Rory McIlroy will find himself playing alongside one of the legends of Ireland golf in Eamon Darcy when the pair partake later this month in 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic Former Champions Challenge in Dubai.

All 21 former winners of the Dubai Desert Classic, with the exception of course of the late Seve Ballesertos, will compete on the Tuesday before the championship proper in the $600,000 Challenge were every player is guaranteed $25,000 for just teeing up and a first prize of $300,000 should they succeed over their fellow Classic winners.

Eamon Darcy’s name appearing on Dubai Desert Classic trophy. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Darcy captured the second-ever Dubai Desert Classic in 1990 at the age of 37 and the affable Irishman will be 61 years old in returning to the Emirates Club later this month.

McIlroy was not even a year old when Darcy captured his fourth and final European Tour title by four shots from fellow Irishman David Feherty.

Rory McIlroy’s appearing on the Dubai Desert Trophy as 2009 champion . (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

However McIlroy will always have fond memories of his Dubai Desert Classic success in 2009 at age 19 as it was his very first European Tour success.

Hereunder is the tee times for the Champions Challenge – Tuesday, January 28:

11am: Mark James (England), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)

11.10: Alvaro Quiros (Spain), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain), Jose Coceres (Argentina)

11.20: Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), Javier Ballesteros

11:30: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Eamonn Darcy (Ireland), Richard Green (Australia)

11:40: Wayne Westner (South Africa), Robert Jan Derksen (The Netherlands), David Howell

11:50: Ernie Els (South Africa), Mark O’Meara (US), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)

12:00: Tiger Woods (US), Fred Couples (US), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland)