LIV Golf stars and others added to Dubai Desert Classic field

With one month to go until the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, five more players have been confirmed for the season-opening Rolex Series event at Emirates Golf Club from 22–25 January.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Ryan Fox, three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington, former Ryder Cup player Nicolai Højgaard, and LIV Golf stars Tom McKibbin and Joaquín Niemann will join an already strong field for the first Rolex Series tournament of the 2026 Race to Dubai.

They will compete alongside defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, four-time tournament winner and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood, former winner Viktor Hovland, Open Champion Shane Lowry and former World Number One Dustin Johnson.

Fox enjoyed a breakthrough season on the PGA Tour in 2025, winning the Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open within weeks of each other. The New Zealander, who claimed his fourth DP World Tour title at the BMW PGA Championship in 2023, will make his 10th appearance at the event.

“I enjoy playing in Dubai, and particularly at an event like the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with such an incredible history,” said Fox. 

“ I'm looking forward to teeing it up at Emirates Golf Club again and hopefully getting the 2026 season off to a strong start.”

Harrington, a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, won The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 before adding the PGA Championship later that year. The former Ryder Cup captain continues to compete at the highest level, having won two senior Major championships in 2025.

“Playing in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic helps get my season off to a good start and it is always a really enjoyable week. Playing golf in Dubai has been a key part of my career spanning three decades, and I'm looking forward to going back once again in 2026,” said Harrington.

Denmark’s Højgaard, part of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team in 2023, has enjoyed notable success in the UAE, including victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai later that year and the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in 2022.

“Dubai holds great memories for me after winning the DP World Tour Championship,” said Højgaard. 

“The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is one of the biggest events on tour and it's always a fantastic way to start the season. I'm excited to compete against such a strong field.”

Northern Ireland’s McKibbin won the Porsche European Open during his rookie DP World Tour season in 2023 and finished tied sixth at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“The 2025 tournament was an excellent week for me. The Majlis Course is a superb test of golf, and as a Dubai resident, it’s always special to compete in my adopted home. I’m already looking forward to competing again at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January,” McKibbin said.

Niemann returns for his second appearance after finishing tied fourth on his tournament debut in 2024.

“I really enjoyed my first experience at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and I'm looking forward to coming back,” said Niemann. 

“The Majlis Course suits my game and with such a strong field, it's the perfect way to start the year. I have great memories of Dubai and I'm excited to compete again.”

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, said: “With one month to go, the excitement is building for what promises to be an exceptional 37th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Ryan, Pádraig, Joaquín, Nicolai and Tom represent the very best of the modern game – from established champions to rising stars who are redefining what's possible on Tour. Combined with the world-class names already confirmed for January, we're set to deliver a week of outstanding golf and entertainment for our fans.”