Patrick Reed claimed the fourth DP World Tour title of his career with a four-shot victory at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
Reed Delivers Under Pressure in Dubai
The American finished fourteen under par to secure his first Rolex Series victory and become the sixth American winner of the Dallah Trophy. Reed showed patience in the final round of testing, especially on the back nine where he combined eight pars and one bogey to reach the turn with his overnight lead cut in two.
Spain’s David Puig rode out an early challenge with three birdies from the eighth to briefly close the gap, but Reed birdied the par-five 10th to take control of the tournament.
Key Moments Make up the final round
Momentum swung with confidence in the back nine. Reed birdied the 13th when Puig dropped a shot on the same hole, returning a four cushion with five holes to play. From there Reed played with authority, finding the fairways and greens before heading home.
He finished a clear fifth after Puig came in fifteenth, capping off a confident display to lift the Dallah Trophy for the first time.
Reed Reflects on Hard-Fought Victory
“It’s not fully there yet,” Reed said. “Today was more difficult than expected and I learned a lot about managing the round.
“I tried to protect the lead early and David had a good run, but my friend reminded me that it was time to go after it on the back nine. We had a birdie on thirteen and he was strong, it was about being patient and not making mistakes.”
Strong Supporting Cast on the leaderboard
Andy Sullivan recovered from a rough start to finish birdie-birdie and claim second place in the 10 under par. France’s Julien Guerrier recorded his best Rolex Series finish at third on nine under after carding an eagle and two birdies.
Nicolai Hojgaard, Francesco Molinari and Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper finished a shot back. Ricardo Gouveia, Marcus Armitage and Puig finished the week at seven under par, with Puig receiving two penalties for putting his club on the last hole.
Presentation of Awards and Distinguished Guests
Reed lifted the prestigious Dallah Trophy following a presentation ceremony presided over by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The presentation party included Dubai’s top sporting figures, government and tournament partners, as well as representatives from the DP World Tour and Dubai Golf.
South African expert Christiaan Maas was also honored with the Emirates Golf Federation Leading Amateur award.
Youth Golf and Creator Events Shine
Championship celebrations kicked off last week with the Junior Dubai Desert Classic, which awarded the World Amateur Golf Ranking points for the second year running. Denmark’s Christian Hansen claimed victory after an impressive performance on the Majlis Course.
Running close was the extended Creators Dubai Desert Classic, which brought together sixteen of the world’s leading sports content creators. Canada’s Mac Boucher won the overall title and England’s Temps claimed the net championship, earning both players a spot in the Pro Am tournament.
Stability and Health of Players in Focus
The 37th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic retained its GEO Certified status, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable golf events. The Green Incubator Challenge is back in partnership with Deloitte, with the UK’s Notpla named winners for their ocean-based packaging solution.
The Mental Fitness and Recovery Zone is also back, giving players access to massages, breathing aids and mental conditions throughout the week.
Director of the Church Praise Tournament in Dubai
Tournament Executive Director Simon Corkill said:
“Congratulations to Patrick on an outstanding and well-deserved win. He played some fantastic golf all week and earned his place in the Dallah Trophy.”
“We welcome one of the strongest fields in our history and present an event that combines world-class sports, family entertainment, innovation and player wellness. We look forward to welcoming everyone in 2027.”
