Staff WriterThe Dubai Invitational is wasting no time putting shine on the 2026 calendar. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Ryan Fox are the latest names confirmed for Dubai Creek Resort, where the second edition runs from January 15–18.
They join defending champion Tommy Fleetwood and five-time Major winner Rory McIlroy, already pencilled in for what’s shaping up as an early-season statement on the Race to Dubai.
Neergaard-Petersen arrives with the kind of trajectory that makes agents grin and rivals check leaderboards twice. The Dane’s last two seasons have been a sprint: three HotelPlanner Tour wins in 2024, instant graduation to the DP World Tour, and the Road to Mallorca Rankings title—placing him among a select Danish quartet to pull off the clean sweep.
That climb didn’t exactly level off in 2025. He established himself on the DP World Tour, earned dual membership with the PGA TOUR, and then put a bow on it by landing his first DP World Tour title at last week’s Crown Australian Open, fending off Cam Smith in a final-round scrap.
“I’m really looking forward to making my debut at the Dubai Invitational,” said Neergaard-Petersen. “Starting 2026 in the UAE with momentum from my Australian Open win is exactly where I want to be.”
Fox, meanwhile, brings a different flavour: the seasoned winner who’s just found another gear. The New Zealander’s 2025 in America delivered two PGA TOUR titles—the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open—both sealed in play-offs, both inside four starts, and both the sort of finishes that turn tournaments into travelling theatre.
His most recent DP World Tour win came at the 2023 BMW PGA Championship, and Dubai Creek offers a tidy chance to push his career tally to a fifth.
“Dubai has always been a special place for me to play golf, and after the year I’ve had, I’m excited to bring that form to Dubai Creek Resort,” said Fox. “I enjoyed the inaugural edition in 2024, and the venue is fantastic. With Tommy defending and Rory returning, it’s going to be a world-class field and a great way to start 2026.”
For tournament host Abdulla Al Naboodah, the latest confirmations are exactly the point of the Dubai Invitational: global names, current form, and proper competitive bite from the first tee shot of the year.
Tournament host, Abdulla Al Naboodah, added: “We are delighted to welcome Ryan Fox and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen to the 2026 Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort. Both players have demonstrated outstanding skill and consistency on the international stage and their inclusion enhances an already distinguished field and exemplifies the calibre of competition that defines this tournament.”
The Dubai Invitational opens the Race to Dubai’s International Swing and runs alongside a three-day Pro-Am team competition, with Sunday reserved for professionals only.
The bi-annual event features 60 DP World Tour professionals and 60 amateurs—equal parts serious golf and high-end hospitality, with the sharp end of the week saved for the players who actually have to sign for it.
General admission is free, with tickets available via the event’s official channels.
Visit www.dpworldtour.com to secure free general admission tickets.
