Successful start for Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen on the DP World Tour. Other German players also hold strong positions after round one in Dubai.
Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen Impress in Dubai Opener
The DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 at the Emirates Golf Club has officially started. Although the round was interrupted shortly before the end, the DACH players can already claim a mostly successful start.
Foremost, Joel Girrbach showed strong early form. As the first on the course, the Swiss player was unfazed by an opening bogey and played flawlessly afterwards. Birdies on holes 3 and 6 brought him back to even par before the turn. On the back nine, Girrbach impressed further: a perfect second shot on the par-5 gave him an eagle chance which he calmly converted. He finished with a 68 (-4) and currently sits in an excellent fourth place after round one.
Close behind, Nicolai von Dellingshausen also impressed. After a slow start and +1 after nine holes, the German player picked up momentum on the back nine. Birdies on holes 10, 12, 13, and 16 reflected strong approach shots and confident putting. He recorded five birdies in total with a 69 (-3), putting him within striking distance of the lead and inside the top 10.
Leading the field is Italian Francesco Molinari, who played an almost flawless opening round, leading at -7. He had four birdies on both the front and back nine, and only one bogey on hole 12. Ahead of Girrbach and von Dellingshausen are also Mikael Lindberg (-5) and JC Ritchie (-4).
Other German Players in Good Position on the DP World Tour
Marcel Schneider experienced a mixed day. Four birdies provided momentum, but three bogeys kept him from a higher position. He remains well-placed at -1 after round one for the coming days.
Freddy Schott also finished at -1. Despite six strong birdies, five bogeys, including two from bunker shots and penalty strokes on holes 12 and 18, kept his score higher.
Marcel Siem started on the back nine and showed his class intermittently. A chip-in birdie at 16 and a well-played birdie on 5 from the trees were highlights. Despite several bogeys, he battled back to finish even par with a birdie on the last hole.
Perfection from Marcel Siem 💯#HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/6GXkEcdL9M