Golf

How to watch Tiger Woods at the Dubai Desert Classic live online, TV schedule and more

Let’s stay up late and watch Tiger Woods play golf.

Updated Feb 3, 2017, 1:40 AM UTC

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The European Tour’s swing through the Middle East in the first month of the year is always a highlight of the early-season golf schedule. The stops in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Dubai always draw some big names from various world tours, not just Euro regulars. There are sizable appearance fees put on the table to attract those names and none is bigger than Tiger Woods, who has come over to this part of the world to cash those big fee checks for more than a decade now.

Tiger returns to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic fresh off his first official PGA Tour start in 17 months. He lasted just two days at the Farmers Insurance Open, giving him some cushion to fly around the world and get to Dubai. Tiger added the Dubai Desert Classic as the last piece to an already unusually full schedule. We knew he was going to play at Torrey Pines, then at Riviera in two weeks where his foundation hosts, and at the Honda Classic near his home in South Florida. The addition of Dubai made it so Tiger would play four times in five weeks in this early part of the season, which is the kind of rigorous stretch Tiger would not entertain when he was at the height of his powers.

But this is apparently Tiger in “phase two” of his career and life. He wants to get competitive reps and this is another opportunity to do that. Of course, those reps were also available on the PGA Tour just down the road at TPC Scottsdale this week. While he may have more money that he would ever need in 100 lifetimes, maybe the appearance fee money is still a draw. He’s also got course design interests in the area to promote as well. We’ll see if we can get more than two rounds from the Cat, who has won this Dubai event twice.

These Euro Tour tourneys in the Middle East provide us with some unique opportunities for late night golf from the best in the world. The Dubai Desert Classic took a hit when Rory McIlroy, a mainstay at this event, had to withdraw with his ongoing rib injury. But Tiger is obviously the headliner and changes the dynamic of an entire tournament. For the first round, he’ll be out early in Dubai, which means he’ll start at a relatively reasonable hour back in the United States. Woods will be on the first tee at 11:15 p.m. ET Wednesday night and probably play deep into the night, about 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday. For those out in the Pacific time zone, that’s an easy watch and primetime treat.

Tiger’s Friday round will start at 3:35 a.m. ET -- tougher for the West Coast group but the East Coasters can wake up to the Big Cat playing the back nine, ideally comfortably on the right side of the cut line this time. The overnight schedule would be brutal week-to-week but it’s fun to get this odd hour golf every now and then, especially when Tiger is involved.

Golf Channel will have the coverage for the entire week for the U.S. audience. As usual, they will simulcast stream everything if you want to watch on your phone surreptitiously under the covers in the middle of the night. Here’s the full TV and streaming schedule for the week: