Rory McIlroy is set to swerve the first PGA Tour Signature Event of the season once again next year.
The Northern Irishman has confirmed he will take part in January’s Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort.
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McIlroy recently took part in the Indian ChampionshipCredit: Getty
The Sentry, the first of the lucrative elevated events on the PGA Tour, is being held the week prior, but it appears McIlroy will to start his new season schedule in the UAE instead.
The Sentry is traditionally competed by all the PGA Tour champions from the year prior, of which McIlroy is one, of course.
But, as he has done for several years now, McIlroy will get his year up and running on the DP World Tour instead of in the USA.
He said: “I’m excited to be starting my year in Dubai.
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“The UAE is a place where I’ve enjoyed a lot of great weeks, and I’m sure this will be no different.
“Dubai Creek Resort was a fantastic host venue two years ago, and Abdulla and his team put on an incredible event.
“I came very close to winning that week, so I’m hoping 2026 will be another really good year for me – and to start strong in the Middle East would be the perfect way to get it under way.”
McIlroy’s decision to prioritise the DP World Tour over the PGA Tour at the start of 2026 follows a bruising Ryder Cup experience for the modern-day icon.
The Team Europe star, his wife and Shane Lowry were the subject of horrendous abuse from the home crowd throughout the event at Bethpage Black.
A can of beer was launched at Erica Stoll, while extra police were needed to escort McIlroy and Lowry around the course.
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McIlroy enjoyed a good Ryder Cup on course but received torrents of abuse from the American crowd
Rory McIlroy schedule
Nov 6-9, 2025 – Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Yas Links, UAE
Nov 13-16, 2025 – DP World Tour Championship, Jumeirah Golf Estates, UAE
Dec 4-7, 2025 – Australian Open, Royal Melbourne
Jan 15-18, 2026 – Dubai Invitational, Dubai Creek Resort, UAE
Jan 22-25, 2026 – Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates GC, UAE
The 2025 Masters champion was also subject to a homophobic slur that was caught on video.
McIlroy has yet to confirm his PGA Tour schedule for 2026 but he is expected to trim down his commitments in the USA.
As well as the upcoming DP World Tour play-off events, McIlroy will compete in the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne on December 4.
He has now confirmed his place in the field for the Dubai Invitational on January 15 and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic the following week.
McIlroy made his first PGA Tour start this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in late January, winning the iconic event.
By forgoing The Sentry, it would appear McIlroy will use the popular Pebble Beach event as his season-opener in America again.
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McIlroy claimed victory at Pebble Beach earlier this yearCredit: Getty
It gets underway on February 12 next year with the Genesis Invitational, another Signature Event in California, taking place the week after.
The fallout continues
McIlroy took part in the DP World India Championship last week.
In the process, he made history as the first reigning Masters champion to play in India.
But at the India Championship, he continued to reflect on the Ryder Cup.
He wanted to make it clear that Team Europe’s performance shouldn’t be forgotten in place of the unacceptable crowd behaviour.
He said: “The unfortunate thing is people aren’t remembering that, and they are remembering the week for the wrong reason. I would like to shift the narrative to how good the European team was.
“Especially those first two days, in the foursomes and four-balls, [it was clear] how good the European team was.
“The Americans would hit it close; we hit it closer. The Americans holed a putt and we holed a putt on top, and it happened every single time.”