Rory McIlroy headlines Hero Dubai Desert Classic: World No 1 chasing winning start to 2023

Rory McIlroy (right) with DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley ahead of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic

World No 1 Rory McIlroy makes his first appearance of the year at a familiar success spot this week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, live on Sky Sports.

McIlroy headlines a strong field for the second of back-to-back Rolex Series events, with Ryder Cup team-mates Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton among those in action along with several players hoping to feature for Team Europe this September in Rome.

The Northern Irishman enjoyed one of the best years of his career to date during 2022, where he posted top-eight finishes in all four majors, won three times on the PGA Tour and won both the FedExCup and the DP World Tour's Order of Merit.

• Rory's 2022 highlights: McIlroy's memorable year
• Latest DP World Tour headlines and highlights
• DP World Tour: Latest 2023 schedule and results

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After climbing back to world number one this year, relive Rory McIlroy's three wins at the Canadian Open, the Tour Championship and CJ Cup. You can watch Rory McIlroy on Sky Sports Golf at 9pm on Tuesday 20 December.

McIlroy makes his first competitive start since finish fourth in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship in November, where he will be looking to build on a memorable campaign and make a winning start to the year.

McIlroy's record at the Dubai Desert Classic

McIlroy was a 16-year-old amateur when he first appeared at the Emirates Golf Club in 2006 and used the event for his first start as a professional the following year, with the Northern Irishman's first DP World Tour title coming via a one-shot victory over Justin Rose in the 2009 edition.

A three-stroke victory in 2015 was the first of four worldwide victories that season, with McIlroy enjoy nine top-10 finishes in his previous 12 appearances at what is now a Rolex Series event.

McIlroy is now looking to join Ernie Els as the only three-time winner of the Dubai Desert Classic, a year on from finishing third in the event after a frustrating final day.

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Nick Doherty and Andrew Coltart look ahead to this week's Hero Dubai Desert Classic where the expectations are high for world No 1 Rory McIlroy

What went wrong for McIlroy last year?

Viktor Hovland defeated Richard Bland in a play-off last year to snatch a remarkable victory, as McIlroy missed out after a costly finish to his final round.

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Viktor Hovland birdied the first hole of his playoff against Richard Bland to triumph at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Hovland overcame a six-stroke deficit on a thrilling final day at Emirates Golf Club, playing his last three holes in four under to close a round-of-the-day 66 to set the clubhouse target at 12 under, while Bland birdied his final two holes to join the Norwegian at the top of the leaderboard.

McIlroy had the tournament in his hands over the closing holes but needed an incredible save at the par-four 17th to remain tied for the lead going into the final hole, where he found the water with his approach into the par-five.

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Needing birdie at the last to win the Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy contrived to find the water with his second shot into the par five 18th.

McIlroy could still have salvaged a spot in the play-off by getting up and down from the drop zone, although he two-putted for a closing bogey to end the week in third spot and miss out on a first win of the year.

Dubai begins Masters build-up for McIlroy

McIlroy will take a week off after Dubai before teeing it up at the WM Phoenix Open from February 9-12, his first PGA Tour appearance since successfully defending his title at the CJ Cup in October.

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Highlights from day four of the CJ Cup in South Carolina as Rory McIlroy retained the title and moved back to world No 1.

The event is one of the PGA Tour's elevated events, offering a $20m purse and guaranteed appearances from the world's top players, with McIlroy hoping to build on the tied-13th finish he enjoyed on his tournament debut in 2021.

McIlroy has committed to the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club the following week, where Tiger Woods hosts, with the Northern Irishman likely to feature at the Arnold Palmer Invitational from March 2-5 ahead of The Players - the PGA Tour's flagship event - at TPC Sawgrass from March 9-12.

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After an exhilarating 2022, there's plenty of action to get excited about on Sky Sports Golf over the year ahead

The Northern Irishman skipped the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play last year in favour of playing the Valero Texas Open, where he missed the cut, with McIlroy yet to announce his schedule in the weeks leading up to The Masters from April 6-9.

McIlroy will arrive at Augusta National as the likely favourite to win the opening men's major of the year, with the 33-year-old looking to go one better than last year's runner-up finish and find the fifth major title that would complete the elusive career Grand Slam.

Watch the Hero Dubai Desert Classic throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins with Featured Groups on Thursday at 3.30am on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 7am.