In a display of strategic mastery and emotional control, American golfer Patrick Reed secured a commanding victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The prestigious DP World Tour Rolex Series event culminated with Reed capturing his fourth tour title and a winner’s purse of $1.53 million, outlasting several of golf’s elite competitors.
The final round at Emirates Golf Club presented challenging conditions with swirling winds and firm greens that tested players’ discipline. Reed entered Sunday with a four-shot advantage but faced mounting pressure when his front-nine performance yielded no birdies and a single bogey, allowing playing partner David Puig to narrow the gap to just one stroke.
The turning point emerged at the par-five 13th hole, where Reed’s decisive birdie, combined with Puig’s bogey, restored his four-shot cushion. Guided by caddie Kessler Karain’s advice to ‘shoot under par on the back nine,’ Reed demonstrated veteran composure down the stretch, methodically hitting fairways and greens while avoiding costly mistakes.
Reed’s victory carried particular significance following his heartbreaking runner-up finish at the same tournament three years prior, when Rory McIlroy’s final-hole birdie denied him the title. This triumph also marked the culmination of technical improvements implemented with Dubai-based swing coach Claude Harmon III, who helped transform Reed’s timing-dependent swing into a more consistent and understood motion.
England’s Andy Sullivan mounted the strongest late challenge, finishing solo second at ten under par, while Dubai-based Frenchman Julien Guerrier claimed third place. The victory places Reed alongside golf legends including Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, and Seve Ballesteros as winners of the celebrated Dallah Trophy.