Rory McIlroy is about to start his 2026 golf season with two DP World Tour events followed by a tournament in America.
Rory McIlroy will kick off his 2026 golf year in the United Arab Emirates, as he did during his career Grand Slam season. Dubai will once again be the Northern Irishman’s first big stage in his hunt for more titles before he heads to America in February.
Rory McIlroy’s Start at the Dubai Invitational
McIlroy’s first tournament of 2026 is the Dubai Invitational at the Dubai Creek Resort from January 15 to 18. This DP World Tour event also 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 with amateurs on the first two days, followed by a day focusing solely on professionals competing for the title. Last year, McIlroy already impressed with this format, notably winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Dubai as a Springboard for a Long Season
After the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy will stay in the UAE to compete in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 22 to 25. The close scheduling of these two high-level events allows the Northern Irishman to build early consistency and position himself well in the Race to Dubai, providing a season start with less travel stress than later in the year.
His attention will then shift across the Atlantic to California, where he has already committed to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12 to 15. This tournament holds special significance, as he claimed victory there last year, marking his first win in his historic career Grand Slam season. While it is expected that McIlroy will participate in major tournaments and majors, the rest of his schedule remains undefined.
Rory’s first hole of his 2026 Tour season 👌 pic.twitter.com/2zRlXT2O6M
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 8, 2026