Rory McIlroy is set to begin his 2026 golf season with two DP World Tour events in Dubai and a start in the USA.
Rory McIlroy will kick off his 2026 golf year in the United Arab Emirates, just as he did during his career Grand Slam year. Dubai once again serves as the Northern Irishman’s first major stage in his pursuit of more titles before heading to America in February.
Rory McIlroy’s Start at the Dubai Invitational
McIlroy’s first tournament of 2026 will take place from January 15 to 18 at the Dubai Invitational held at the Dubai Creek Resort. The event is part of the DP World Tour and marks the opening of the Race to Dubai International Swing. McIlroy will face competition including defending champion Tommy Fleetwood. The Dubai Invitational is a three-day Pro-Am event where professionals play alongside amateurs on the first two days, with the final day focusing solely on the pros competing for the title. McIlroy has already demonstrated strong performances in this format, notably winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last year.
Dubai as a Launchpad for a Long Season
Following the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy will remain in the UAE to compete in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 22 to 25. The back-to-back scheduling of these top-tier events allows McIlroy to build early season consistency and position himself well in the Race to Dubai, which also helps reduce travel stress compared to later in the season.
His season then shifts across the Atlantic to California, where he has already committed to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12 to 15—a tournament of special significance, as he claimed victory there last year during his historic career Grand Slam season. While McIlroy is expected to compete in major tournaments and key events, his full schedule for the season remains undefined.
Rory’s first hole of his 2026 Tour season 👌 pic.twitter.com/2zRlXT2O6M
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 8, 2026