Hero MotoCorp, India-based company, is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, now adds Dubai Desert Classic to the Hero Cup and Indian Open into its list of sponsors. The tournament brings together this with the DP World Tour, the longest-running event in the Middle East.

The tournament will take place on January 26 to January 29 in the Emirates Golf Club carrying a $9 million purse. The 34th edition of the event will have the appearance of the World No. One and two-time Dubai Desert Classic winner, Rory McIlroy. 

The longest-running event has extended its collaboration with the circuit that began in 2015 at the Hero Indian Open since then, Hero has also supported the Hero Challenge, a number of which were staged in Scotland, as well as the Hero Open, which featured on the DP World Tour schedule from 2020 to 2022.

 
It was last year elevated to Rolex Series status and this season forms one of five events in that select group. It represents one leg of the tour’s Desert Swing, which this year comprises a four-week stretch beginning with the Hero Cup. That is followed by the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – another Rolex Series event – and the Desert Classic, before concluding with the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

Next week, the company is planning to sponsor the inaugural Hero Cup – a new team match-play event so that the European players can experience the format  ahead of this year’s Ryder Cup in Rome.
 
The Chairman & CEO of Hero MotoCorp, Dr. Pawan Munjal stated, “We continue to have a long -term partnership with the DP World Tour; and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is an extension of this engagement. We are delighted to be associated with this iconic event and will now be supporting two much-awaited marquee tournaments in the Middle East – the Hero Cup and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic – as part of the traditional Desert Swing. It surely promises to be an exciting start to the season, and we look forward to seeing world-class golf on display.”
 
Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director – Hero Dubai Desert Classic, said: “We are delighted to welcome Hero MotoCorp as the new Title Partner of the Dubai Desert Classic as we once again prepare to host a global field at Emirates Golf Club."

Mr. Pawan Munjal(left) with Mr Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director and the DP World Tour’s Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the DP World Tour, said: “It is my pleasure to welcome Hero MotoCorp as the new title partner of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. We are proud to further develop our long-term relationship with Hero MotoCorp and thank Dr Pawan Munjal for his continued support of golf in general and the DP World Tour in particular.

“January promises to bring yet another memorable edition of this historic event, as we once again welcome some of the best players in the world to Dubai for the second Rolex Series event of 2023, two weeks after an exciting season-opener in the new Hero Cup.”

 
Prior to Hero, Slync.io, a logistics technology provider, was the title sponsor for the tournament but the Slync.io agreement was terminated in September due to the termination of  Chris Kirchner, co-founder and chairman of Slync.io.