One of the DP World Tour’s biggest events of the season, the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, began with rival circuit LIV Golf well represented.
At the start of the first Rolex Series event of 2026, 11 players from the big-money League were in the field, although three failed to make it past the halfway stage, while for those who did get beyond 36 holes, there were differing fortunes.
In the end, third-round leader Patrick Reed held onto his advantage to cruise to the title by four after an even-par round of 72 on Sunday. In doing so, the 4Aces GC man became the second LIV Golfer to win the event in a row after Tyrrell Hatton took the honors in 2025.
At the beginning of the day, Reed faced competition from another LIV Golf star, Fireballs GC player David Puig, but he could only manage a 75 in the final round, a score made worse by a retrospective two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker.
Even with that, Puig was still the second-best performer from LIV Golf in the field, but he had to settle for T7 rather than a tie for third behind the man Reed beat, Andy Sullivan.
No other LIV Golfers were really in contention ahead of the final round, although new signing Thomas Detry gave a good account of himself on Sunday with a two-under 70 to place T14 on five under.
One shot further back of him in a tie for 19th was Legion XIII's Tom McKibbin on four under, with his teammate, defending champion Hatton, the next LIV Golfer on the list in a tie for 33rd on two under.
Another new LIV Golf signing, Laurie Canter, rallied on Sunday with a four-under 68 to place T45, even par for the tournament, with Cleeks GC's Adrian Meronk in T61 on three over and Victor Perez one shot behind him in T64.
While they will be disappointed they couldn't mount a challenge for the title, at least they did better than the three remaining LIV Golfers who began the tournament.
For Torque GC captain Joaquin Niemann, who had missed the cut in his previous three events, he failed to stop the rot with his challenge finishing after 36 holes on two over.
Another LIV Golfer to miss the cut was Reed’s 4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson, whose two rounds of 74 ensured he finished on four over for the tournament.
New Ripper GC signing Elvis Smylie was the third LIV Golfer to miss the cut after rounds of 78 and 73 left him on seven over for the tournament.
Below is the final LIV Golf leaderboard at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Final Dubai Desert Classic LIV Golf Leaderboard
- 1st Patrick Reed -14
- T7 David Puig -7
- T14 Thomas Detry -5
- T19 Tom McKibbin -4
- T33 Tyrrell Hatton -2
- T45 Laurie Canter E
- T61 Adrian Meronk +3
- T64 Victor Perez +4
- MC Joaquin Niemann +2
- MC Dustin Johnson +4
- MC Elvis Smylie +7
