The DP World Tour’s 2026 season shifts into closing mode in Abu Dhabi, starting this week with the 21st edition of the Abu Dhabi Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament, contested at the Yas Links Golf Club, is the first of two events in the UAE to close out the season.
The field of 70 players is headlined by Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, along with a foursome of past champions in Aaron Rai, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry.
The Skinny
Tournament: Abu Dhabi Alder Championship
Dates: Nov. 5-8, 2026
European Tour Debut: 2006
TV Network: GOLF Channel
Course: Yas Links
Where: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Distance: 7468 yards, Par 72
Architect: Kyle Phillips, 2010
Field 70 players
Purse: $9,000,000
Win Share: $1,530,000
OWGR Points: 26
2025 Champion: Aaron Rai
How to Follow the Abu Dhabi Alder Championship
TELEVISION: Thu-Sun: 2-8 a.m. ET (GOLF Channel)
CONTENT FEED: EuropeanTour.com
LINKS: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter
History
Then called the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the tournament was first contested in January 2006 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which had hosted the event since its inception through 2021. A change of venue was announced for the 2022 event, with the tournament now contested at Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, located on Yas Island.
The creation of the tournament was part of the European Tour’s effort to expand into the Middle East and is part of a foursome of European Tour events played in the UAE, alongside the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (founded in 1989), the Dubai Invitational (founded in 2024), and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship (founded in 2009).
HSBC became the title sponsor in 2011 which lasted through 2025. Aldar Properties took the title sponsorship in 2026.
The prize fund for each of the first five editions was $2 million (USD) and grew to reach $3 million in 2018. In 2019 it became part of the Rolex Series, which identifies it as one of the European Tour’s premier events, offering an $8 million prize fund. The 2023 edition upped the purse to $9 million where it currently stands.
With the support of local organizer, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, it has historically had one of the strongest fields on the European Tour due to “appearance” money paid to top golfers.
Despite its limited history, the champion’s list is quite impressive, headlined by three-time winner Martin Kaymer (2008, 2010-11), two-time champ Tommy Fleetwood (2017-18), Rickie Fowler (2016), Shane Lowry (2019), Lee Westwood (2020), Tyrrell Hatton (2021), Thomas Pieters (2022), Victor Perez (2023), and Aaron Rai (2025). Its runner-up list may be even more stout, with major winners such as Rory McIlroy (four times), Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen and Phil Mickelson.
History: Recent Winners
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2025: Aaron Rai (-25)
2024: Paul Waring (-24)
2023: Victor Perez (-18)
2022: Thomas Pieters (-10)
2021: Tyrrell Hatton (-18)
2020: Lee Westwood (-19)
2019: Shane Lowry (-18)
2018: Tommy Fleetwood (-22)
2017: Tommy Fleetwood (-17)
2016: Rickie Fowler (-16)
History: Records
Wins: 3 – Martin Kaymer (2008, 2011, 2012)
72-hole Score: 264 (-24) – Martin Kaymer (2008)
The Field: Overview
The field this week in Abu Dhabi is headlined by multi-major winning superstars Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
They will be joined by a marquee foursome of former champions in Aaron Rai (2025), Tyrrell Hatton (2021), Shane Lowry (2019) and two-time winner Tommy Fleetwood (2017-2018).
Other familiar names include Adam Scott, Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra.
Top-5 Betting Favorites
Book Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Rory McIlroy (6-1)
2. Tommy Fleetwood (8-1)
3. Jon Rahm (14-1)
3. Adam Scott (14-1)
5. Aaron Rai (16-1)
5. Eugenio Chacarra (16-1)
Full Field & Odds
Yas Links | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Nov 5-8, 2026
Credits: European Tour Media, Getty Images
