The 2026 DP World Tour season gets under way with the Opening Swing - five events across three countries and two continents.
Running from the BMW Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritus Open in the Indian Ocean, it is the first of five Global Swings on the 2026 DP World Tour global schedule.
The schedule comprises three distinct phases, beginning with the Global Swings followed by the Back 9, with the season then culminating with the DP World Tour Play-Offs in November.
Who is involved and what is at stake? Here, we explain all you need to know…
Where does the Opening Swing visit?
As has become the norm in recent seasons, the DP World Tour season kicks off Down Under, with the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club having the honour of starting the campaign.
We then have our first double header of the season with the action staying in Oz for the Crown Australian Open at the famed Royal Mebourne Golf Club, while the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player is contested in South Africa at Gary Player Country Club.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship then takes place at new host Royal Johannesburg Club before the Swing concludes in paradise with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Heritage La Réserve Golf Links.
Click here for the full 2026 schedule
The Opening Swing schedule
| Date | Event | Venue | Prize Fund | Points | Defending champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27-30 | BMW Australian PGA Championship | Royal Queensland Golf Club | AU$2,500,000 | 3,000 | Elvis Smylie |
| Dec 4-7 | Crown Australian Open | Royal Melbourne Golf Club | AU$2,000,000 | 3,000 | Ryggs Johnston |
| Dec 4-7 | Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player | Gary Player Country Club | US$6,000,000 | 4,000 | Johannes Veerman |
| Dec 11-14 | Alfred Dunhill Championship | Royal Johannesburg Club | €1,500,000 | 3,000 | Shaun Norris |
| Dec 18-21 | AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open | Heritage La Réserve Golf Links | US$1,200,000 | 3,000 | John Parry |
Who is in action?
Elvis Smylie returns to defend his title in Brisbane and is joined by a host of A-List Australian talent including Min Woo Lee and Major Champions Adam Scott and Cam Smith.
The following week sees the home talent stay Down Under for the Crown Australian Open and they are joined by Grand Slam champion Rory McIlroy, who makes his first appearance on the Opening Swing.
The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player takes place the same week and 2025 Race to Dubai runner-up Marco Penge makes the trip from Brisbane to join the likes of Viktor Hovland, Will Zalatoris and Thomas Detry in Sun City.
Stars from the DP World and Sunshine Tours will then head to Johannesburg before the Swing comes to a conclusion with John Parry defending his title in the company of Mauritius resident Marcel Siem at Heritage La Réserve Golf Links.
What is on offer?
As well as five prestigous trophies and valuable Race to Dubai points, there is plenty to play for on the Opening Swing.
The player who earns the most Race to Duabi points across the five events will be crowned Opening Swing champion and earn entry into all events in Phase Two of the season - the Back 9: the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, Omega European Masters, Amgen Irish Open, BMW PGA Championship, FedEx Open de France, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Open de España presented by Madrid, DP World India Championship and Genesis Championship.
The Swing champion will also take home a US$200,000 bonus, while the player who finishes highest in the Swing Rankings and is not already exempt will join the field for the the first Rolex Series event of the season - the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The Crown Australia Open will also offer an invite to the Masters Tournament for the champion, while the top three players not already exempt will earn a place in the field for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
What are the formats?
The BMW Australian PGA Championship and Crown Australian Open are both co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and are full-field 72-hole stroke play events with a 36-hole cut to the top 65 players and ties.
The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player is a limited field event - featuring 66 players - played over 72 holes of stroke play with no cut.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritus Open are both co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and are full-field 72-hole stroke play events with a 36-hole cut to the top 65 players and ties.
Who is the Opening Swing defending champion?
With his win in Mauritus coupled with a top ten at the BMW Australian PGA Championship and runner-up finish at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Parry romped to the Opening Swing title last season.
It provided a perfect platform for the Englishman who went on to finish 11th on the Race to Dubai and earn dual membership with the PGA TOUR.
What's next?
After the Opening Swing, the DP World Tour schedule will take a three-week break before the International Swing gets under way at the Dubai Invitiational.
The International Swing will be followed by the Asian Swing, European Swing and Closing Swing before the Back 9 leads into the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
All five 2025 Swing champions: John Parry, Laurie Canter, Keita Nakajima, Kristoffer Reitan and Marco Penge all ended the season with dual membership with the PGA TOUR so on the Race to Dubai in 2026, it really is All to Play For.
