Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper will look to extend his remarkable early-season run when he tees it up at the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort from January 15–18.
The 24-year-old South African arrives in Dubai riding the momentum of a stunning Opening Swing that delivered back-to-back victories and propelled him to the top of the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings on the DP World Tour.
A breakout opening to 2026
Schaper claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on home soil, edging defending champion Shaun Norris in a dramatic play-off. Just seven days later, he backed it up in emphatic fashion at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, holing out for eagle in extra holes to complete an unforgettable double.
Across three Opening Swing starts, Schaper recorded two wins and a runner-up finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, banking 1,348 points. The reward included qualification for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, all Back 9 events, and a US$200,000 bonus—clear confirmation of his arrival among the Tour’s elite.
Momentum builds in Dubai
Now, attention turns to Dubai Creek, where Schaper will attempt to make it three victories in succession. “The Desert Swing is always one of my favourites,” he said. “The weather is great, the courses are perfect, and you want to win every week.”
The bi-annual Dubai Invitational opens the Race to Dubai’s International Swing and is played alongside a three-day Pro-Am, with Sunday reserved for professionals only. Schaper joins a world-class field including defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, five-time Major winner Rory McIlroy, Open Champions Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Francesco Molinari—setting the stage for another compelling week in Dubai.
