Relive the best shots and biggest moments from Round 1 action at the DP World Tour's Hero Dubai Desert Classic, taking place at Emirates Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy is making his 2025 debut in the desert. He will be joined by Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Seeking a third straight win at Emirates Golf Club, McIlroy carded four birdies and two bogeys to lie five shots off the lead shared by American amateur David Ford, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Australian David Micheluzzi.

Rory McIlroy begins title defence with opening-round 70; Tom McKibbin also five shots off the lead amid LIV Golf links; Ricardo Gouveia and David Micheluzzi with clubhouse lead after opening-round 65s;

Kiwi golfers practice to the Dubai Desert Classic, the first big tournament of the DP World Tour season. The New Zealand duo both opened with four-under rounds of 68 to sit in a share of ninth place,

David Ford, a 22-year-old American amateur making his debut on the European tour, upstaged Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and many of the world's top players at the Dubai Desert Classic to take a share of the first-round clubhouse lead Thursday.

RORY MCILROY, PÁDRAIG Harrington and Tom McKibbin all sit five shots off the early lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The trio carded opening rounds of two-under 70 at Emirates Golf Club. That leaves them five off the early lead shared by Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and David Micheluzzi of Australia.

Australian David Micheluzzi has enjoyed a blistering start to the Dubai Desert Classic, sharing the lead after the first round with his seven-under-par 65.