Rory McIlroy’s 2026 Season Kicks Off with Dubai and US Events

Rory McIlroy's 2026 Season Kicks Off with Dubai and US Events
Rory McIlroy starts his 2026 golf season in Dubai. (Photo:Getty)

Rory McIlroy is about to start his 2026 golf season with two DP World Tour events and a tournament in the USA.

Rory McIlroy will begin his 2026 season in the United Arab Emirates, just like in his career Grand Slam year. Dubai will once again be the first major stage for the Northern Irishman in his pursuit of more titles before heading to America in February.

Rory McIlroy’s Season Opener at the Dubai Invitational

Rory McIlroy is set to compete in his first tournament of 2026 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 also serves as the opening event of the Race to Dubai International Swing. McIlroy will face competitors including defending champion Tommy Fleetwood. The Dubai Invitational is a three-day Pro-Am event where professionals play alongside amateurs for the first two days. On Sunday, the spotlight is solely on the professionals competing for the tournament victory. This format is one where McIlroy has already impressed, particularly with his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last year.

Dubai as a Springboard for a Long Season

After the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy will stay in the United Arab Emirates to compete in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 22 to 25. The back-to-back scheduling of these two high-caliber 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 months.

His focus will then shift across the Atlantic to California, as McIlroy has already committed to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12 to 15. This tournament holds special significance since he triumphed there last year, securing his first win during his historic career Grand Slam season. While it is expected that McIlroy will participate in the major tournaments and majors, his full tournament schedule is yet to be defined.