The trio join World Number Two Rory McIlroy and his Ryder Cup teammate Nicolai Højgaard, who won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last month, in the field featuring 60 professionals and 60 amateurs.

The Dubai Invitational will see a 72-hole strokeplay DP World Tour tournament played concurrently with a three-day team Pro-Am, with Sunday featuring professionals only.

Donald, who Captained Team Europe to a 16½ – 11½ victory against the United States in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, was recently announced as Europe’s first repeat Captain since Bernard Gallacher performed the role in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

Victorious Team Europe in Rome – Getty

The former World Number One will lead Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York and is looking forward to the prospect of beginning his 2024 DP World Tour season in Dubai.

“It’s great to start my 2024 season at the Dubai Invitational,” said Donald. “We always get a lot of support from the fans when the Tour visits Dubai. It’s a cool place to play golf and with the added novelty of this being a brand-new event on the calendar, I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic experience for everyone.”

Six-time DP World Tour winner and Dubai resident Fleetwood will make back-to-back appearances on the DP World Tour next month as the Englishman looks to build on momentum generated from an impressive 2023 season, which included his second Ryder Cup win, and a runner up finish in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship.

Naomi Baker/Getty Images

New Zealander Fox secured his biggest career victory to date at the 2023 BMW PGA Championship after posting a five under par round of 67 on Sunday to lift the famous trophy at Wentworth Club in England.

The 36-year-old now has four DP World Tour victories to his name, including the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which features similarities to the Pro-Am format at the Dubai Invitational.

“I’m really excited for what 2024 has to offer and kickstarting things at the Dubai Invitational will be a fun week,” said Fox. “I’ve always enjoyed playing the Pro-Am format, it’s a unique way for us to compete and I’ve had success playing alongside some interesting characters from all walks of life.”

Richard Heathcote

Tom Phillips, Head of Middle East for the DP World Tour, said: “We’re excited to be launching the Dubai Invitational for the first time as part of our expanded 2024 DP World Tour schedule. The event will ensure we start the season in style, and we can’t wait to welcome 60 professionals and 60 amateurs to the fantastic Dubai Creek Resort in January.”

Chris May, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Golf, added: “With less than one month to go, final preparations for the Dubai Invitational at the historic Dubai Creek Resort are well under way. We’re looking forward to hosting another DP World Tour event here in Dubai – one that promises to deliver something for everyone to enjoy.”

The first event on the International Swing on the DP World Tour’s new 2024 schedule, the Dubai Invitational will be played bi-annually in 2024, 2026 and 2028.

Main Image: DP World Tour / Getty Images

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The 22-year-old won his maiden Rolex Series title at the Race to Dubai Championship in November, by birdieing five of his last six holes to claim the biggest victory of his career, and he will return to the Emirate for the new four-day event at Dubai Creek Resort.

The Dubai Invitational will see a 72-hole strokeplay DP World Tour tournament played concurrently with a three-day Pro-Am team event, with Sunday featuring professionals only as Nicolai will join reigning Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy in the field for the first event of 2024.

The Dane’s triumph at Jumeirah Golf Estates brought a memorable 2023 season to an end, which included victories as part of Continental Europe in the inaugural Hero Cup and Team Europe in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, as well as earning PGA TOUR playing privileges for 2024 via the FedEx Cup.

The 2023 Ryder Cup rookie already has a victory in the United Arab Emirates with the 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club in his trophy cabinet.

“I love playing golf in the UAE and it’s the perfect place to start the year after the winter break,” Højgaard said. “The conditions and the setup of the golf courses clearly suit my game and I always feel confident playing in Dubai, and with the pro-am format it adds a different dimension to the event, which I think is really exciting. It should be a great week and I can’t wait to get to Dubai Creek Resort in January.”

Tournament host Abdulla Al Naboodah added: “I’m delighted Nicolai has confirmed to play. He’s had an incredible few weeks during and since the Ryder Cup. He won the RAK Championship which Phoenix Capital supported a couple of years ago, so it’s great have him in the field again in January.”

Image: Getty

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The new-look DP World Tour schedule for 2023-24 consolidated the UAE’s place at the top table of world golf, with five events slated across the emirates, including a season-ending double-header.

Following the traditional early-campaign events in Australia and South Africa before the Christmas break, the Tour rolls into the UAE in January for three back-to-back tournaments — including a new arrival in the form of the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort (January 11-14), before heading to Emirates Golf Club and the 35th Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 18-21). The Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club rounds out the triple-header (January 25-28).

Both the Dubai Invitational and RAK event offer prize money of $2.5 million, with the Rolex Series Desert Classic having $9 million up for grabs.

