Big Six Boast 17 Majors as World and Euro No 1s Head For Dubai
Dubai (UAE): Former champions Mark O’Meara and Thomas Bjorn have confirmed they will join a stellar cast of golfing talent for the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic.
American veteran O’Meara, who lifted the famous trophy in 2004, and the 2001 champion Bjorn – the Dubai-based Dane – will have their eyes on a second victory in the 17th staging of the Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL)-sponsored tournament at the Emirates Golf Club from February 2-5, 2006.
The two big guns were the latest star names announced at a press conference held yesterday (Dec 7) at the Emirates Golf Club and chaired by HE Mohammed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of recently-formed Golf in DUBAI (GiD), the organisers and promoters of the Dubai Desert Classic.
With record prize-money of $2.4 million on offer and a new date of February as opposed to its previous standard in March, the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic will be the richest in the 17-year history of the PGA European Tour event. Its star quality, however, will be as high as ever with the event’s 120-man line-up boasting a ‘Who’s Who’ of the world game.
All eyes will, of course, be on the irrepressible Tiger Woods. The world number one continues to dominate the game and with ten Majors to his name is still well on course to become the most successful player ever to pick up a club. The one title missing from his glorious CV, however, is the Dubai Desert Classic crown, yet despite two fruitless attempts to win in Dubai – in 2001 and 2004 – he will still be the hot favourite in 2006.
"Even if you’re not a golf fan, everyone knows the name of Tiger Woods – a man who has won ten Majors – and we look forward to welcoming him back to the Emirates Golf Club," said Alabbar. "We will also welcome back our defending champion Ernie Els, the only man to have won the title on more than one occasion – the 2005 win was his third – so he knows his way around the Majlis Course better than most.
"Joining us for the first time since 2001 is Els’ fellow South African Retief Goosen who has won two Majors since his last visit to Dubai and will be among the favourites in February."
Alabbar added that Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie – the world number nine – will be looking for his first Classic win since 1996 just months after securing top spot on the European Tour Order of Merit for a phenomenal eighth time.
With Woods, Els, Goosen, Montgomerie, O’Meara and Bjorn already confirmed and more big name stars signing up by the week, the Dubai Desert Classic is expected to sell out before the first ball is struck in the early morning of February 2.
The event itself will climax a week when Dubai will remove its famous tag of the ‘City of Gold’ and temporarily replace it with the more offbeat ‘City of Golf’.
Prior to the tournament, the golf business exhibition and convention GolfEx Dubai will be held on January 29-30 at the Jumeirah Convention Centre, while on January 31, six of the Desert Classic’s big names will compete in the annual Challenge Match sponsored by and staged at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa.
The following day (February 1), the public will get a chance to get close to the stars in the customary Pro-Am, sponsored by Emaar, at the Emirates Golf Club. It will also be the last time fans can take photographs before the strict ‘No Cameras’ rule is enforced for the four days of the Desert Classic.
"It promises to be a week when we will truly underline how Dubai has grown to become one of the world’s most exciting golfing destinations," added GiD Vice Chairman Mohammed Buamim. "Dubai’s continued passion for golf is unquestioned and we welcome the backing of the golfing community as well as our loyal sponsors for what has already been established and for what we aim to achieve in the future."
Also addressing the media conference was Mohammed Yahya, DUBAL Manager Corporate Relations and International Affairs.
Mike Simon, Emirates Senior Vice President Corporate Communications said: "Emirates is proud to be the Official Carrier for the Desert Classic as well as being the Hole in One sponsor. This is a global tournament with a field of the world’s best golfers and we are glad to be associated with such an excellent event. Sponsorship is an integral part of our goal of promoting Dubai as a sports and leisure destination to the world while at the same time promoting Emirates as a global airline."
Tickets for the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic are available online now at www.dubaidesertclassic.com as well as from Dubai golf clubs and all branches of a+e.
Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, Arabian Ranches by Emaar, Nakheel, and Samsung as co-sponsors, other sponsors include: Emirates as official airline and Hole-in-One Sponsor; official caterer, hotel and challenge match sponsor Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa; Official Bank National Bank of Dubai; official courtesy car BMW; and event newspaper Gulf News.
Contact:
Alan Ewens
Dubai Desert Classic Media Manager
Mob: 050 4514188
media1@dubaidesertclassic.com
www.dubaidesertclassic.com
