ROUND 3 | SATURDAY | JANUARY 24, 2026
REED REACHES
SUMMIT
BOGEY-FREE 66 SENDS 2018 MASTERS CHAMPION INTO THE LEAD AT THE HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC
P
McIlroy In The Hunt World Number Two improves on day two on the Majlis. PAGE 2
By Harry Grimshaw – Editor, Golf Digest Middle East
atrick Reed produced a flawless second-round performance to take the clubhouse lead at the 37th Hero Dubai Desert Classic, firing a bogey-free sixunder-par 66 to move to the top of the leaderboard at the US$9 million Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour. One shot clear of Andy Sullivan, the 2018 Masters Champion backed up his opening 69 with a far more controlled display on Friday, taking advantage of calmer early conditions on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course to post one of the rounds of the day in Dubai. “You know, pretty good warmup this morning,” Reed said. “I feel like yesterday I hit the ball decent. Just kind of hard to tell with how hard that wind was blowing. Game felt good. “Kind of went out there and gave myself a lot of good looks, good opportunities, and only missing one green today, that definitely helps.” Reed’s ball-striking was the standout statistic, missing just a single green in regulation, and even that error left him a straightforward recovery. HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC
“I went around this place, hit 17 greens and the one I missed was in the fairway, basic chip,” he added. “You’re able to do that around this type of golf course, you’re able to shoot a number, and I was lucky enough to see a couple putts go in early and it just went from there.” Reed admitted the difference between his opening round and his bogey-free Friday was both strategic and situational, after Thursday’s blustery conditions punished anything slightly off-line. His first-round card featured only six pars in a rollercoaster start. “A little bit of both,” he said. “Felt like yesterday, especially on that back nine, I tried to do too much. Tried to take on shots that I probably shouldn’t have especially with the conditions and how the greens were, and because of that, short-sided myself a couple times in the rough.” Overnight leader Francesco Molinari wasn’t able to repeat Thursday’s fireworks and had to settle for a level-par 72, leaving him in third place alongside fellow countryman Andrea Pavan. Meanwhile, defending champion Tyrrell Hatton signed for a three-under 69 to sit in a tie for sixth.
@DUBAIDCGOLF
Competition Time Win some Hero Dubai Desert Classic merchandise. PAGE 16
Ahmad Skaik The UAE National was making his pro debut in the event. PAGE 12
Tournament Town All the activites going on away from the golf action on course. PAGE 19
DAILY DRAW SHEET & COURSE MAP
Navigate Emirates Golf Club with your guide to the third round pairings. PAGE 10-11 PATRON AND OFFICIAL PUBLISHER
#HERODUBAIDESERTCLASSIC #ROLEX SERIES
DUBAIDESERTCLASSIC.COM