A stellar field of the world's best are in action on the DP World Tour at the Emirates Golf Club for the latest edition of the Dubai Desert Classic. Who will be crowned champion at the first Rolex Series event of the year?
Tyrrell Hatton is back to defend his title after a one-stroke victory over Daniel Hillier in 2025.
These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland has been in solid form on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in recent outings, placing T7 at the BMW Championship, 12th at the Tour Championship, T5 at the BMW PGA Championship, T6 at the DP World India Championship and T23 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Other prominent performances achieved by Hovland last season include a T22 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a victory at the Valspar Championship, a T21 at the Masters, a T13 at the RBC Heritage, a T25 at the Memorial Tournament, a 3rd at the U.S. Open and a T11 at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The seven-time PGA Tour winner has an excellent record at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, finishing T23 in 2020 and winning in 2022 before missing the cut in 2025.
Hovland has been showing positive signs that he is ready to win another tournament.
David Puig
David Puig has been in great touch in his last six starts, placing T9 at the Open de Espana, T14 at the Link Hong Kong Open, T16 at the PIF Saudi International, victory at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, MC at the Crown Australian Open and T3 at the Dubai Invitational last weekend.
Other noteworthy results achieved by Puig on the DP World Tour and LIV Golf Tour last season include a 3rd at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, a T4 at the Bahrain Championship, a T6 in Riyadh, a 4th in Adelaide, a T18 in Hong Kong, a 4th in Singapore, a T14 in Miami, a T13 in Hong Kong, T13 in Dallas, a T11 at the BMW International Open, a T19 in Andalucia, a T18 in the United Kingdom, a T17 in Chicago and a T4 in Indianapolis.
The Spaniard will make his debut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this weekend.
Puig has come good in recent months and can go all the way at the Emirates Golf Club this weekend.
Jayden Schaper
Jayden Schaper has been in superb form on the DP World Tour in the last four months, placing T5 at the Open de Espana, T6 at the DP World India Championship, T23 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, T20 at the DP World Tour Championship, T2 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, victory at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and T20 at the Dubai Invitational last weekend.
Other notable results achieved by Schaper in 2025 include a T21 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, a T5 at the Qatar Masters, a 4th at the Magical Kenya Open, a T16 at the South African Open Championship, a T9 at the Joburg Open, a T5 at the Austrian Alpine Open, a 3rd at the KLM Open, a T10 at the Italian Open and a 9th at the FedEx Open de France.
The two-time DP World Tour winner has made two appearances at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, finishing T38 in 2024 and T21 in 2025.
Schaper has been on top of his game lately and can emerge victorious in Dubai this weekend.
Wenyi Ding
Wenyi Ding has been performing well on the Asian Tour and DP World Tour lately, placing 3rd at the SJM Macao Open, T6 at the Link Hong Kong Open, 2nd at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, T18 at the Crown Australian Open and 19th at the Dubai Invitational last weekend.
Additional highlights achieved by Wenyi Ding in 2025 include a T20 at the Magical Kenya Open, a T14 at the Joburg Open, a T14 at the Porsche Singapore Classic, a T8 at the Volvo China Open, a T12 at the Turkish Airlines Open and a T24 at the Danish Golf Championship.
The 21-year-old will debut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this weekend.
Wenyi Ding could cause an upset, as he comes into this DP World Tour event in solid form.