacher of Scotland will look to make it an unprecedented treble in Dubai, having last year become the first man to successfully defend the title, in its 25th year.
Gallacher, who also won the 2002 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, closed with a round of 67 on his seasonal reappearance in Qatar last week, and the man who made his Ryder Cup debut last September will hope to build on that performance in neighbouring Dubai.
Twelve months ago, Gallacher battled his way to a one stroke victory at Emirates Golf Club, with the foundation for his win being a superlative 63 on Saturday that gave him a two shot advantage heading into the final round.
Another man hoping to create history this week is Els, who has his sights set on an unprecedented fourth title at Emirates Golf Club, where he holds the course record, courtesy of a round of 61 en route to victory in 1994.
Eight years later, the South African triumphed again on the magnificent Majlis Course to claim his second title and his love affair with the tournament continued in 2005, when he claimed a record third Omega Dubai Desert Classic title after a dramatic eagle three on the final hole which carried him past Welshman Stephen Dodd and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez.
Also set to feature this week are a number of young talents looking to take advantage of tournament invitations, including Javier Ballesteros, son of five-time Major Champion Seve, who will make only his second start on The European Tour.
He will be joined by former US Amateur Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick, as well as last year’s Youth Olympic Gold Medallist Renato Paratore, while 17 year old German Dominic Foos will also feature.
