Five more stars added to 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic line-up
Dubai field deepens as champions and contenders commit for January showdown
Five more established names have been confirmed for the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with Ryan Fox, Pádraig Harrington, Nicolai Højgaard, Tom McKibbin and Joaquín Niemann set to compete at Emirates Golf Club from January 22–25 in the opening Rolex Series event of the Race to Dubai.
The quintet strengthens an already elite field at the Majlis Course, joining defending champion Tyrrell Hatton alongside Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry and Dustin Johnson for the tournament’s 37th edition.
New Zealander Ryan Fox arrives following a standout 2025 on the PGA Tour, highlighted by victories at the Myrtle Beach Classic and RBC Canadian Open, and said the tournament’s history and setting continue to draw him back to Dubai for a 10th appearance.
Three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington, now 54, will return after claiming two senior Major titles in 2025, while Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard, a Ryder Cup winner in 2023, brings strong Dubai form after his DP World Tour Championship victory later that same year.
Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who tied sixth last year and now calls Dubai home, and Chile’s Joaquín Niemann, a tied-fourth finisher on debut in 2024, complete a group that tournament director Simon Corkill described as blending proven champions with players redefining what is possible on Tour.
Beyond the competition, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic will again expand its off-course offering in 2026, with a larger Family Zone, live entertainment, the new Eat Street dining area and a range of ticket and hospitality options, reinforcing its status as one of Dubai’s marquee January sporting and social events.