Hero Dubai Desert Classic: Best of the Green Room

The highs and lows of life as an elite golfer were a main source of discussion at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as the Green Room continued to generate raw emotions.

Following its launch at last week’s Dubai Invitational, the Big Brother-style interview room was again in place for the second of three consecutive events in the United Arab Emirates on the DP World Tour.

With big prize money and Race to Dubai points on offer at the first Rolex Series event of the season, the 35th edition of the Dubai Desert Classic saw many make their first appearance of the year.

• READ MORE: The debrief: Hero Dubai Desert Classic
• READ MORE: With this win... Rory McIlroy at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Here, we recap some of the best post-round reactions from some of those in action at the second event of the International Swing.

After closing out the week with a four-over-par 76, James Morrison didn't hide his frustrations at his play over the weekend in his first start of 2024.

Despite making the cut at the event for just the third time in 13 appearances, the Englishman joked "reality set in" as he struggled to perform to his own hopes.

"When you play like today, four over par, [it is] so so poor," the two-time DP World Tour winner said. "Like a seven handicapper on a good day.

"I actually felt like a golfer the first two days and then reality set in. Dad, sorry for wasting my education, I should have worked harder at school.”

While Morrison was visiting the Green Room for the first time, Sean Crocker was back for his second experience and this time, following a top ten last week, was feeling the pain of life as a touring professional rather than the joys it can bring.

In typically honest fashion, the Zimbabwean-born American rued his continued struggles at the Emirates Golf Club as he missed the cut for the fifth time in seven starts.

“This is a brutal game," he said. "It’s a tough one. You have a good first week out and you want to keep it going.

"There are just some things about some courses each year that you just can’t figure out, this [the Majlis Course] is one of them.

"It always gets me and it feels like I am always right around that cut line with a few holes to go. It feels like I will get a birdie here and [still] just miss the cut or I will push it like today and drop one or two shots and be miles out. I

"I enjoy this golf course but at the same time I also f * * * * * * hate this golf course so much. I don’t know what it is about it, I can’t figure it out."

On the other side, Rory McIlroy was in a far more positive mood after his brilliant bogey-free 63 in the third round vaulted him back into contention as he went on to successfully defend his title.

Reflecting on how he felt about his game at the midway stage, the Northern Irishman said: “I was a little frustrated with how I played the first two days.

"I felt like my game was better than the score suggested. I just didn’t get any momentum going, especially [Friday].

"I didn’t want to put myself under pressure to go out and shoot a low score. I just wanted to let it happen.

"If I played the golf that I knew I am capable of then I thought I could shoot a good one and I probably exceeded my expectations.”

Nicolas Colsaerts is a popular and respected figure on Tour and over the last couple of years has combined media work with playing since recovering from a health scare.

In a candid chat, the Ryder Cup winner from Belgium spoke about his gratitude at having a second career path in the game and paid tribute to the support he has received from his wife, Rachel.

“I have a really good reason to wake up in the morning which I didn’t particularly have in the last couple of years," the three-time DP World Tour winner said.

“I would like to take off my hat to my wife who is working like an absolute dog to keep this household that we have with our two kids in the best of place.

"I couldn’t be any prouder of her, it has been quite a challenging last couple of years for us and to see her being such a badass women pretty cool.

"I wouldn’t be standing here with the peace of mind that I have now if she wasn’t here. It’s been quite challenging but she is something else.”