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Patrick Reed will be part of an exclusive field when the DP World Tour opens 2026 with the Dubai Invitational, a 60-man event carrying a $2.75 million purse at Dubai Creek Resort, taking place from January 15-18.
Patrick Reed – 2024 LINK Hong Kong Open – Eurasia Sport Images
The American finished the 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings in an impressive 28th position, despite playing just 14 DP World Tour events, which included the four men’s majors.
Now 35, nicknamed “Captain America” for his Ryder Cup heroics, the former Masters champion currently sits 42nd in the Official World Golf Ranking after joining LIV Golf in 2022.
The Dubai Invitational features a unique format. The $2.75 million event includes a three-day pro-am team competition, pairing 60 DP World Tour professionals with 60 amateurs, followed by a professionals-only final round. The tournament is hosted by Abdulla Al Naboodah and is held at Dubai Creek Resort.
With the Hero Dubai Desert Classic taking place the following week and the entry list still to be confirmed, Reed is expected to stay in Dubai to compete in the $9 million Rolex Series event at Emirates Golf Club before taking a short break ahead of LIV Golf’s season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in early February.
Rory McIlroy at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club – Warren Little
Reed will be joined at the Creek by five-time major champion Rory McIlroy, Ryder Cup teammate and Dubai resident Tommy Fleetwood, who returns to defend his title after winning the inaugural edition, and Irishman Shane Lowry, who earned his place in the field as a member of the 2025 European Ryder Cup team.
The 38-year-old Irishman comes into the event seeking a seventh DP World Tour victory and builds on his impressive UAE record, which includes victory at the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship just months before his Open Championship triumph on home soil 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.”
Former major champions Francesco Molinari, Padraig Harrington and Danny Willett are all set to tee it up at Dubai Creek a week on Thursday.
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Main Image: LIV Golf
