Rory McIlroy will begin his bid for a record-extending fifth Hero Dubai Desert Classic title alongside defending champion Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood in a headline all-European Ryder Cup three-ball.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, who is making his 16th appearance at an event he first played in 2006, is the reigning Race to Dubai champion and is targeting a fifth Rolex Series title this week.
Hatton already has five following his Dallah Trophy triumph 12 months ago, while Fleetwood is bidding to land the prestigious title at Emirates Golf Club for a first time, with the trio beginning their challenges off the tenth tee at 08:05 local time on Thursday.
Elsewhere in the draw, Ireland's Shane Lowry - who is making his first start at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic since 2023 - is joined by fellow Rolex Series winners Ryan Fox and Nicolai Højgaard in another Featured Group beginning with the back nine first at 08:15.
Viktor Hovland, triumphant in this event in 2022, will be eager to get his 2026 off to a strong start, with the Norwegian grouped with two-time Major champion Dustin Johnson and New Zealand's Daniel Hillier, runner-up here both last year and at last week's Dubai Invitational, at 12:25.
Following them at 12:35, breakout stars Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Martin Couvra - both first-time winners on the DP World Tour last year - are joined by David Puig, who made his own breakthough at the opening event of the 2026 Race to Dubai schedule in November.
Two-time Ryder Cup-winning Captain Luke Donald is grouped with Spain's Pablo Larrazábal and Norway's Jacob Skov Olesen at 11:55.
Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal will hit the opening tee shot at 07:05 in the company of Switzerland's Joel Girrbach and Austria's Bernd Wiesberger.
For the full round one and two draw, click here.
