Successful start for Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen on the DP World Tour. Several German players are among the frontrunners after round one in Dubai.
Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen Impress in Dubai Opener
The DP World Tour Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 has officially begun at the Emirates Golf Club. Although the round was interrupted shortly before the end, the DACH players have already recorded a mostly successful start.
Leading the way, Joel Girrbach of Switzerland showed strong early form. Despite a bogey at the very beginning, he quickly recovered 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 with a perfect second shot on the par 5 setting up an eagle, which he confidently converted. He finished with a 68 (-4) and is currently in an excellent fourth place after round one.
Close behind, German Nicolai von Dellingshausen also impressed. After a modest start and being +1 after nine holes, he surged on the back nine with birdies on holes 10, 12, 13, and 16, demonstrating precise iron shots and solid putting. He finished with five birdies total and a 69 (-3), placing him within striking distance of the leaders inside the top 10.
Leading the field is Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who played an almost flawless opening round and sits atop the leaderboard at -7. He carded four birdies on each the front and back nine, with just one bogey on hole 12. Ahead of Girrbach and Von Dellingshausen are Mikael Lindberg (-5) and JC Ritchie (-4).
Other German Players in Good Positions at DP World Tour
Marcel Schneider had a mixed round with four birdies providing momentum but three bogeys limiting his position. He sits one under par after round one, staying in contention for the following days.
Freddy Schott also ended at -1. Despite six birdies, five bogeys including two bunker mishaps and penalty strokes on holes 12 and 18 kept his score from being lower.
Marcel Siem, who started on the back nine, showed class with a chip-in birdie on 16 and a well-played birdie from the trees on 5. Despite several bogeys, he battled back to finish even par thanks to a birdie on the final hole.
Mixed Starts for Wiesberger and Steinlechner
Bernd Wiesberger (+2) and Maximilian Steinlechner faced tougher days. Wiesberger logged two birdies offset by four bogeys, while Steinlechner struggled with a rough day. After two early bogeys, three pars followed before a string of bogeys began. Particularly notable was hole 8, where a penalty stroke and failed recovery led to four extra strokes. After nine holes he was +9 and currently +12 after 16 holes. Due to the round suspension, he will complete the last two holes tomorrow.