Dubai Invitational: Fantasy DP World Tour ones to watch

The DP World Tour returns to Dubai this week for the Dubai Invitational, the first of three consecutive events in the United Arab Emirates.

Rory McIlroy headlines the field that also includes Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Højgaard for the 72-hole individual strokeplay tournament played concurrently with a three-day Pro-Am team event, with Sunday featuring professionals only.

If you have not done so already, you can sign up to play the official 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy game and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/

The 2024 season-long winner will win a trip to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next year, enjoy a lesson with a DP World Tour professional and a round of golf on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. For more information on this amazing prize and others, read here.

Favourite – Rory McIlroy

World Number Two Rory McIlroy arrives in the Middle East as the top ranked player in the field this week as he kicks off his 2024 campaign. The Northern Irishman has enjoyed great success in the Emirate during his illustrious career, claiming five of his 16 DP World Tour titles in Dubai. The Ryder Cup star is making his return to competitive action for the first time since the DP World Tour Championship at the end of last season. The 34-year-old begins the new year aiming to win the sixth Harry Vardon Trophy of his career, having claimed the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex for a second year in succession in 2023. McIlroy is just ahead of Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood as the most picked player among Fantasy users, featuring in 83% of teams.

Form horse - Thriston Lawrence

Since finishing the 2023 season with a top five at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November, Thriston Lawrence has started the new campaign in fine form. In his first three starts during the International Swing on home soil, the South African finished no worse than a tie for 11th and comes into the first event of 2024 sitting 14th on the Race to Dubai Rankings. Already a four-time winner on Tour, the 27-year-old will be targeting a push towards the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking by the week before The Masters to secure a debut visit to Augusta National. Fantasy players appear to be alert to his great run of results at the end of last year as he is currently in 13% of teams.

Wild Card - Daniel Brown

Despite his category as a Qualifying School graduate last season, Daniel Brown performed well enough to secure his first appearance in the lucrative DP World Tour Championship. Ranked at a career high 193rd in the world, the Englishman finished in a tie for third in his final event of last year at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. Coupled with a top-20 finish at the Joburg Open on the opening weekend of the season, the 29-year-old lies 13th on the Race to Dubai and will be eager to kick on after claiming his maiden DP World Tour title in Northern Ireland last year.

Fantasy Insight: As it stands, Rory McIlroy is the favourite for players of our Fantasy Game this week, featuring in 83% of teams. Other popular players include Ryder Cup-winning teammates Tommy Fleetwood (82%) and Nicolai Højgaard (75%).

Season so far - 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy player rankings