The DP World Tour will visit five countries across seven events as the Race to Dubai resumes with the International Swing.
One of five Global Swings which form Phase One of the schedule, the series of tournaments includes a Dubai double header to the start the new year.
Further stops in the Middle East on the desert stretch follow in the Kingdom of Bahrain and then Qatar, with the action moving to Kenya and onwards to South Africa for a two-week sprint to determine the Swing champion.
As with the past two seasons on the DP World Tour, the schedule comprises three distinct phases, beginning with the Global Swings followed by the Back 9, with the campaign culminating with the DP World Tour Play-Offs in November.
The World is Coming to Play.
Who is involved and what is at stake? Here, we explain all you need to know…
Two years on from its inaugural edition, the Dubai Invitational returns to Dubai Creek Resort for the start of a new calendar year on the DP World Tour.
The first of back-to-back tournaments in the Emirate, the International Swing continues with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club - the first Rolex Series event of the season.
From there, the action heads to Bahrain for the third edition of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, before the Qatar Masters takes place, reinforcing its status as a key fixture on Tour.
As was the case last year, there is then a one-week interval, with the Magical Kenya Open marking the start of three consecutive events in Africa.
The Investec South African Open Championship then takes place at new host Stellenbosch Golf Club before the Swing concludes at Houghton Golf Club with the Joburg Open, with both events co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour.
The International Swing schedule
| Date | Event | Venue | Prize Fund | Race to Dubai Points pool | Defending champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15-18 | Dubai Invitational | Dubai Creek Resort | US$2,750,000 | 3,500 | Tommy Fleetwood |
| Jan 22-25 | Hero Dubai Desert Classic | Emirates Golf Club | US$9,000,000 | 8,000 (5,000 International Swing points) | Tyrrell Hatton |
| Jan 29-Feb 01 | Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship | Royal Golf Club | US$2,750,000 | 3,500 | Laurie Canter |
| Feb 05-08 | Qatar Masters | Doha Golf Club | US$2,750,000 | 3,500 | Haotong Li |
| Off week | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Feb 19-22 | Magical Kenya Open | TBC | US$2,700,000 | 3,500 | Jacques Kruyswijk |
| Feb 26-March 01 | Investec South African Open Championship | Stellenbosch Golf Club | US$1,500,000 | 3,000 | Dylan Naidoo |
| March 05-08 | Joburg Open | Houghton Golf Club | R20,500,000 | 3,000 | Calum Hill |
Who is in action?
Tommy Fleetwood returns to defend his Dubai Invitational title after his play-off victory over Rory McIlroy at the event's first edition in 2024, with the Englishman joined by several of his Ryder Cup team-mates at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Chief among those is McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam last year, and is targeting a record-extending fifth title over the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.
The Northern Irishman is set to face stiff competition from the likes of defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, former winner Viktor Hovland and the in-form Jayden Schaper after his back-to-back DP World Tour titles in South Africa and Mauritius to win the Opening Swing.
Among others teeing it up at one of the DP World Tour's most prestigious events are other Rolex Series winners Ryan Fox and Nicolai Højgaard, with American Major winner Dustin Johnson confirmed to make his debut at the $9 million event.
Seasoned campaigners are then joined by graduates of the HotelPlanner Tour and Qualifying School in Bahrain and Qatar.
Stars from the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tours will then head to the Western Cape province for South Africa's national Open, where home hero Dylan Naidoo will defend his title, before the Swing comes to a climax with the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club.
To view the Dubai Invitational field in full, click here.
To view the Hero Dubai Desert Classic field, click here.
Entry lists for future events on the International Swing are released two weeks prior to the respective start date.
What is at stake during the Swing?
As well as silverware and valuable Race to Dubai and Official World Golf Ranking points, there is plenty to play for on the International Swing.
As for each Global Swing, the leading player is crowned Swing Champion, qualifes for each of the Back 9 events and earns a US$200,000 bonus.
The player who finishes highest in the Swing Rankings and is not already exempt will join the field for the second Rolex Series event of the season - the Genesis Scottish Open.
The Investec South African Open Championship will also offer an invite to the Masters Tournament for the champion, while the top three players not already exempt will earn a place in the field for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale via The Open Qualifying Series.
What are the formats?
Played alongside a three-day Pro-Am team format before a professionals-only Sunday, the bi-annual Dubai Invitational features 60 DP World Tour professionals and 60 amateurs. There is no cut in the 72-hole individual strokeplay event. The team competition will see one amateur and one professional play together.
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic features a 126-strong field, with a 36-hole cut to the top 65 players and ties.
The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, Qatar Masters and Magical Kenya Open are full-field 72-hole stroke play events with a 36-hole cut to the top 65 players and ties.
The Investec South African Open Championship and Joburg Open are both co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, with a 36-hole cut at each. 144 players are due to contest South Africa's nation Open, before 156 tee it up in Johannesburg.
What's to follow?
With the International Swing through to March, there is a one-week hiatus before the five-event Asian Swing starts at the Hainan Classic in China.
The Asian Swing will be followed by the European Swing and Closing Swing before the Back 9 leads into the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
