Dubai Desert Classic set to celebrate 20th anniversary

Tickets for the mega event, which will be held at the Emirates Golf Club from January 26 to February 1, are available online and may be purchased by visiting the tournament.

Since the inaugural edition in 1989, the tournament has dramatically grown in size and stature with virtually the who's who of world golf competing in the event, which according to Great Dane, Thomas Bjorn, is the 'major of the Middle East.'

"The Classic Week truly underlines how Dubai has grown to become one of the world's most exciting golfing destinations," said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'golf in DUBAi' - the promoters and organisers of the richest event in the region.

"These are early days to confirm the line-up for the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic, but we are fully confident of once again assembling a top-class cast for the event which may well also see the presence of a number of past champions," he said.

"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," he added.
Early this year, Tiger Woods produced a stunning final round 65 to win the Dubai Desert Classic in great style. Five holes behind the leader Ernie Els with nine to play, Woods shot an incredible 31 on the back nine to pull off a memorable victory with a score of 14-under-par - his second win in four visits to Dubai.

"It was a pretty neat finish. I just tried to play the best I could and 31 on the back nine happened to be good enough (to win)," said Woods, who, at present, is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and has not taken a full swing since the US Open at Torrey Pines in June when he defeated Rocco Mediate after 91 holes to win his 14th major.

"We would love to see a fully-fit Tiger return to Dubai to defend his title, but that's something he and his doctors will have to decide. We wish him a speedy recovery," said Mr Buamaim said.



The Dubai Desert Classic is known to unfolding some intriguing battles in the sun, and the one involving Ernie Els may hold the spotlight again. The Big Easy, who will be eyeing a record fourth Dubai Desert Classic title, had his moments to achieve the feat early this year and in 2007, but each time he failed to conjure a piece of magic on the closing hole.
In 2007, he needed an eagle to pip eventual winner Henrik Stenson, but ended up making a birdie while in the 2008 edition his hopes were 'drowned' in the huge lake guarding the 18th green.

He will be hoping to go one better next time when he returns to the Majlis course where he still holds the course record thanks to a superb 61 he posted in 1994, the year of his first victory.

"I always enjoy spending time in Dubai," said Els who has put his design footprints on the emirate's golfing landscape with 'The Els Club' located in the Dubai Sports City.

"The progress of Dubai has been amazing since my first visit here in 1993. The Dubai Desert Classic is a huge attraction, something most players look forward to playing each year."
The regular visits of the superstars have had its rub-off effects among UAE's junior golfers who grew up watching their exploits. It was indeed a matter of pride for everyone in the UAE when Khalid Yousuf, a product of the UAE Golf Association's Junior Development Programme, joined the elite field last year, thus becoming the first UAE national to compete on the global stage.

'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the main partner and Emirates-NBD, MasterCard, Jumeirah Hotels, Emirates airline, BMW, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Gulf News, Omega and CNN as partners in its drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.