Open champions headline Dubai return
Major pedigree sharpens the start of the Race to Dubai
Former Open Champions Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari will add Major Championship pedigree to the 2026 Dubai Invitational, the opening event of the Race to Dubai International Swing at Dubai Creek Resort from January 15–18.
The pair join a growing field that already includes defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, five-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and DP World Tour winners Ryan Fox and Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson for the second edition of the event.
Lowry, 38, arrives seeking a seventh DP World Tour victory and with a formidable record in the UAE, highlighted by his 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship win before his Open Championship triumph at Royal Portrush.
“I’m excited to make my debut at the Dubai Invitational,” said Lowry. “The UAE has always been a special place for me, and after the year we’ve had with the Ryder Cup, I’m looking forward to getting 2026 started in Dubai.”
Molinari returns to Dubai Creek Resort after finishing fifth at the inaugural edition in 2024, bringing with him nine career victories across the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, including his Open Championship success in 2018, as the Pro-Am format again opens the Race to Dubai season in style.