Luiten leads the way at DP World Tour Championship

Joost Luiten fired his lowest round at the Earth Course since 2016 to earn a one-shot lead over Jacob Skov Olesen after the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

As the last man to earn his place in the 50-man field, Luiten got the tournament under way with the opening tee shot and quickly set the pace on his way to a five-under 67.

Heading into this week at 56th on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, the Dutchman admitted he had nothing to lose as he strung together seven birdies and two bogeys and is now currently projected as high as fourth.

“I said to my caddie, I said, bro, we can only go up this week, you know? We're last man in, we've got nothing to lose, so let's go for it,” said Luiten following his round. “And it worked out so far."

While Luiten isn’t in the running for the Race to Dubai title, he is currently projected to move as high as fourth, which would guarantee him one of the ten PGA Tour Dual Membership cards on offer this week.

How it’s shaping up in the early stages, through 18 holes 📊#DPWTC #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/dX88ZwRLgD

— DP World Tour Championship (@dpwtc) November 12, 2026

Another player with plenty to play for this week is Olesen, who also birdied his final hole of the day to card a four-under par 68.

One shot behind Luiten following a front-nine 31, Olesen briefly held a share of the lead after a birdie at the 11th before handing back shots at both the 12th and 15th to sit two behind heading to the last hole.

At tenth in the Race to Dubai, Olesen is one of nine players who could end this week as this year’s champion of the Harry Vardon Trophy, though he does need to win the tournament to have a chance at scooping both titles this week.

A step closer to that goal, Olesen is also chasing one of the ten PGA Tour Dual Membership cards, and is currently predicted to take the third one, behind season-long leader Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed.

Behind him, Rory McIlroy headlines a group also containing Victor Perez, Gregorio De Leo, Freddy Schott and Francesco Laporta on three-under, having made a birdie on his final hole to card an opening 69.

McIlroy needs to finish solo fourth or higher to have a chance overtaking Chacarra and matching Colin Montgomerie's record of eight Order of Merit titles, and mixed five birdies with two bogeys during his opening round.

He had a chance for eagle at the last but his effort came up short to move into a tie for second, which would have pushed him to the top of the projected rankings.

Race to Dubai leader Chacarra, who is making just his second appearance at the season finale, had mixed fortunes on day one, making four birdies and four bogeys for a level par 72.

Elsewhere, Kota Kaneko was named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year as the sole Rookie to make it to the final event of the season, while Reed opened with a disappointing three-over 75.