David Ford was playing like one of the best amateurs in the world at the end of 2024. It's no surprise he starts 2025 on top of the leaderboard.

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Despite being on opposite sides of the issue, McIlroy and Rahm both expressed positive opinions about LIV Golf’s new CEO.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm offered different views on the current state of men's pro golf, which is fitting given the game's fractured nature.

Jon Rahm missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic. Ewen Ferguson was taking full advantage.

Although Rory McIlroy may eventually share Jon Rahm's optimism about the state of professional golf, he currently does not believe the sport is in its "golden era" -- as the Spaniard suggested on Tuesday.

At the Dubai Desert Classic, Jon Rahm said “we’re living in a golden era right now for golf,” which Rory McIlroy didn’t quite agree with.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm will go up against each other in Dubai this week, and the pair are in disagreement over the current state of men's professional golf amid the PGA Tour-LIV fallout

Rory McIlroy will be joined by a raft of LIV Golf stars at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with the Northern Irishman looking to claim victory at the Rolex Series event

Rahm went on to dub it “unfair” that the LIV Golf league does not receive points yet. It is pertinent to note that the former Ryder Cup star is the highest-profile player to jump to the breakaway circuit after the PGA Tour-PIF framework agreement announcement in 2023.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while Jon Rahm missed the cut.