Rory McIlroy shall be hoping to take pleasure in one other profitable begin to the calendar yr when he kicks off his 2024 marketing campaign on the inaugural Dubai Invitational, stay on Sky Sports activities.
McIlroy started the 2023 season with a win on the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional, his first Rolex Sequence title in a powerful yr that noticed him end as Race to Dubai champion for the fifth time.
The 34-year-old’s victory final yr was his fifth title in Dubai, having beforehand gained the Dubai Desert Traditional in 2009 and 2015 in addition to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in 2012 and 2015, as McIlroy targets additional success in The Center East. He leads the 60-man squad.
McIlroy was joined at Dubai Creek Resort by his Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood And Nikolai Hoggardwho had been all concerned in Workforce Europe’s spectacular 16.5-11.5 win in Rome final September, with the profitable group captaining Luke Donald Additionally on this space.
4-time DP World Tour winner Adrian Meronekdefending BMW PGA Championship champion Ryan Fox And 2018 Ryder Cup champion Francesco Molinari All of it stands out, with a number of winners within the 2023 Race to Dubai calendar trying to make a robust begin to the season.
The Dubai Invitational shall be performed twice a yr and is the primary occasion of the worldwide swing on the DP World Tour’s new 2024 schedule, with tournaments already confirmed for 2026 and 2028, however what else do it is advisable know concerning the occasion?
What’s coordination?
The occasion is a 72-hole single-play match performed alongside the three-day Professional-Am group competitors, with Sunday that includes solely the professionals.
Every newbie will lead a group and might both play with the identical skilled within the first two rounds or change after opening day, with the main newbie within the group competitors being paired with the main skilled in Saturday’s match.
An newbie will group up with knowledgeable for a similar place on the respective leaderboard for the third spherical, with the sum of the bottom scores from group members on every gap over three rounds getting used. The profitable newbie group would be the group with the bottom 54-hole whole.
Who’re the collaborating amateurs?
CEO of DP World Tour Keith Bailey – who turns 60 this week – and Jimmy DunneVice Chairman of the PGA Tour, is among the many most distinguished names on this planet of golf.
There’s athletic curiosity from the previous Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald And the legendary quarterback John ElwayWho gained the Tremendous Bowl twice with the Denver Broncos, whereas he was a former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke Additionally concerned.
The newbie roster additionally features a host of big-name businessmen from a spread of firms, together with Hero MotoCorp Chairman Dr Pawan Munjal and several other others who’re closely concerned in tournaments throughout the golf calendar.
How can I watch the occasion?
Sky Sports activities may have prolonged protection from the opening occasion of the 2024 DP World Tour, with stay protection from 7.30am every day on Sky Sports activities Golf. The occasion is considered one of two stay golf tournaments on Sky this week, with the Sony Open in Hawaii additionally accessible from 5pm on Thursday.
What’s subsequent for McIlroy after this week?
McIlroy is aiming to defend his Dubai Desert Traditional champion every week later, the primary Rolex Sequence occasion of the yr, earlier than his first PGA Tour begin of the yr on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am in California from February 1-4.
The Northern Irishman is more likely to play within the subsequent three marquee occasions on the PGA Tour schedule, the Genesis Invitational from February 15-18, the Arnold Palmer Invitational from March 7-10, and the Gamers from March 14-17, however he has not performed so but. His pre-Masters schedule is confirmed subsequent.
McIlroy will arrive at Augusta Nationwide as one of many pre-tournament favorites as the previous world No. 1 appears to be like to bounce again from final yr’s defeat, seize his fifth main title and safe the one main title lacking to finish his Grand Slam profession.
Watch Rory McIlroy in motion all through 2024 stay on Sky Sports activities. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and extra now.