Particle.news

Rory McIlroy to Open 2026 in Dubai, Passing on PGA Tour’s First Signature Event

The choice keeps him out of The Sentry’s rich purse.

Overview

  • McIlroy has confirmed entries for the Dubai Invitational on Jan 15–18 and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic the following week.
  • He will also play the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne from Dec 4–7.
  • The PGA Tour has ruled out staging The Sentry in Hawaii in early 2026 due to Kapalua watering issues, and no replacement site has been announced.
  • He has not released his full 2026 PGA Tour schedule, with reporting linking his approach to workload management and to the bruising Ryder Cup experience at Bethpage.
  • Skipping The Sentry means forfeiting a potential winner’s payday of about £2.7m, consistent with recent decisions to bypass other lucrative starts.