Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra has confirmed he will tee it up at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship at Yas Links from November 5-8, as the Spaniard bids to become only the third player from his country, after Seve Ballesteros and Jon Rahm, to lift the coveted Harry Vardon Trophy.
Chacarra claimed his third victory of a remarkable 2026 season at the DP World India Championship on Sunday, completing 25 holes on a marathon final day at Delhi Golf Club and posting a closing 70 to win by two shots on 21 under par.
The result saw him leapfrog long-time leader Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, where he now sits on 4,092.89 points, and lifted him from 50th to 39th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
His victory in Delhi followed wins at the KLM Open and the DS Automobiles 83° Open d’Italia in June, taking his DP World Tour tally to four after last season’s Hero Indian Open triumph at DLF Golf and Country Club.
"It would mean the world (to follow in the footsteps of Rahm and Ballesteros),” said Chacarra.
"Those two guys are heroes for me as a Spanish golfer. Seve did everything for European and Spanish golf, and then Jon, it's a guy that I've been looking up to since he went to college and professional golf. What he has accomplished, it's amazing. Hopefully I can put my name on that trophy too. That's one of the goals.”
Reed, who sits second, and fourth-placed Casey Jarvis have also confirmed their places at Yas Links, and with Rory McIlroy and defending champion Aaron Rai, third and fifth respectively, already in the field, the top five in the Race to Dubai Rankings will all tee it up in Abu Dhabi.
Reed arrives looking to reclaim the top spot he held for more than seven months, after wins at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters either side of a play-off loss at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. The American has added three further top-ten finishes across 19 starts this season, including a runner-up finish at the Amgen Irish Open in September.
“Eugenio has played some incredible golf to get to where he is, so it’s going to be a great battle over the next few weeks,” said Reed. “Abu Dhabi is a big week in that race, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the UAE, where my season really took off.”
South Africa’s Jarvis has enjoyed a breakthrough year in which he won back-to-back DP World Tour titles in February. A birdie-eagle finish sealed his maiden victory at the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa, before he triumphed on home soil at the Investec South African Open Championship a week later.
“When you look at the names around me in the Race to Dubai, it’s a real test, but that’s what makes it so exciting,” said Jarvis. “I’ve taken a lot from this season, the good weeks and the tough ones, and I’m going into the Play-Offs feeling ready to give it everything.”
Away from the golf, the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship will offer a full programme of family entertainment and live music. In celebration of the UAE Year of the Family, this year’s Family Weekend takes place across both Saturday and Sunday, while children aged 17 and under go free throughout tournament week.
Every ticket includes access to the Future Falcons Kids’ Zone, which features a bouncy castle, face painting, bubble shows, giant games and interactive activities. Young golfers can enjoy free golf lessons, and fans of all ages can watch live trick-shot shows just steps away from some of the world’s best players.
The Championship Village will also feature sports and sponsor activations, big screens, a long putt challenge, interactive golf challenges and photo opportunities. Roaming performers, stilt walkers, giant ball walkers and glitter artists will add to the festival atmosphere throughout the week.
Live music will take over the main stage after play each day. Scottish singer-songwriter Greg Pearson, who has supported Lewis Capaldi, OneRepublic, James Blunt and The Kooks, opens the programme on Thursday, while Abu Dhabi-based trio Speed Wagon bring their full-band sound on Friday. Indie cover band Wet Grass, whose set spans everything from Taylor Swift and Olivia Dean to Snow Patrol and Noah Kahan, take to the stage on Saturday, before Ollie Chapman, who launched his career at 16 opening for Stormzy at Dubai’s RedFest Arena, closes the week on Sunday.
General admission tickets are free for the first two days of the event, while Saturday and Sunday tickets are available now for AED 90, so fans can save 10% on the AED 100 gate price by booking in advance.
Fans can also elevate their experience with Bar on Nine, the Ticket+ offering which was incredibly popular in 2025, with tickets for this exclusive option available from AED 180, including an AED 100 voucher for food and drink.
The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship Premium Experience option is the Championship Chalet on the 18th, where spectators can enjoy five-star hospitality with the best view of the action. Nestled in a prime spot on the 18th green, guests will have exclusive access to the air-conditioned chalet with stunning panoramic views of the action on the final hole, with prices starting from AED 1,600.
