With just a month to go until the world’s leading players tee-off, Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has partnered with the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, under the patronage of his Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, as part of its continued drive to promote the Emirate as one of the world’s premier golf destinations.
The Dubai World Championship presented by DP World is hosted by Nakheel Leisure and takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 19-22 November. The tournament provides the thrilling climax to The Race to Dubai – The European Tour’s season-long competition which takes in 50 golf tournaments in 27 destinations around the world. Only the top 60 qualifiers from The Race to Dubai will compete on the new Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, ensuring one of the greatest player fields ever to play in the Middle East.
DSC, the city’s governing body for sport, has linked with the Dubai World Championship to reinforce the Emirate’s position as a premier golf destination, boasting some of the best golf courses in the world. The partnership will also see DSC and Nakheel Leisure working together locally to promote the sport throughout the region.
Dr. Ahmad Al Sharif, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council, said: “The Dubai World Championship is a global event that is hugely important for The European Tour and the sport in general, but it is also very important for Dubai on many levels whether they be generating tourism revenue or additional economic benefits.
“The tournament will see big names like Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, and Rory McIlroy descend on Dubai for the thrilling climax to the season where so much will be at stake and the eyes of the sporting world will be watching us closely. This global audience is something that we must harness to further underline the Emirate’s position as one of the world’s premier sporting and tourism destinations.”
Saeed Harib, Managing Director, Nakheel Leisure, said: “With just 30 days to go until the inaugural Dubai World Championship, there is obviously a huge focus on staging a memorable tournament and we are delighted to receive the support of the Dubai Sports Council in achieving this.
“However, the long-term strategy is of equal importance and we must use the tournament as platform to promote the sport throughout the entire year and beyond. With the support of DSC, we are aiming to encourage those of all ages to take up golf and further develop the awareness and interest in the sport.”
The 60 qualifiers from The Race to Dubai will compete for a $7.5 million prize fund at the Dubai World Championship, with the winner walking away with $1.25 million.
An additional $7.5 million bonus pool is also at stake for the leading 15 players in The Race to Dubai following the tournament. This world-class field includes current Race leader from Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy, Spain’s Sergio Garcia, England’s Paul Casey, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, Colombia’s Camilo Villegas, and South Africa’s Ernie Els.
More than 56,000 registrations have taken place for free tickets which are available at the official website www.dubaiworldchampionship.com. The website also includes details on corporate hospitality, with one package including the unique experience of being among the first to play the Earth course following the Dubai World Championship.