Dubai Invitational – Who will win the first big golf tournament of 2026?

In the following short article, we will give you a full profile of the upcoming Dubai Invitational. This tournament will kick off the golfing year and is now the first main event scheduled for 2026 as “the Sentry” that was scheduled for the 8th January has sadly been cancelled. Played in Dubai on a 71 par course, this promises a strong field of 60 professionals. We will look over some of the competitors and what to expect for the event, and as always, provide you with a well-thought-out Dubai Invtitational prediction for use in your bets.

The event was only conceived in 2024 and is to be held biannually, which makes this only its second appearance on the tour. Tommy Fletwood won the inaugural event in 2024 with a strong -19 par final score after 3 rounds. Without much history to speak of it’s still going to be a well attended tournament. This is due to the large prize fund of $2,500,000 USD which is always going to attract a good field of golfers! The biggest news last time round was the shock that club golfer American Ken Weyand got a sponsor’s pass to play. Mixing it with the professionals he ended up 53 over par, some 73 strokes behind the winner!

Course Preview

The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club provides a beautiful well-maintained course for pros and amateurs alike. It’s an 18-hole 71 par golf course designed by Karl Litten. It includes waterfront holes and is designed in the shape of a dhow sail. It is built in a desert oasis and offers plenty of sand traps as well as players make their way around the holes.

• Length: Around 7,090 yards (from championship tees)
• Designer: Karl Litten
• Opened: 1993 (second oldest in Dubai)
• Course Rating: 74.0 (Championship)
• Slope Rating: 136 (Championship)

Who are the Dubai International players to watch out for?

Let’s dive into the event in a bit more detail by profiling some of the major names who will be competing for the prize of being the Dubai International tournament champion for 2026.

 Tommy Fleetwood

• World Ranking: 3rd
• Nationality: English
• Record: 1 appearance – 2024 Winner

The defending champion will be back to defend his title at this year’s 2026 Dubai Invitational. Despite having never won a major, he is one of the most well-known golfers on the tour currently and has a large following of fans. He has 12 professional wins to his name in a 15-year professional career.

His recent DP World tour form has been good, winning the DP World India Championship in October and finishing 2nd and 3rd in two events in November.

 Rory McIllory

• World Ranking:1st
• Nationality: Northern Irish
• Record: 1 appearance – 2024 Runner Up

A golfer who needs no introduction, McIlory recently confirmed his entry for the 2026 Dubai Invitational. He just missed out by one shot on winning this event in its inaugural year.

Rory McIllory won the race to Dubai World Tour for a seventh time and completed the career grand slam with a PGA and Ryder Cup win. He was runner-up after a playoff at the Dubai World Tour Championship and is coming into this event as the world number one and the golfer that everyone is aiming to beat.

 Thriston Lawrence

• World Ranking: 45th
• Nationality: South African
• Record: 1 appearance – 2024 Runner Up

Having only missed out by a shot 2 years ago Thriston Lawrence will be hoping he can make the same kind of impact at this years 2026 Dubai Invitational event. Beyond a strong showing here 2 years ago Lawrence has had mixed form of late. He Tied 3rd at the Alfred Dunhill event and finished T44 at the John Deere Classic in September and October. But missed the cut at the Scottish Open with a disastrous performance in November, which shows he can be inconsistent. If he is on his game however he can compete with the very best.

Where to watch the 2026 Dubai Invitational

A Dubai Invitational live stream can be viewed on various networks and operating platforms worldwide, as it forms part of the DP World Tour.

Live coverage of all the tour events is available on the broadcasters that are listed below in the main golfing regions, and others can be found on request. Some bookmakers will also offer live streams; terms and conditions will vary to qualify to stream the event.

You can also catch up with the scores via the DP World Tour official website while the tournament is ongoing if you just want to check how your golfers are getting on.

• UK -Sky Sports
• Canada -Golf Channel
• USA -Golf Channel, CBS
• Pan Middle East & North Africa- GolfLife

Prediction for the 2026 Dubai Invitational

So who will lift only the 2nd ever Dubai Invitational title on the 18th January? With our main players and the course profiled, let’s give you some Dubai Invitational betting tips.

Realistically, this course is beautifully maintained, and pro golfers should not find it too taxing to get around well within the par margins. This will suit the top-ranked golfers, so look at the ones in the best form coming into the event to get a good idea of those who will challenge. Each-way bets on golf tournaments are often handy, so find sites that pay out the most places.