Rory McIlroy Opens 2026 with a Statement Round at the Dubai Invitational
Some years start with a whisper. Rory McIlroy’s 2026 is starting with a roar.
The world No. 2 came out firing on Thursday at the Dubai Invitational, carding a 5-under 66 to grab the solo lead after the opening round at Dubai Creek Resort. It was vintage McIlroy in many ways-aggressive off the tee, precise with his irons, and composed on the greens.
But what made this round stand out wasn’t just the score. It was how he got there.
McIlroy’s first nine holes-played on the back nine-were a clinic. He birdied six of those nine to go out in 31, showing off the kind of rhythm and confidence that’s made him one of the most dynamic players of his generation. The second nine was more subdued-an even-par stretch-but it was enough to keep him one clear of Connor Syme and David Puig heading into Friday.
And here’s the kicker: he did it with new equipment in the bag.
McIlroy made a notable switch ahead of this week, replacing his longtime TaylorMade RORS prototype irons with the brand-new P7CBs. He also teed it up with TaylorMade’s unreleased 2026 TP5 golf ball. For a player as meticulous as McIlroy, that’s not a decision made lightly.
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” McIlroy said after the round. “Even in Dubai at the end of last year, I hit a couple of 5-irons that I mis-struck slightly, and instead of it maybe coming up 5 or 7 yards short, it was coming up more like 10 to 15 yards short.”
That led to a call to the team at TaylorMade, and soon enough, McIlroy had a new set of irons built to his specs. He took them down to Australia during the offseason, tested them on firm turf, and liked what he felt.
The ball-striking was cleaner, the turf interaction better, and the results more consistent. He brought the clubs home, kept working with them, and decided this week was the right time to put them in play.
The early returns? Promising.
“I felt like those irons were going through the turf better than the blades,” McIlroy said. “And I’ve got a new golf ball in play this week as well, the new 2026 ball.
So overall, I like what I’ve seen at home, and today was a good test for it. I felt like everything was pretty good.”
That’s a pretty measured way to describe a round that saw him take command of the leaderboard.
Trailing by one shot are Syme and Puig, both of whom opened with 4-under 67s. Puig’s performance is especially noteworthy considering the travel schedule he dealt with this week.
The 24-year-old Spaniard only arrived in Dubai on Wednesday after spending the first half of the week at LIV Golf’s preseason media event in Florida. Jet lag or not, he found five birdies in his round and kept himself right in the mix.
But Thursday belonged to McIlroy. And if you’re looking for someone who appreciated the performance up close, look no further than Shane Lowry.
Lowry, who played alongside McIlroy in the opening round, shot a solid 2-under 69 of his own. But more than his own score, it was McIlroy’s presence that stood out to him.
“I don't know, just the desire to be better and win more and do better,” Lowry said when asked about his own motivation. “And I think a lot comes from people you hang around. I'm very fortunate that Rory is a good friend, and to see what he's achieved... he's a great kind of person for me to reach towards.”
Lowry isn’t pretending he’s chasing a career Grand Slam. But he knows that being close to McIlroy-literally and figuratively-raises his own game.
“I always say if I can get even close to him in every tournament and do well coming in, I can have a chance to win,” Lowry added. “I'm a firm believer the people you surround yourself with you kind of become.”
That’s the kind of respect McIlroy commands-not just from fans, but from fellow pros who’ve seen the grind and the greatness up close.
One round in, and Rory McIlroy is already reminding the golf world why he’s still one of the most dangerous players on the planet. New year, new gear, same Rory. And if this is just the beginning, we could be in for something special in 2026.