DUBAI (ALETIHAD)

Rory McIlroy revealed his focus for the 2026 DP World Tour campaign as he targets his fifth Rolex Series title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

The world No.2 enjoyed a year to remember in 2025, becoming the sixth male player in history to complete the career Grand Slam with victory at the Masters last April. The Northern Irishman played a pivotal role in Europe retaining the Ryder Cup.

He then rounded off a stellar season by lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy for a seventh time, confirming his status as Europe’s No.1.

Despite a momentous year, the 36-year-old insists he will not rest on his laurels when he tees up at the Emirates Golf Club for double-header weeks in the city after the Dubai Invitational.

This week also marks 20 years since McIlroy made his debut at Emirates Golf Club as a 16-year-old amateur.

“I love Dubai. It holds so many great memories for me, first of which was coming here as a 16-year-old, and playing in the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time as an amateur, and I played twice as an amateur,” he added.

“In 2007, I made the cut, and that got me to world No.1 in the amateur rankings, and two years later, I won my first professional event here. So it’s a lot of great memories. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way. Honestly, I’ve always felt like it was a perfect place to start the year.”

Meanwhile, Tyrrell Hatton admitted returning to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as defending champion feels “surreal” as he prepares for his first start on the 2026 Race to Dubai.

The 34-year-old edged New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier by one shot to claim his eighth DP World Tour title at last year’s event, and the world No.21 has once again highlighted the tournament as a priority on his schedule.

Victory in Dubai would see Hatton move clear of Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm as the most successful Rolex Series player since its inception in 2017, with both players locked on five triumphs.