Jon Rahm had a debut to forget at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after missing the cut on his first trip to Emirates Golf Club. Having been a tour pro for nine years, the two-time major winner had never played the Middle East’s longest established tournament before this week.

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.

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 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;

David Ford was playing like one of the best amateurs in the world at the end of 2024. It's no surprise he starts 2025 on top of the leaderboard.

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 for a share ... The post US Amateur David Ford Upstages McIlroy And Rahm To Share Lead In Dubai first appeared on SwingU Clubhouse.

Given the field assembled for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this week, it was always possible there would be players who break through the defences of the Majlis Course. The rough is malicious at Emirates Golf Club,