RASMUS NEERGAARD-PETERSEN AND RYAN FOX BRING GLOBAL APPEAL TO 2026 DUBAI INVITATIONAL

The field for the second edition of the Dubai Invitational continues to take impressive shape, with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Ryan Fox confirmed to tee it up at Dubai Creek Resort from January 15–18, 2026.

They join an already glittering cast headlined by defending champion Tommy Fleetwood and five-time Major winner Rory McIlroy, ensuring the Race to Dubai’s International Swing will begin with a tournament worthy of the global spotlight.

For Neergaard-Petersen, the Dubai Invitational represents the next chapter in a remarkable ascent. The 27-year-old Dane has been one of European golf’s most compelling stories over the past two seasons, breaking through with three wins on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024 to secure automatic promotion to the DP World Tour and claim the Road to Mallorca Rankings title.

That momentum carried seamlessly into 2025, where Neergaard-Petersen not only established himself at the highest level in Europe but also earned dual membership with the PGA TOUR. His breakthrough moment arrived last week at the Crown Australian Open, where he captured his first DP World Tour title after holding off former Open Champion Cam Smith in a dramatic final-round duel.

"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."

If Neergaard-Petersen represents golf’s next generation, Ryan Fox arrives in Dubai as a fully established force, fresh from the most successful season of his career. The 38-year-old New Zealander enjoyed a breakthrough year in the United States in 2025, claiming his first two PGA TOUR victories at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open, both secured in playoff fashion within a four-start stretch.

Fox is no stranger to success on the DP World Tour either. His most recent European triumph came at the 2023 BMW PGA Championship, and he will be targeting a fifth DP World Tour title when he returns to Dubai Creek.

"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."

Tournament host Abdulla Al Naboodah welcomed the latest additions, highlighting the growing stature of the event.

“We are delighted to welcome Ryan Fox and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen to the 2026 Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort,” said Al Naboodah. “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 serves as the opening event of the Race to Dubai’s International Swing and is staged alongside a unique three-day Pro-Am, with Sunday reserved exclusively for professional competition. The biennial tournament features 60 DP World Tour professionals and 60 amateur golfers, blending elite competition with the city’s signature hospitality.

With major champions, rising stars, and global winners converging on Dubai Creek Resort, the 2026 season promises to begin in fittingly world-class fashion.

2025-12-16T14:41:50Z