The DP World Tour has officially announced the list of participants for the Dubai Invitational, the tournament that opens the year on the circuit and will be held from 15th to 18th January at the Dubai Creek Resort course in the emirate. It is not a usual tournament. It has a reduced field. Only 60 players participate, in a ProAm format for the first three days and without a cut. It’s a kind of sweet start to the year. It guarantees you play all four days of competition, which is always good for post-Christmas practice, and distributes the same money among fewer players as, for example, in Bahrain or Qatar, that is, $2,750,000. Of course, it’s much easier to win or finish high with fewer players.
In short, it is very similar to the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa at the end of the year and, as then, there is controversy again with the list of participants. The debate is open. The last player who entered through the classification of last season’s Race to Dubai is Jacob Skov Olesen. The Dane finished in 41st place in the order of merit. That is, those from 42nd to 115th, the last who maintained the full card, are left out (at least for now, unless there are withdrawals). Not even all those who managed to get into the Dubai Final just over a month ago have a place in this first tournament that, as we say, anyone would want to play due to its conditions of having no cut, reduced field, and generous purse.
This is the second edition of the Dubai Invitational. Already in 2024, the inaugural year (it is held every two years, when there is no Team Cup), there was some controversy, but somewhat less. After all, the cut-off for entries was made at 62nd place in the Race to Dubai with Richard Mansell. That is, 21 places lower than this year and with all those from the Dubai Final within the tournament.
Why is there such a notable difference? Mainly because the category of DP World Tour winners is much broader this year. In 2024, a total of 33 players entered under that concept, and this year the number has gone to 40. Additionally, three more are added this year after losing their PGA Tour card after earning it through the Race to Dubai just over a year ago. These players are ahead of those who maintained their card through the Race to Dubai. This week they are Matteo Manassero, Antoine Rozner, and Tom McKibbin. The glaring case, obviously, is McKibbin’s, as he is within this category because he earned the PGA Tour card in 2024 but didn’t even get to debut it because he moved to LIV. That is, he gave up the PGA Tour to play in LIV. Some do not understand why he remains in this category. Based on his classification in last season’s Race to Dubai, he would not have entered. Debate open.
Another case that draws a lot of attention on the circuit is Daniel Gavins. It is a delicate issue, as the Englishman has a medical exemption for a mental health issue. You know these areas are always tricky and contentious. In any case, some do not understand that since March of last year, he has only participated in two tournaments: the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa and now the Dubai Invitational. Between one and the other, there have been others, with a cut, in which he has not played. Aesthetically, it doesn’t seem the most edifying, although we must not forget that we are treading on delicate ground. In short, more internal and external debate in the DP World Tour.
Finally, the invitations. There are two. They have been awarded to Danny Willett and Padraig Harrington. Invitations are usually at the sponsor’s discretion (there are also many tournaments that the DP World Tour has), so they really shouldn’t be disputed. The sponsor should do what they see fit. There was controversy two years ago because they were given to Thomas Bjorn and the unknown Ken Weyand. In these cases, it should really be more about the players’ own conscience who accept that invitation, especially in the case of golfers with a well-established career like Harrington or Bjorn. They are fully entitled to play if invited, of course, but it also doesn’t seem unreasonable to step aside and leave that spot for another professional who is at the peak of their career.
There are authoritative voices within the circuit calling for a change in the distribution of categories in these tournaments that seem more like a reward for performance than anything else. For example, one option is gaining weight: mixing the categories of winners with that of the Race to Dubai. That is, the most recent winner enters, followed by the first from the Race, the second most recent, and the second from the Race to Dubai, and so on until the oldest winner present in that category. There are other voices that think winners, even if the victory occurred two years ago, should have more consideration than those who enter through the Race to Dubai because winning is always more difficult. These are theories, opinions, and an interesting debate.
In any case, it doesn’t seem very logical that at least all those who participated in the Dubai Final of the previous year do not enter these tournaments. Another option would be to expand the field, which wouldn’t seem so traumatic either, as it would barely be a handful of players. Here, the issue of daylight hours and so on would have to be considered, as being in ProAm format means 60 starts.
Be that as it may, there is debate, and it is on the table of organisers and players. As for the Armada, there are seven golfers already secured for the Dubai Invitational. A great number: David Puig, Eugenio Chacarra, Alex del Rey, Nacho Elvira, Ángel Hidalgo, Pablo Larrazábal, and Ángel Ayora. Additionally, Jorge Campillo is listed as the third reserve.
