Former world number one Dustin Johnson will be in Dubai at the end of January. He will compete in the first tournament of the 2026 Rolex Series, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, before returning to LIV Golf in Riyadh in early February.
Another big name has just been announced for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, scheduled for January 22-25 at the Emirates Golf Course in Dubai. Former world number one Dustin Johnson has confirmed his participation in the first Rolex Series event of the 2025-26 DP World Tour season.
Dustin Johnson, golf
The 2016 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters champion will be tackling the par-72, 6,803-meter course for the first time. He joins a star-studded lineup. This is a brief detour for one of the major acquisitions on the Saudi circuit, before the start of the new season, scheduled to take place in the kingdom's capital from February 4th to 7th.
Among them are four-time winner of the event Rory McIlroy, and Tour Championship winner and Dubai resident Tommy Fleetwood. The Aces GC captain at LIV Golf explained his choice of venue: “I’ve heard great things about the event and the Emirates Golf Club. When you look at former champions like Seve, Tiger, and Rory, you know it’s a very prestigious tournament with an incredible history.”
Lowry and Hovland return
Among the players announced for the Emirates are two major returns: Ryder Cup decisive point winner Shane Lowry, who hasn’t competed in the competition since 2023. His teammate, Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who won the event in 2022, will also be making his return four years later. Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, himself a LIV Golf player, will also be present.
The rules of golf are relatively complicated compared to other sports because they are played outdoors, close to nature and animals. Respecting the rules is a fundamental element in the game of golf, which, almost always based on self-control and the free conscience of the players, often sees distorted results, sometimes consciously, but often unconsciously or through carelessness, due to the failure of many players to comply with the rules of the game. In addition to the rules, golf adheres to a code of conduct, known as etiquette, which generally means playing the game with due respect for the golf course and other players. Etiquette is an essential component of this sport.
