Successful debut for Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen at DP World Tour. Other German players also among leaders after round one in Dubai.
Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen Impress in Dubai Opener
The DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 at Emirates Golf Club has officially kicked off. Although the round was interrupted shortly before the end, the DACH players can already be proud of a predominantly successful start.
Leading the pack, Joel Girrbach showed strong early form. As the first on the course, the Swiss was unfazed by a bogey at the start and played flawlessly afterwards. Birdies on holes 3 and 6 brought him back to even par before the turn. On the back nine, Girrbach excelled: a perfect second shot on the par 5 gave him an eagle chance, which he coolly converted. Without further mistakes, he finished with a 68 (-4) and currently sits an excellent fourth 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. Birdies on holes 10, 12, 13, and 16 reflected strong approach shots and confident putting. He totaled five birdies and carded a 69 (-3), placing him within striking distance of the leaders in the top 10.
At the top of the leaderboard stands Italian Francesco Molinari. The veteran played an almost flawless opening round with seven under par, grabbing the lead early. He posted four birdies on both the front and back nine, with only one bogey on hole 12. Ahead of Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen are also Mikael Lindberg (-5) and JC Ritchie (-4).
Other German Players Hold Strong Positions on DP World Tour
Marcel Schneider had a mixed day, with four birdies providing momentum but three bogeys preventing a better placement. He remains in a good position at -1 for the upcoming days.
Freddy Schott also finished at -1. Despite six birdies, five bogeys, including two from bunkers and penalties on holes 12 and 18, kept his score from being lower.
Marcel Siem started on the back nine and showed his class with a chip-in birdie on 16 and a well-played birdie from the trees on 5. 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