Hero Dubai Desert Classic: Fantasy DP World Tour ones to watch

Fantasy DP World Tour continues this week with the first Rolex Series event of the season as Rory McIlroy defends his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title at Emirates Golf Club.

World Number Two McIlroy is aiming to become the first four-time winner of the prestigious event, having begun his 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish at the inaugural Dubai Invitational.

Joining the Northern Irishman are last week's winner Tommy Fleetwood and fellow Ryder Cup team-mates Tyrrell Hatton and Nicolai Højgaard.

Major champions Brian Harman, Adam Scott and Pádraig Harrington are also in the field, which sees several European Challenge Tour graduates and rising stars make their first appearance of the year.

If you have not done so already, you can sign up to play the official 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/

The 2024 season-long winner will win a trip to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next year, enjoy a lesson with a DP World Tour professional and a round of golf on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. For more information on this amazing prize and others, read here.

Fantasy Insight: As it stands, Rory McIlroy is the favourite for players of our Fantasy Game this week, featuring in 79% of teams. Other popular players include Ryder Cup-winning teammates Tyrrell Hatton (71%) and Tommy Fleetwood (65%).

Brian Harman. the 2023 Open Championship winner, is the fourth most picked player, featuring in 42% of Fantasy teams.

Favourite – Rory McIlroy

It’s hard to look past the defending champion.

Fresh off nearly winning his first event of the year for the second year in a row, the Northern Irishman has history in sights as he bids to become the first four-time winner of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Back at the scene of the first of two Rolex Series titles last season, McIlroy headlines an international field assembled for the 35th edition of the tournament over the Majlis Course.

The four-time Major Champion boasts an incredible record at the DP World Tour’s longest-running event in the Middle East, finishing inside the top ten in this tournament in every appearance since 2010.

Victory this week would be his sixth title in Dubai, with the reigning European Number One looking to continue making early inroads into his bid to win a sixth Harry Vardon Trophy of his career.

Form Horse – Tommy Fleetwood

While Thriston Lawrence was considered as Form Horse for the second week running following his runner-up finish last week, we have gone for our most recent winner.

Days after admitting he was searching for a missing piece that would see him win more regularly, Fleetwood claimed his first title on the DP World Tour since the 2022 Nedbank Golf Challenge.

His victory at the Dubai Invitational built upon a consistent campaign in 2023, which saw him register five top tens, including a runner-up finish at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Now a seven-time winner on the DP World Tour, Fleetwood is on the cusp of a return to the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time since March 2020.

Across his 12 previous appearances in this event, the Ryder Cup star has finished in the top ten on two occasions, with his best result a tie for sixth in 2018. Could this be lucky number 13 in the week he celebrates his 33rd birthday?

Wild Card – Adri Arnaus

The Spaniard holds a record in this event that can’t be ignored.

While he wasn’t at his best at last week’s Dubai Invitational on his return to action for the first time since the Joburg Open, the Majlis Course holds good memories.

Across his five previous appearances at Emirates Golf Club, Arnaus has finished in the top 15 on three occasions, including back-to-back top tens in 2020 and 2021.

A big hitter off the tee and historically a good putter, the 29-year-old is a winner on the DP World Tour and was a runner-up at the SDC Championship on last season’s Race to Dubai.

Although he may have gone on to miss out on qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, this week could be the event that kickstarts his campaign.

Looking back – Dubai Invitational

Tommy Fleetwood will have been a popular winner of the Dubai Invitational for Fantasy players, with the Englishman featuring in 66% of teams and captained by 20%.

Our Favourite Rory McIlroy was selected by an event week high 67% and the four-time Major champion went on to record a runner-up finish, amassing a strong points haul.

Thriston Lawrence, our Form Horse, lived up to his billing as he finished alongside McIlroy in a share of second place.

Our Wild Card Daniel Brown finished in a tie for 43rd in the no-cut event at Dubai Creek Resort.

Season so far - 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy player rankings