Dubai World Championship receives Patronage from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai

The Dubai World Championship is the grand finale to The Race to Dubai - a season-long competition which encompasses 52 golf tournaments around the world. The leading 60 players in The Race to Dubai will qualify for the Dubai World Championship ensuring that only the world's best players will compete at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 19-22.

The patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum means the Dubai World Championship will join an elite list of sporting events such as the Dubai World Cup and Dubai Tennis Championships which received patronage in their beginnings before growing to become leading events in world sport.

Abdul Wahid Al Ulama, Leisurecorp Vice Chairman, said:

"The significance of The Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship cannot be underestimated and has already placed the Emirate of Dubai at the forefront of the global sports world as an innovator and leader in the historic sport of golf. We are truly honoured to have received patronage from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and with his support and guidance, we are certain that the Dubai World Championship will become one of the Middle East's most important sporting events."

George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said:

"The European Tour is honoured that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has granted his official patronage for the Dubai World Championship. This gives us great confidence as we continue with The Race to Dubai and look forward to a successful inaugural Dubai World Championship on the superb Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates."

Preparations for the Dubai World Championship are well underway with the Greg Norman-designed Earth course unveiled by Leisurecorp in January. Stars Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson and young Emirati golfer Khalid Yousef previewed the final four holes of the course described by the legendary Norman as "the most challenging mile in golf".

David Spencer, Leisurecorp CEO-Golf, said: "As a Dubai World company, Leisurecorp is extremely proud to support the Emirate's growth as a world-class destination for sport and tourism and we believe that the Dubai World Championship is very much in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's great vision for Dubai and the UAE.

"The excitement surrounding The Race to Dubai has made this European Tour season one of the most important in living memory. The Dubai World Championship will feature arguably the most impressive field of sporting talent ever assembled in Dubai, and they will all be competing for golf's ultimate prize, which means that come November the eyes of the sporting world will be on Jumeirah Golf Estates."