Rory McIlroy has outlined his priorities for the 2026 DP World Tour season, with the Northern Irishman firmly focused on capturing a record fifth Rolex Series title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The World Number Two arrives in Dubai on the back of a landmark 2025 campaign. Last April, McIlroy etched his name into golfing history by becoming only the sixth male player to complete the career Grand Slam with victory at the Masters. He added further silverware later in the year by securing his second Amgen Irish Open title before playing a decisive role in helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup in a gripping showdown at Bethpage Black.
McIlroy capped off the season by lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy for a seventh time, once again confirming his status as Europe’s Number One. Yet, despite the accolades, the 36-year-old insists his mindset remains unchanged as he begins another campaign at Emirates Golf Club.
Speaking ahead of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy emphasized process over pressure. He spoke of showing up with enthusiasm, choosing events he genuinely wants to play, and rediscovering joy in the daily grind that comes with a career now spanning two decades.
Dubai, in particular, continues to hold a special place in his journey. This year marks 20 years since McIlroy first teed it up at Emirates Golf Club as a 16-year-old amateur. His record in the United Arab Emirates is remarkable seven victories, eight runner-up finishes, and 37 top-ten results. Last week’s Dubai Invitational saw him finish tied third, just two shots behind winner Nacho Elvira, further underlining his enduring affinity with the region. As he targets the iconic Dallah Trophy for an unprecedented fifth time, familiarity and fond memories appear firmly on his side.
McIlroy is not the only headline act returning to Dubai with ambition. Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton described his return to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as “surreal” as he prepares for his first start of the 2026 Race to Dubai. The Englishman edged Daniel Hillier by a single shot last year to claim his eighth DP World Tour title and has once again marked Dubai as a priority on his calendar. A victory this week would see Hatton move clear of Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm as the most successful Rolex Series player since the category’s introduction in 2017.
Meanwhile, former champion Viktor Hovland enters the new season with renewed optimism. The Norwegian opened his 2026 campaign with a top-25 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and has spent the off-season refining his swing. After recent work with coach Grant Waite, Hovland believes his game is trending in the right direction, even if the process remains a work in progress.
As the DP World Tour returns to Dubai, the stage is once again set for elite competition, compelling storylines, and a familiar narrative where experience, hunger, and history converge under the desert sun.
About Hero Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic was founded in 1989 as the first DP World Tour event to take place in the Gulf, and the first and only GEO-certified golf event in the Middle East, highlighting the event’s continued dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainable golf events. Regarded as one of the most significant events on the DP World Tour, and part of the prestigious Rolex Series, it has been credited with paving the way for golf’s presence in the Middle East, as well as creating some of the most iconic moments in golfing history.
Promoted and organised by Falcon and Associates, the tournament played on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, is fondly referred to as the ‘Major of the Middle East’, due to its legacy and world-class players drawn to the tournament every year.
The tournament is supported by title sponsor, Hero MotoCorp, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a founding partner of the Dubai Desert Classic. The 37th edition of the event will take place 22–25 January 2026 in Dubai.
About Hero MotoCorp
Hero MotoCorp, headquartered in New Delhi, India, is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters for 25 consecutive years with ~$5 billion revenue. The Company’s global footprint spans 52 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and Latin America with a customer base of over 125 million. The Company operates eight manufacturing facilities – six in India and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh – along with two Research and Development centers: Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in India and Tech Centre Germany (TCG).
Hero MotoCorp is driving the transition to electric mobility through VIDA, powered by Hero. Strategic alliances with Harley-Davidson and Zero Motorcycles support the design and development of premium and electric motorcycles, respectively. Further demonstrating its commitment to the EV future, the Company has made strategic investments in two- and three-wheeler EV manufacturers, Ather Energy and Euler Motors. Hero MotoCorp is the only Indian two-wheeler manufacturer listed on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).
Hero MotoCorp’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Pawan Munjal, was named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate List of the 100 most influential leaders driving business climate action.
Beyond mobility, Hero MotoCorp is a major global promoter of sports, including golf, football, field hockey, and cricket. Hero MotoSports Team Rally is India’s flag bearer in global rally racing.
About the DP World Tour
The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf tour of the European Tour group.
As golf’s global tour, we showcase global talent in global destinations and use our platform to build, entertain and connect our global community.
GLOBAL TALENT: We provide pathways and a platform for the leading international talent, bringing together golfing icons, national heroes and emerging stars from around the world.
GLOBAL DESTINATIONS: We stage tournaments in iconic cities and locations around the world and each week we celebrate and showcase the rich diversity of the courses, cities and cultures we visit.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY: We build, entertain and connect communities through our commitment to innovation, creative content and having a positive social and environmental impact.
Our 2026 Global Schedule features 42 tournaments in 25 different countries and comprises three distinct phases: five ‘Global Swings’, the ‘Back 9’ and the ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’. It features five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour – and four Major Championships, all of which count towards the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, the Tour’s season-long competition which concludes at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, has been the title partner of the DP World Tour since the start of the 2022 season, the Tour’s 50th season following its formation in 1972.
We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with DP World, Rolex, Aldar, AWS, BMW, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Emirates, Fortinet, Husqvarna, Michelob ULTRA, Nexo and Vestas as Official Partners.
About the European Tour group
The European Tour group administers the DP World Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, as the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, stages golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup, in partnership with the PGA of America.
The European Tour group has Strategic Partnerships with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the China Golf Association (CGA), Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India. These partnerships provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group which was established in 1972, as well as the HotelPlanner Tour.
About the Rolex Series
The Rolex Series is the premium category of events on the DP World Tour, comprising five tournaments in 2026, staged in a variety of world-class golfing locations around the globe, each with a minimum prize fund of US$9 million.
Showcasing innovation, enriched media, content and broadcast coverage, and a superior event experience for both fans and for the world’s top players, the list of Rolex Series Champions includes some of golf’s most distinguished names.
The Rolex Series was launched in 2017, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Rolex’s enduring partnership with the European Tour group.
In 2026, the Rolex Series comprises; the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 22-25), the Genesis Scottish Open (July 9-12) the BMW PGA Championship (September 17-20), the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (November 5-8) and the DP World Tour Championship (November 12-15). The latter two events comprise the DP World Tour Play-Offs and feature the leading 70 and 50 players from the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World respectively.
