The 2026 DP World Tour season comes to an end this week, with Dubai playing host to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The event also serves as the climax to the Race to Dubai, with several players still vying for the season-ending title.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick returns to Jumeirah Golf Estates as the reigning DP World Tour champion, where he overcame Rory McIlroy in a playoff to win last year.
Jumeirah Golf Estates was opened in 2009, and has served as the venue of the DP World Tour Championship since the inaugural edition, in that same year.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s golf writer Jay Kennedy goes through the big names who have very high expectations, ahead of the conclusion of the 2026 season.
Rory McIlroy
It would not be a season-ending spectacular without starting off with the reigning Race to Dubai champion, Rory McIlroy.
The current world number two fell short at last year’s DP World Tour Championship, losing to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff.
Despite an eagle on the 72nd hole, McIlroy found the water off the tee on the first playoff hole, handing Fitzpatrick the victory.
However, the Northern Irishman has very fond memories of this event, with three wins at Jumeirah, the joint most in the event’s history.
The last of his three DP World Tour Championship victories came in 2024, where he won by two strokes ahead of Rasmus Hojgaard.
McIlroy currently sits in second place in the Race to Dubai standings, and is aiming to win his eighth Race to Dubai title, and his fifth in a row.
Outright winner odds - 3/1 with Sky Bet.
Jon Rahm
It has certainly been a very productive year for Jon Rahm.
He finished tied for second at the PGA Championship, welcomed his fourth child, and has very recently departed from the now-demised LIV Golf tour.
Before last week, many people wondered what Rahm’s next move was, after the former world number one took a seven week break from the game.
The Spaniard certainly proved why he is one of the world’s best at the game, as he clinched last week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, in his first appearance at the event.
Alongside McIlroy, Rahm has three DP World Tour Championships to his name.
Rahm’s DP World Championship titles came in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
His victory last week moved him up 45 spots to sixth in the Race to Dubai rankings.
He can still win his second Race to Dubai crown this week, as long as he wins the title, and must hope that current Race to Dubai leader, Eugenio Chacarra, finishes ninth or worse.
Outright winner odds - 6/1 with Sky Bet.
Tyrell Hatton
The next name to watch out for is Tyrell Hatton.
Just like his former LIV Golf team-mate Jon Rahm, Hatton recently left the tour.
Hatton’s 2026 has been relatively consistent, with a tie for third finish at the Masters, and a tie for seventh finish at the US Open.
Prior to leaving LIV this year, Hatton won the LIV Golf event in Andalucia.
The Englishman’s best finishes at Jumeirah Golf Estates were in 2016 and 2022, where he was runner-up on both occasions.
Hatton’s best finish in the 2026 DP World Tour season came last week, where he came second in Abu Dhabi.
He currently sits in 12th place in the Race to Dubai standings, in which he moved up 43 spots after his runner-up finish last week.
Outright winner odds - 14/1 with Sky Bet
Eugenio Chacarra
The last name to watch out for is Eugenio Chacarra
What a season it has been for the man from Madrid.
The 26-year-old currently sits at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.
The Spaniard has three wins to his name in 2026, with victories at the KLM Open, the Open d’Italia, and the DP World India Championship.
However, his last two outings were more shaky than his overall season.
Chacarra finished tied for 21st at the Genesis Championship, and tied for 22nd at last week’s Abu Dhabi Championship.
He finished tied for 37th at last year’s DP World Tour Championship.
This could be the week that changes Chacarra’s career.
Outright winner odds - 16/1 with Sky Bet.
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