Daniel Hillier takes lead after windy day

Hero Dubai Desert Classic R3

Daniel Hillier started the day in second place one shot behind the lead and recorded six birdies and four bogeys for a 70 to move into the Hero Dubai Desert Classic lead by one shot at 13-under heading into the final day.

“It was a grind,” said the New Zealander. “I figured it was going to be that at the start of the day with all that wind. It was tough but I enjoyed it out there. Have a crack at it tomorrow.

“I don’t think I’ve played with Tyrrell before, so that should be fun. It will be a good test. He’ll be raring to get his hands on that trophy but I’d love to do the same. It will be a fun day.

“[A win] would be life-changing. Last year was pretty tough. It was a bit of a grind. I was getting pretty frustrated with myself towards the end of the year. Gave myself a little bit of a break and time to reset, and I’m feeling refreshed. Yeah, excited for tomorrow.”

Hillier has won once previously on the DP World Tour, at the 2023 Betfred British Masters.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton made an eagle at the par-4 2nd hole as well as five birdies and three bogeys to card a 68 and move into second place at 12-under.

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson who held the 36-hole lead made just two birdies and four bogeys to move down into third place at 10-under.

England’s Laurie Canter made five birdies and four bogeys for a 71 and a share of fourth place at 9-under alongside Kiwi Ryan Fox who shot six birdies and three bogeys for a 69 .

Pos.PlayerTo ParR1R2R3
1HILLIER, Daniel-13686570
2HATTON, Tyrrell-12716568
3FERGUSON, Ewen-10676574
4FOX, Ryan-9687069
CANTER, Laurie-9686871
6HILL, Calum-8677467
MCKIBBIN, Tom-8706969
FRITTELLI, Dylan-8736867
NORRIS, Shaun-8696772
10MIGLIOZZI, Guido-7667370
HØJGAARD, Rasmus-7716672
12MCILROY, Rory-6707169
FORD, David (AM)-6657570
NORGAARD, Niklas-6716871
MACINTYRE, Robert-6716970
LEE, Min Woo-6716673
SCRIVENER, Jason-6676974
VEERMAN, Johannes-6687072
19SCHAPER, Jayden-5717367
SCOTT, Adam-5717169
LI, Haotong-5707170
LORENZO-VERA, Mike-5677470
GOUVEIA, Ricardo-5657274
OLESEN, Thorbjørn-5706774
25SÖDERBERG, Sebastian-4747068
JARVIS, Casey-4687272
WALLACE, Matt-4707270
DE JAGER, Louis-4697073
REED, Patrick-4706973
CLEMENTS, Todd-4687074
31GUERRIER, Julien-3697371
NEERGAARD-PETERSEN, Rasmus-3727170
BJÖRK, Alexander-3717171
NAKAJIMA, Keita-3687273
FLEETWOOD, Tommy-3716874
CANTERO, Ivan-3707073
MICHELUZZI, David-3657375
MANSELL, Richard-3706974
39SMITH, Jordan-2727270
GUMBERG, Jordan-2727171
ARMITAGE, Marcus-2717271
SMYLIE, Elvis-2746872
RAMSAY, Richie-2707173
BRESNU, Adam (AM)-2736972
KNAPPE, Alexander-2766672
46KIEFFER, Maximilian-1707471
LAPORTA, Francesco-1727271
BHATIA, Akshay-1697373
ELVIRA, Nacho-1726875
50GAVINS, DanielPar707472
HØJGAARD, NicolaiPar727272
OTAEGUI, AdrianPar737172
DEAN, JoePar727272
JORDAN, MatthewPar717372
COLSAERTS, NicolasPar707472
SCHNEIDER, MarcelPar707373
VAILLANT, TomPar727272
LANGASQUE, RomainPar746973
KRUYSWIJK, JacquesPar737073
BAIRSTOW, SamPar727173
LUITEN, JoostPar727074
GIRRBACH, JoelPar727173
BRADBURY, DanPar717075
SUMMERHAYS, Preston (AM)Par707175
GARCIA-HEREDIA, AlfredoPar726876
APHIBARNRAT, KiradechPar707175
67SIEM, Marcel+1707176
SYME, Connor+1717076
HIDALGO, Angel+1717175
COUSSAUD, Ugo+1736777
WIESBERGER, Bernd+1697177
WILLIAMS, Robin+1686980
73DANTORP, Jens+2707474
DE BRUYN, Jannik+2716879
SULLIVAN, Andy+2707375
76FORREST, Grant+3727176
77RAVETTO, David+4687676
KO, Jeong weon+4736978
79ZANOTTI, Fabrizio+6756978
CUT
80PAVAN, Andrea+17372-
GREEN, Gavin+17273-
FICHARDT, Darren+17273-
HARRINGTON, Padraig+17075-
BROWN, Daniel+17570-
WINTHER, Jeff+17372-
PARRY, John+17471-
87AIKEN, Thomas+27670-
SHINKWIN, Callum+26977-
CROCKER, Sean+27175-
COETZEE, George+27373-
RAHM, Jon+26977-
LAWRENCE, Thriston+27175-
PIETERS, Thomas+27175-
MERONK, Adrian+27373-
KATSURAGAWA, Yuto+27076-
96STONE, Brandon+36978-
BURMESTER, Dean+37374-
WU, Ashun+37473-
JAMIESON, Scott+37077-
LACROIX, Frederic+37374-
VAN DRIEL, Darius+37374-
SCHWAB, Matthias+37275-
CAMPILLO, Jorge+37572-
104WARING, Paul+47078-
HOVLAND, Viktor+47573-
BALDWIN, Matthew+47177-
KIMSEY, Nathan+47573-
WILSON, Andrew+47375-
FITZPATRICK, Alex+47474-
JOHNSTON, Ryggs+47375-
PAUL, Yannik+47672-
112FORSSTRÖM, Simon+57178-
SADDIER, Adrien+57376-
SHARMA, Shubhankar+57673-
ELVIRA, Manuel+57178-
DONALD, Luke+57772-
FISHER, Ross+57178-
118AHLAWAT, Veer+67476-
DEL REY, Alejandro+67575-
WHITNELL, Dale+67278-
121WALKER, Jimmy+77477-
COCKERILL, Aaron+77675-
123VAN VELZEN, Ryan+87874-
124KINHULT, Marcus+97875-
125LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo+107579-
RETDSTRYDOM, Ockie-1---
Updated: January 18, 2025
Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025
Date: 16th January - 19th January, 2025
Location: Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE
Purse: $9,000,000