As a new year dawns on the DP World Tour in 2026, here are at some of the things to watch out for.
The return of the Dubai Invitational
Serving as the opening event of the Race to Dubai’s International Swing, the second edition of the Dubai Invitational marks the start of the action on the DP World Tour in 2026.
Held at Dubai Creek Resort, a European Tour Destinations venue, Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood is returning to defend his title.
The reigning FedEx Cup Champion and eight-time DP World Tour winner delivered a dramatic birdie–birdie finish at the inaugural edition in 2024 to edge out Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy on the final day.
The event includes a three-day Pro-Am team competition before a professionals-only final day, bringing together 60 DP World Tour professionals and 60 amateurs.
Every week counts
Featuring a minimum of 42 Race to Dubai tournaments in 25 different countries, the schedule will once again comprise three distinct phases.
Beginning with five Global Swings followed by the Back 9, the season then culminates with the DP World Tour Play-Offs in November.
Each Global Swing has its own identity and its own champion, with exemptions into Rolex Series events and the second phase of the season - the Back 9 - also available.
Members are competing for a record total prize fund of $157.5 million (outside the Major Championships) on golf’s global Tour next season.
The Rolex Series
As in previous years, the consistent thread throughout the course of the season will be the five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour.
In 2026 these will be: the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January), the Genesis Scottish Open – co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR (July), the BMW PGA Championship (September), the Abu Dhabi Championship (November) and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship (November).
The new events
While the Race to Dubai schedule is largely in line with recent campaigns, there is a brand-new event in 2026.
The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, the first tournament on the European Swing, will take place from May 7-10 at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona.
Its introduction follows the agreement announced last summer that the 2031 Ryder Cup will be played at Camiral in Catalunya, with Spain becoming the first continental European country to host the biennial contest twice.
In addition, the PGA TOUR’s Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic features on the Race to Dubai for the first time from July 16-19.
Alongside the ISCO Championship from July 9-12, it is one of two back-to-back events in the schedule where DP World Tour members will have access to playing on the PGA TOUR.
The new and returning venues
During the International Swing, the Investec South African Open Championship will return to Stellenbosch GC for the first time since 1999.
El Prat will host a DP World Tour event for the first time since the 2015 Open de España presented by Madrid.
Also part of the European Swing, the the Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol is moving to Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith.
Since the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone GC, the Italian Open has changed venues annually and this year sees it return to Circolo Golf Torino for the fourth time and first since back-to-back editions in 2013 and 2014.
During the Closing Swing, the third edition of the Danish Golf Championship will take place on the island of Funen, with Great Northern the host venue.
Again forming part of the Back 9, the Amgen Irish Open will be played at Trump International Golf Links Ireland, Doonbeg, for the first time from September 10-13.
Shortly after, the FedEx Open de France is slated to return to Le Golf National after the 2018 Ryder Cup venue underwent major renovation works.
McIlroy targets Monty's record
After topping the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World for a seventh time last year, Rory McIlroy has Colin Montgomerie's record haul of eight firmly in his sights.
The Northern Irishman enjoyed a remarkable year in 2025, achieving the career Grand Slam with a memorable Masters win, tasting victory at the Amgen Irish Open and playing a key role in Europe's historic away Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage.
A winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy for the last four years, he is ahead of Seve Ballesteros' tally of six and appears intent on climbing to the top of the all-time list.
"It seems within touching distance now," he said. "I was the first European to win the Grand Slam and I'd love to be the most successful European in terms of winning Order of Merits and season-long races.
"I've hopefully got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch (Montgomerie) and surpass him."
The road to the Majors
Barring the Ryder Cup, nothing gets a golf fan excited quite like the Majors.
The season of golf's four biggest individual prizes will once again begin at Augusta National for the Masters Tournament in April, before Aronimink hosts the US PGA Championship, Shinnecock Hills stages the U.S. Open and The Open Championship visits Royal Birkdale.
As part of a new initiative announced by Augusta National and The R&A last summer, the winner of the Investec South African Open Championship will earn a spot at The Masters, while there will be three places in the field – to golfers not already exempt – at The 154th Open available as part of the Open Qualifying Series.
There is one place available for Royal Birkdale for players competing at the Italian Open, while three places will be available via the Genesis Scottish Open.
The first five DP World Tour members and any DP World Tour members tying for fifth place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings on completion of the BMW International Open will also earn a spot at The Open.
As with the past couple of years, the leading three players on the Asian Swing Rankings will earn exempt status for the US PGA Championship.
Players out to shine
You already know about the DP World Tour's established superstars but what about those who might make a name for themselves this season?
Nine players from last year's HotelPlanner Tour cohort of graduates made it to the season finale in Dubai, with three of those - Kristoffer Reitan, John Parry and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen - earning dual membership on the PGA TOUR for the 2026 season.
Martin Couvra, another product of the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024, was named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year after making his DP World Tour breakthrough..
But it is not just rookies looking to seize the opportunity, with an array of international talent from Qualifying School including Canada's Aaron Cockerill, hoping to emulate Jacob Skov Olesen in playing their way to the season climax in Dubai.
There have already been three first-time winners so far on the 2026 Race to Dubai, with Neergaard-Petersen, David Puig and Jayden Schaper all winning silverware. After there were 19 first-time winners last season, how many will we see this year?
Changes to membership structure
In effect for the 2026 season, there are a number of changes to the DP World Tour's membership structure - designed to provide greater schedule certainty and more balanced playing opportunities. They will also make gaining the 2027 Tour card more difficult.
Among these, are:
• The cut-off to retain a full card through the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings (for the 2027 season) will be reduced from the top 110 to the top 100
• The number of cards available to top finishers on the HotelPlanner Tour will be reduced from 20 to 15
• The DP World Tour cards available at the 2026 Qualifying School will be reduced from the top 20 and ties to the top 15 and ties.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
