Golf sensation Jayden Schaper arrives in Dubai with an extraordinary momentum, aiming to secure an unprecedented third straight DP World Tour title at the prestigious Dubai Invitational. The tournament, boasting a $2.75 million purse, commences on January 15th at the renowned Dubai Creek Resort.
The 24-year-old South African prodigy has dominated the early season, seizing back-to-back victories that have propelled him to the summit of the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings. Schaper’s remarkable journey began with a dramatic maiden triumph at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on home soil, where a spectacular chip-in birdie and a playoff eagle clinched the title. He immediately followed this breakthrough by capturing the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open with another eagle in extra holes to defeat American contender Ryan Gerard.
Schaper’s dominant Opening Swing performance—yielding two victories and one runner-up finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge—has earned him 1,348 ranking points, a $200,000 bonus, and automatic qualification for all Back 9 events plus the coveted Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Meanwhile, local favorite and former champion Tommy Fleetwood returns to Dubai Creek determined to reclaim the title he won two years ago. The Dubai resident expressed confidence in both the course conditions and his equipment setup, noting the advantage of competing while sleeping in his own bed. Fleetwood has maintained his previous season’s club specifications while incorporating a new TaylorMade driver and a fresh set of irons with identical specs.
The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as Schaper’s meteoric rise meets Fleetwood’s home-course expertise. Tee times are scheduled from 8:30 AM to 11:09 AM off two starting tees on Thursday.