Dubai Invitational: Fantasy DP World Tour ones to watch

The International Swing gets under way this week as the Dubai Invitational returns for its second edition at Dubai Creek Resort after debuting on the DP World Tour schedule in 2024.

Played alongside a three-day Pro-Am team format before a professionals-only Sunday, the bi-annual event features 60 DP World Tour professionals and 60 amateurs.

World Number Two Rory McIlroy headlines proceedings but he is joined by the man who pipped him to the title two years ago, Tommy Fleetwood - currently flying at a career-high third in the Official World Golf Ranking.

There is also plenty of Major muscle on display with McIlroy joined by fellow Masters champions Patrick Reed and Danny Willett and Open winners Francesco Molinari, Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry.

Out of the 60 players in the field only three do not have a DP World Tour victory but impressive 2025 rookies Angel Ayora, Jacob Skov Olesen and Oliver Lindell could all mount a serious challenge.

Jayden Schaper also tees it up as he looks for a historic third consecutive victory.

From insight into the week’s most-picked players among Fantasy managers, to our ones to watch, we run the rule ahead of Thursday’s deadline to pick your team.

Who are the most picked players?

McIlroy may be the favourite with the bookies and this author but it seems you guys disagree, with Fleetwood the most-picked player in the early stages of selections, featuring in 80% of teams.

McIlroy follows at 69% before a big drop to another Ryder Cup hero in Shane Lowry on 48%.

The red hot Schaper is then on 28%, just 1% ahead of Nicolai Højgaard who rounds out the top five.

Who are our ones to watch?

Favourite - Rory McIlroy

It probably comes as no surprise that the bookmakers have the Grand Slam champion, reigning Masters champion, reigning Race to Dubai champion and highest-ranked player in the field as the favourite and it's almost impossible to disagree with them. The Northern Irishman finished 14th last time out at the Crown Australian Open, almost a poor return by his meteoric standards, but was second and third in his last two starts in a 2025 season which saw him claim two wins. The seven-time European Number One surrendered a two-shot swing on the last at this event two years ago to finish behind Fleetwood so he may also have a score to settle with Dubai Creek.

Form Horse - Jayden Schaper

McIlroy has a second and third in his last three starts and Fleetwood is first-second-third but Schaper? Second-win-win. The 24-year-old is on a hot streak rarely seen anywhere in the game and arrives in Dubai as the highest-ranked South African on the planet. While this sort of form can never be predicted, it certainly did not come out of nowhere as he ended the 2025 season with seven made cuts including three top tens and a win this week will see him join Sir Nick Faldo and the late, great Seve Ballesteros as the only players to win three consecutive DP World Tour events.

Wild Card - Francesco Molinari

As difficult as it is to call a Major champion, Harry Vardon trophy winner and Ryder Cup history-maker a Wild Card, the fact of the matter is Molinari has not won since that career-year of 2018. That run has seen him fall out of the world's top 400 but last time out at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player he recorded a first top ten in just under two years. His last one before that? A tie for fifth here two years ago. A man of his pedigree playing a course he has played well before with the wind in his sails is a man to be watched.

What can I win?

Sign up and now be in with a chance of winning some great rewards!

The Ultimate Prize

Finish the 2026 Race to Dubai with the highest total Fantasy score and you’ll take home an incredible top-tier prize package:

1st

•  Two Ticket+ tickets to one DP World Tour event in 2027, valid for each day of competition. Both tickets must be used at the same tournament, chosen from the following: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Irish Open, or Open de France.

•  £500 flight voucher, redeemable in line with the issuing airline/provider’s terms and conditions.

•  £500 accommodation voucher, redeemable with the respective accommodation provider’s terms and conditions.

2nd

•  £300 DP World Tour Store voucher (subject to applicable terms and conditions).

•  Two General Admission tickets (valid for each competition day) to one 2027 DP World Tour event of the winner’s choice from: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Irish Open, or Open de France.

3rd

•  £150 DP World Tour Store voucher (subject to applicable terms and conditions).

•  Two General Admission tickets (valid for each competition day) to one 2027 DP World Tour event of the winner’s choice from: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Horizon Irish Open, or Open de France.

This year also introduces two brand-new Boosters: Triple Captain and Bench Boost, giving you even more ways to outscore the competition and climb the global leaderboard.

Alongside the season-long chase for the Ultimate Prize, players will also be able to win rewards throughout the year with prizes available for each Global Swing and Phase of the Race to Dubai.

The International Swing - the second of five global swings on the 2026 Race to Dubai, kicks off this week and there's plenty on the line for our players, including Ranking Points and exemptions into the Back 9 later this year. There's also plenty to play for in Fantasy DP World Tour. The top three players who score the most points throughout the International Swing will win incredible prizes including Season Tickets and DP World Tour Store vouchers.

Looking back - AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

After winning the week before, we had Schaper as our Favourite in Mauritius and boy did he deliver, claiming a play-off victory to delight the 10,138 players who made him our second most picked golfer of the week.

Our Form Horse Ayora finished 21st as he continued his incredible run of consistency, while Wild Card Julien Sale enjoyed a made cut in just his third DP World Tour start and event debut.

Season so far - 2026 DP World Tour Fantasy Top 10 player rankings