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DP World Tour: Strong Start for DACH Players at Hero Dubai Desert Classic

DP World Tour: Strong Start for DACH Players at Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Joel Girrbach and Nicolai Von Dellingshausen impress in the opening round in Dubai. (Photos: Getty)

Successful start for Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen on the DP World Tour. Other German players also feature prominently after round one in Dubai.

Girrbach and von Dellingshausen Impress at the Start in Dubai

The DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 at the Emirates Golf Club has kicked off. Although the round was interrupted shortly before the end, the DACH players have already recorded a largely successful start.

Joel Girrbach was in strong form from the outset. As the first player on the course, the Swiss was not thrown off by an early bogey and played flawlessly thereafter. Birdies on holes 3 and 6 brought him back to even par going to the turn. On the back nine, Girrbach impressed again with an eagle on a Par 5 thanks to a perfect second shot. He finished with a 68 (-4), currently sitting in an excellent fourth place after round one.

Close behind, Nicolai von Dellingshausen also impressed. After a cautious start and +1 after nine holes, the German picked up pace on the back nine with birdies on holes 10, 12, 13, and 16. He recorded five birdies in total and a 69 (-3), keeping him within striking distance of the leaders and inside the top 10.

At the top of the leaderboard is Italian Francesco Molinari. The experienced pro played an almost flawless opening round posting -7. He made four birdies on both the front and back nine and only one bogey on hole 12 to secure the early lead. Ahead of Girrbach and von Dellingshausen are also Mikael Lindberg (-5) and JC Ritchie (-4).

Additional German Players Well Positioned on the DP World Tour

Marcel Schneider had a mixed day with four birdies providing momentum, but three bogeys prevented a higher position. He remains in close contention at -1 after the first round.

Freddy Schott also finished at -1. Despite six birdies, five bogeys, including two after bunker shots and penalties on holes 12 and 18, limited his score.

Marcel Siem started on the back nine showing flashes of class with a chip-in birdie on 16 and a well-played birdie on 5 from the trees. Despite multiple bogeys, he battled back to finish even par thanks to a birdie on the last hole.