Rory McIlroy has been installed as a red-hot 10/3 favourite by BoyleSports to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the fifth time.
The Holywood native is bidding for a third consecutive victory in the DP World Tour’s season opener at the Majlis course, a track that is dominated by long hitters who are accurate off the tee.
The Middle East has been a happy hunting ground for the four-time major winner, but he will have to beat a field of 125 to continue his love affair with the Gulf State. English duo Tyrell Hatton (8/1) and Tommy Fleetwood (9/1) have both been backed to upset the petro-dollar ridden apple cart, as has Rasmus Højgaard, who has been backed into 20/1 on the back of a fine second in the DP World Tour Championship.
While punters are confident of another bold showing by McIlroy and Højgaard, they have gone cold on the chances of LIV defector Jon Rahm, who is now 9/2 (from 7/2) as he prepares to make his debut at the event.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Rasmus Højgaard, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrell Hatton have all seen support, but Rory McIlroy remains the best backed in the field and confidence is high that he’ll get his year off to a flier for the third year on the trot.”
For golf markets in full, please click here.
Dubai Desert Classic 2025
10/3 Rory McIlroy
9/2 Jon Rahm
8/1 Tyrell Hatton
9/1 Tommy Fleetwood
12/1 Viktor Hovland
18/1 Robert McIntyre
18/1 Adam Scott
20/1 Rasmus Højgaard
22/1 Thorbjorn Olesen
22/1 Patrick Reed
28/1 bar
Leave a comment