Rory McIlroy starts his season in Dubai; it’s no real change to how he’s handled each season for the past few years. But what has changed – his equipment.

In this week's Tour Report, why Rory McIlroy is making maybe his biggest gear change ever and we're tracking new 2026 clubs in play.

Speaking to The Telegraph of London on Thursday, McIlroy did not hold back.

The five-time major champion says Brooks Koepka's return is another indication the rival tour has a shaky future.

Will 2026 be dominated by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, who were seemingly making weekly headlines in 2025? Scheffler may have gotten off to a slow start, but by year's end, he closed off two additional legs of the career grand slam while again emerging as the PGA Tour of the Year.

Rory McIlroy begins his 2026 season with back-to-back events on the DP World Tour at the Dubai Invitational and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic; watch McIlroy in action throughout 2026 live on Sky Sport

There is no question that Rory McIlroy has plenty of strengths, but his driving has always been what sets him apart. Tommy Fleetwood considers the Northern Irishman to be the most talented player of this generation,