Nicolai Højgaard will return to Dubai just two months on from winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship for the inaugural staging of the Dubai Invitational from January 11-14, 2024.
The 22-year-old won his maiden Rolex Series title at the Race to Dubai finale earlier this month in stunning fashion, birdieing five of his last six holes to claim the biggest victory of his career, and he will return to the Emirate for the new four-day event at Dubai Creek Resort.
The Dubai Invitational will see a 72-hole strokeplay DP World Tour tournament played concurrently with a three-day Pro-Am team event, with Sunday featuring professionals only.
Højgaard will join reigning Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy in the field for the first event of 2024.
The Dane’s triumph at Jumeirah Golf Estates brought a memorable 2023 season to an end, which included victories as part of Continental Europe in the inaugural Hero Cup and Team Europe in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, as well as earning PGA TOUR playing privileges for 2024 via the FedEx Cup.
The 2023 Ryder Cup rookie already has two victories in the United Arab Emirates to his name, with the DP World Tour Championship joining the 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Championship in his trophy cabinet, and he is excited to compete for more success in the region.
“I love playing golf in the UAE and it’s the perfect place to start the year after the winter break,” Højgaard said. “The conditions and the setup of the golf courses clearly suit my game and I always feel confident playing in Dubai, and with the pro-am format it adds a different dimension to the event, which I think is really exciting. It should be a great week and I can’t wait to get to Dubai Creek Resort in January.”
Tournament host Abdulla Al Naboodah added: “I’m delighted Nicolai has confirmed to play. He’s had an incredible few weeks during and since the Ryder Cup. He won the RAK Championship which Phoenix Capital supported a couple of years ago, so it’s great have him in the field again in January.”
Fans can attend the Dubai Invitational by registering in advance for free General Admission tickets with the opportunity to witness top-class golf and enjoy a range of entertainment options around the course.
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