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.

Although Rory McIlroy has not played well in his first tournament of 2025, he is certainly not out of it at the halfway point.

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland have missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy is not playing at the level we have come to expect, but has precedence to lean on at the Hero Desert Dubai Classic.

Daniel Hillier of New Zealand has birdied the final two holes to shoot 2-under 70 and take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Dubai Desert Classic, which was Rory McIlroy's first tournament of the year, ended after Round 4 on January 19th.

"He has his systems and ways he practices and he does a really good job at that. And he also doesn't give a flying fig what anyone else thinks.."

Tyrrell Hatton fended off Daniel Hillier in a thrilling finish to the Dubai Desert Classic; Rory McIlroy fights back to claim fourth in a rollercoaster final round; watch the conclusion of The American Express from 4.

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.

If Rory McIlroy is to emulate the history of the likes of Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo, he will have to repeat his own history here at the Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy knows what Tyrrell Hatton can do, and the Englishman's Dubai win was further evidence he'll be an "asset" in the Ryder Cup