Rory McIlroy will soon begin his 2026 golf season, starting with two DP World Tour events and a competition in the US.
Rory McIlroy is set to kick off his 2026 golf year in the United Arab Emirates, just like in his career Grand Slam year. Dubai will once again be the Northern Irishman’s first major stage on his quest for more titles before he heads to America in February.
Rory McIlroy’s Start at the Dubai Invitational
McIlroy’s first tournament in 2026 will take place from January 15 to 18 at the Dubai Invitational at the Dubai Creek Resort. The event is part of the DP World Tour and serves as the opening event of the Race to Dubai International Swing. Among others, McIlroy will face defending champion Tommy Fleetwood. The Dubai Invitational is a three-day Pro-Am event where professionals play alongside amateurs on the first two days. On Sunday, only professionals compete for the tournament victory, a format McIlroy excelled in last year, highlighted by his victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Dubai as a Springboard for a Long Season
After the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy will remain in the United Arab Emirates to compete in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 22 to 25. The back-to-back nature of these two high-class events allows the Northern Irishman to build early consistency and position himself well in the Race to Dubai, starting the season with less travel stress than later in the year.
Following that, McIlroy’s focus will shift across the Atlantic to California: he has already committed to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12 to 15. This tournament holds special significance as he triumphed there last year, securing his first victory in his historic career Grand Slam season. While McIlroy is expected to participate in major tournaments and majors, the rest of his tournament schedule is yet to be defined.
Rory’s first hole of his 2026 Tour season 👌 pic.twitter.com/2zRlXT2O6M
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 8, 2026