Rory McIlroy is set to begin his 2026 golf season with two DP World Tour events and a start in the USA.
Rory McIlroy will open his 2026 golf year in the United Arab Emirates, just like in his career Grand Slam season. Dubai will once again be the first major stage for the Northern Irish on his quest for more titles before heading to America in February.
Rory McIlroy’s start at the Dubai Invitational
Rory McIlroy will play his first 2026 tournament from January 15th to 18th at the Dubai Invitational at the 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. McIlroy will face, among others, 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, the focus is exclusively on the professionals competing for the tournament victory. McIlroy already impressed in this format last year, especially with his win 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 UAE to compete at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 22nd to 25th. The back-to-back high-level events allow the Northern Irishman to build early consistency and position himself optimally in the Race to Dubai, also enabling a season start with less travel stress compared to later in the year.
His sights then turn across the Atlantic to California, where he has already confirmed participation at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12th to 15th. This tournament holds particular significance, as he triumphed there last year, claiming his first victory in his historic career Grand Slam season. While it is expected that McIlroy will compete in the major tournaments and big events, his full tournament schedule remains undefined.
Rory’s first hole of his 2026 Tour season 👌 pic.twitter.com/2zRlXT2O6M
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 8, 2026