In another revamp to the calendar, Bahrain will be joining the DP World Tour. From February 1-4, the Royal Golf Club will host some of the world’s top players to the resort, south of Manama, with a purse of $2.5 million.

Thomas Pieters thrived at a stormy Yas Links in 2022 to claim the Abu Dhabi Championship. Getty Images

In one of the most significant changes, the Abu Dhabi Championship has been moved from its traditional January spot to form a season finale play-off along with the DP World Tour Championship.

Running in November, these two two final Rolex Series events of the season with have a pool of $19 million in prize money. The Abu Dhabi Championship will welcome the leading 70 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings to Yas Links, before the top 50 head back to Dubai for the showdown at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the DP World Tour’s Number One player will be crowned.

At the conclusion of the DP World Tour’s 2024 season, the leading 10 players will share a $6 million bonus pool. The top 10 DP World Tour members on the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings (not otherwise exempt) will earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2025 season.

“Our 2024 season will see our members come together to compete across a global schedule, with greater opportunities and rewards than ever before,” said Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s chief executive. “The many new and original enhancements we have introduced will guarantee drama and excitement for our fans, our broadcasters and all our stakeholders across the entire season and means, more than ever, that every week counts on the DP World Tour.”

Here is the full 2023-24 DP World Tour schedule

Opening Swing
November 23-26 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship (Royal Queensland GC, Brisbane, Australia)
November 23-26 ​​​​​​Joburg Open (Houghton GC, Johannesburg, South Africa)
November 30-December 3 ISPS Handa Australian Open (The Australian GC & The Lakes GC, Sydney, Australia)
November 30-December 3 Investec South African Open Championship (Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate, Lanseria, Johannesburg, South Africa)
December 7-10 Alfred Dunhill Championship (Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa)
December 14-17 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (Heritage La Réserve GC, Heritage Bel Ombre, Mauritius)
International Swing
January 11-14 2024 Dubai Invitational (Dubai Creek Resort, Dubai, UAE)
January 18-21 Hero Dubai Desert Classic (Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE)
January 25-28 Ras Al Khaimah Championship (Al Hamra GC, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE)
February 1-4 Bahrain Championship (Royal GC, Kingdom of Bahrain)
February 22-25 Magical Kenya Open (Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya)
February 29-March 3 SDC Championship (TBC, South Africa)
March 7-10 Jonsson Workwear Open (TBC, South Africa)
Asian Swing
March 21-24 Singapore Classic (Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Singapore)
March 28-31 Asian Event TBA (TBC)
April 11-14 The Masters (Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia, USA)
April 18-21 Korea Championship (Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, Incheon, South Korea)
April 25-28 ISPS Handa Championship (Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba Course, Gotemba City, Japan)
May 2-5 Volvo China Open (Hidden Grace GC, Shenzhen, China)
May 16-19 PGA Championship (Valhalla GC, Louisville, Kentucky, USA)
European Swing
May 23-26 Soudal Open (Rinkven International GC, Antwerp, Belgium)
May 30-June 2 European Open (Green Eagle Golf Courses, Hamburg, Germany)
June 6-9 Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed (TBC, Sweden)
June 13-16 US Open (Pinehurst Resort & CC, Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA)
June 20-23 KLM Open (The International, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
June 27-30 Italian Open (TBC, Italy)
July 4-7 BMW International Open (Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany)
Closing Swing
July 11-14 Genesis Scottish Open (The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland)
July 11-14 Event TBA (TBC, USA)
July 18-21 The 152nd Open (Royal Troon GC, Ayrshire, Scotland)
July 18-21 Barracuda Championship (Tahoe Mt Club, Truckee, California, USA)
August 1-4 Olympic Men’s Golf Competition (Le Golf National, Paris, France)
August 15-18 D+D Real Czech Masters (Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic)
August 22-25 Danish Golf Championship (Lübker Golf Resort, Aarhus, Denmark)
The Back 9
August 29-September 1 Betfred British Masters (The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England)
September 5-8 Omega European Masters (Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland)
September 12-15 Horizon Irish Open (Royal County Down GC, Newcastle, Co Down, Northern Ireland)
September 19-22 BMW PGA Championship (Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England)
September 26-29 acciona Open de España presented by Madrid (Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
October 3-6 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns, Scotland)
October 10-13 Open de France (Le Golf National, Paris, France)
October 17-20 Andalucia Masters (Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, San Roque, Andalucia, Spain)
October 24-27 Event TBA (TBC)
DP World Tour Play-Offs
November 7-10 Abu Dhabi Championship (Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
November 14-17 DP World Tour Championship (Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course, Dubai, UAE)

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