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 in Dubai Opener
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 can already be proud of a mostly successful start.
Joel Girrbach showed strong early form. The Swiss player, the first on the course, was unfazed by an opening bogey and then played faultlessly. Birdies on holes 3 and 6 brought him back to even par before the turn. On the back nine, Girrbach continued impressively: a perfect second shot on the par 5 set up an eagle chance, which he coolly converted. Without further mistakes, he finished with a 68 (-4), placing him tied for 4th after round one.
Close behind, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen also impressed. After a slow start and +1 through nine holes, the German picked up momentum on the back nine with birdies on holes 10, 12, 13, and 16. In total, he made five birdies and carded a 69 (-3), keeping him within striking distance of the lead inside the top 10.
Leading the field is Italian Francesco Molinari, who played a near flawless opening round to take the lead at -7. He made four birdies on both front and back nine and only one bogey on hole 12. Ahead of Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen are Mikael Lindberg (-5) and JC Ritchie (-4).
Other German Players Hold Strong Positions on DP World Tour
Marcel Schneider had a mixed day. Four birdies provided momentum but three bogeys prevented a higher placement. He remains well positioned at -1 for the next days.
Freddy Schott also finished with -1. Despite six birdies, five bogeys, including two after bunker shots and penalties on holes 12 and 18, kept his score from being lower.
Marcel Siem started on the back nine and showed his class, including a chip-in birdie on hole 16 and a strongly played birdie on 5 from the trees. Despite several bogeys, he fought back to finish even par thanks to a birdie on the last hole.
Perfection from Marcel Siem 💯#HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/6GXkEcdL9M
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour)