Hero Dubai Desert Classic set for historic Monday finish after weather disruptions

Organisers confirm Rolex Series tournament will be played over 72 holes despite time lost to rain

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Tommy Fleetwood of England smile on course during Day Two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 27, 2023. Getty Images

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks across the 9th hole during Day Two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Getty Images

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland retrieves his ball after holing his second shot for an eagle on the 8th hole at Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images

Rory McIlroy plays his second shot for an eagle on the 8th hole. Getty Images

Rory McIlroy reacts after shooting for an eagle on the 8th hole. Getty Images

Thomas Pieters of Belgium tees off on the 9th hole. Getty Images

Thomas Pieters of Belgium putts the ball. AFP

Thomas Pieters of Belgium tees off on the 8th hole. Getty Images

Patrick Reed of the USA looks on during the first round on the second day of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. EPA

Min Woo Lee of Australia, Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Victor Perez of France walk from the 8th tee. Getty Images

Victor Perez of France throws a ball to his Caddie on the 9th green. Getty Images

Ludvig Aberg of Sweden tees off on the 8th hole. Getty Images

Tommy Fleetwood of England reacts ahead of a drop by the 9th hole green. Getty Images

Staff at Emirates Golf Club ready the course for Day 2 of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after more overnight rain. All photos: Paul Radley / The National

A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.

A new water hazard has emerged next to the fifth hole on the Majlis Course.

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic will conclude on a Monday for the first time in its 34-year history, the tournament’s organisers have confirmed.

The heavy rain in the city over the course of the second half of the week led to delayed starts to play at Emirates Golf Club on both Thursday and Friday.

As a result, the first round was only concluded on Friday afternoon. A few matches had started their second round when play was again brought to a premature end a few hours later.

Instead of reducing the competition to 54 holes, as happened most recently on the DP World Tour at last year’s Czech Masters, it will be played to a finish over the customary 72 holes.

"This is one of the biggest events on the DP World Tour and we clearly want to make every effort possible to get to 72 holes at one of our biggest championships," Mike Stewart, the DP World Tour tournament director for the Classic, said.

More time has been lost at the Classic to fog and wind in the past than to rain, but the 2023 version has been disrupted significantly by the weather.

The public were not admitted to the course on Thursday because of flooding on surrounding roads, and play was delayed for a little over six hours as staff attempted to make the course playable.

The attempt to make up time on Friday morning was scuppered by more overnight rain, which led to another two-hour delay to the start.

"I looked it up yesterday just to find out because this is fairly rare," Stewart said.

"We have had one rain stoppage. We had rain and lightning in 2007, and we stopped for two hours, 15 minutes and went back out again.

"That was on the Friday, and that's the only stoppage we've had previously for rain. Now we've had six hours yesterday, another [two] this morning. So yes, it's quite unusual for this venue."

When the players were permitted back on the course, and finished their opening rounds, some of the play was spectacular.

Most notably, Rory McIlroy played just six shots after his 8am restart, as he finished birdie, eagle, birdie. The fine finish gave the world No 1 a share of the first-round lead with Patrick Reed.

The American finished with an eagle at the 18th, shortly after McIlroy had finished on the adjacent 9th green.

By the time play was brought to a halt on Friday evening, Richard Bland and Ian Poulter had assumed the lead on 8-under par.

The second round will be played to its conclusion on Saturday. Sunday will be the third round, with Monday set to provide the finale.

"It's a top event," Stewart said. "It's a top sponsor we have, they would like to see it played to a proper conclusion, and it is our prime objective to play 72 holes wherever we can.

"Normally it's within four days, but if we can go to a fifth day where practical, we will do that."