Welsh duo Dodd and Dredge Gunning For Dubai Crown
Dubai, (United Arab Emirates): Welsh wizards Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge will be hoping to repeat a slice of their 2005 WGC World Cup success when they tee up at the Dubai Desert Classic on February 2.
The duo stormed to victory in the World Golf Championships – Algarve World Cup in Portugal in November after heavy rain and thunderstorms forced the cancellation of the final round.
Dodd and Dredge had been two strokes ahead of England’s Luke Donald and David Howell and Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson at the end of the third round at the Victoria course after the penultimate round. But with the final round washed out, the pair lifted the title for Wales.
"It was the best rain I’ve ever watched," said 39 year old Dodd, who returns to the $2.4 million Dubai Desert Classic after finishing joint runner-up last year behind tournament winner Ernie Els. "It would have been nice to have won over four days but we’ll take winning over three."
Dredge, whose only previous tournament victory came at the 2003 Madeira Island Open, added: "It was a great team effort. Stephen had a lot of pressure on him and came through."
Dodd and Dredge’s success was the second World Cup triumph for Wales, who also won in Hawaii in 1987 thanks to the partnership of Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn.
"We had a picture of Ian and David with the World Cup in our clubhouse at Bryn Meadows, where I played golf as a young man, and I’ve always said one day that might be me," said 32 year-old Dredge. "Wales hadn’t won it since 1987, so for Stephen and I to repeat what and Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn did, is obviously huge for us and for golf in Wales. It’s fantastic. "
As well as second place in the Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL)-sponsored Dubai Desert Classic, Dodd enjoyed a career best season in 2005 winning the China and Irish Opens and ending the year 17th on the European Tour Order of Merit. Dredge – tied for 16th in the Desert Classic – ended the year one place higher as European number 16.
"Both Stephen and Bradley have good records at the Dubai Desert Classic and we are pleased to welcome them back, especially as World Cup winners," said Mohamed Buamim, Vice Chairman of Golf in DUBAI (GiD), organisers and promoters of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, Emaar, Dubai Waterfront by 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.
Tickets for the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic can be purchased online from the official website www.dubaidesertclassic.com.
Contact:
Alan Ewens
Dubai Desert Classic Media Manager
Tel: 04 3512887
Mob: 050 4514188
alan2804@emirates.net.ae
www.dubaidesertclassic.com
