Dubai Desert Classic Live: Patrick Reed Comfortable In Closing Stages

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2026-01-25T11:57:33.519Z

RAINING IN DUBAI

No, it’s not raining birdies. More pars, actually. Regular precipitation is happening now. The skies have been grey all day.

In Puig’s world, it’s getting darker. The Fireballs player makes a pretty poor fist of a decent birdie chance and walks away with par looking quite glum. He needs to find something magic if he’s to even put pressure on Reed.

2026-01-25T11:54:55.508Z

PLAY IT SAFE

Reed again finds the fairway off the tee but plays a safe little draw into the par-4 14th. Leaving himself a lengthy two-putt, Reed shows he might be finding the speed of these greens at long last and he’ll tap in for par.

2026-01-25T11:53:45.135Z

HOJGAARD MISSES CHANCE

The Dane gives his eagle putt from miles out at the back of the 18th green a good go, but he’s left with five feet or so up the slope for birdie. Unfortunately, both he and Schaper must make do with a par to close and finish on eight-under, which is a tie for fourth.

2026-01-25T11:45:40.720Z

REED OPENS UP FOUR-STROKE LEAD

A lovely chip-and-run from Reed out of the rough sets up a pretty simple birdie chance from three feet, and it’s one Captain America takes.

The good news doesn’t stop there for Reed, either, as Puig taps in for bogey shortly after. The 4Aces man was hanging on not long ago, but he can relax a little more now as his advantage returns to four strokes.

Patrick Reed has a four-shot lead with five to play 💪The American birdies the 13th as David Puig, his closest challenger, makes bogey. #HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/U84m8UFn6EJanuary 25, 2026

2026-01-25T11:43:50.562Z

THE END FOR PUIG?

Puig chunked his bunker shot to 15 feet past the flag and paid the price for a cluster of poor shots as his par attempt rolls past the hole on the right side.

That might well be that for Puig and the tournament…

2026-01-25T11:41:13.568Z

CHASING PACK BUNCHED

The likes of Jayden Schaper, Nicolai Hojgaard and Francesco Molinari are on eight-under now and within five, but there aren’t too many chances left on the back nine to close the gap.

Those behind Julien Guerrier in third are likely just playing for as big a check as possible now. And there’s a lot of prize money on offer this week…

2026-01-25T11:38:19.670Z

PUIG ERRORS ADDING UP

Is this the turning point for Reed? Puig is blocked out by trees and is forced to lay up with his second. However, the third – which was only from 97 yards – was deposited into the front bunker by Puig and it may have plugged, causing him no end of trouble.

2026-01-25T11:37:02.673Z

HOW IS YOUR LUCK?

Reed, having found the right side of the fairway off the tee thanks to his lack of distance (relative to Puig) draws his approach seemingly into the massive front bunker which protects the whole of this 13th green. However, his ball skips up out of the sand and jumps into the rough, pin-high. Lucky.

2026-01-25T11:35:30.371Z

PUIG WAYWARD DRIVING CONTINUES

A feature of Puig’s final round has been some wild drives and approach shots, and his tee shot at the 13th is another to add to the list. Although, it’s far from his worst.

The young Spaniard sends his drive just into the rough on the right and will have to manoeuvre something to reach this par-5 green in two.

2026-01-25T11:25:00.843Z

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly’s coverage of the Dubai Desert Classic final round at Emirates Golf Club.

Patrick Reed and David Puig are the two most likely winners with six holes to play, but neither has looked particularly assured with Reed’s putting appearing unconvincing and Puig’s long game badly lacking accuracy.

Yet, Reed still leads the way on 13-under and Puig is sticking with him on 11-under after some clutch putts to this point. Reed was leading by four at the start of the day, but he is one-over for his final round. Puig is one-under thanks to three birdies and two bogeys so far.

Stick with us until the end and we’ll bring you all of the key moments as they happen. Thanks for tuning in!

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