Rory McIlroy is set to start his 2026 golf season with two DP World Tour events in Dubai and a tournament in the USA.
Rory McIlroy will begin his 2026 golf year in the United Arab Emirates, just like in his career Grand Slam year. Dubai once again becomes the first major stage for the Northern Irishman as he hunts for more titles before heading to America in February.
Rory McIlroy’s Start at the Dubai Invitational
McIlroy’s first tournament of 2026 takes place from January 15 to 18 at the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort. This event is part of the DP World Tour and also marks the opening event of the Race to Dubai International Swing. Among his competitors is defending champion Tommy Fleetwood. The Dubai Invitational is a three-day Pro-Am event where professionals and amateurs play together during the first two days. On Sunday, only professionals compete for the tournament victory. This format suits McIlroy well, as he demonstrated last year with his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Dubai as a Springboard for a Long Season
After the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy stays in the UAE to compete in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 22 to 25. The back-to-back high-caliber events allow him to build early consistency and position himself well in the Race to Dubai, enabling a season start with less travel stress compared to later in the year.
Following that, McIlroy will shift his focus to California for 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 of his historic career Grand Slam season. While it is expected that McIlroy will participate in major tournaments and the Majors, his full schedule for other events remains undefined.
Rory’s first hole of his 2026 Tour season 👌 pic.twitter.com/2zRlXT2O6M
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 8, 2026