Golfers have Emirates prize in sight for Desert Classic hole-in-one

For the fourth year in succession, Emirates is again offering a daily hole-in-one prize with up to Dh200,000 on offer to any player that can hole his tee shot on the par-three seventh hole at the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course from March 3-6.

For the first two days, Emirates is offering Dh100,000 for any hole-in-one scored on the 186-yard seventh with the prize rising to Dh150,000 on day three and finally Dh200,000 on the fourth and final day. In the three previous years of the sponsorship, only one player - Norway's Henrik Bjornstad - has holed in one at the seventh. Bjornstad's ace on the final day earned him Dh200,000.

"It is only fitting for Emirates to be a sponsor of the Dubai Desert Classic, which is growing in popularity and stature every year, attracting top players from round the world," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates' Executive Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide. "The hole-in-one prize adds extra spice to the occasion and ensures large spectator attendance at the seventh hole over the four days."

Emirates has been the official carrier since the tournament - sponsored by Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL) - was first held in 1989 and has been involved in a sponsorship role for all 15 staged so far. The carrier will also fly in many of the top stars competing in the 16th staging of the tournament as well as tonnes of freight and TV equipment which will beam pictures of the action across the globe.

"Emirates has been with us since day one of the Classic and is a valuable and intrinsic part of the tournament," said Dubai Desert Classic Vice Chairman Mohamed Buamim. "We are delighted that they are once again the official carrier and appreciate the extra incentive offered by the hole-in-one prize."

Emirates also recognises the importance of encouraging golf at the grassroots level and extends its support to various golf events across the network, and is supporting the UAE national golf team once again this year.

In addition to the Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates also supports a host of international PGA European Tour events, including the BMW International Open in Munich and the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, both of which it will continue to sponsor until 2006.

In 2004, the airline also sponsored the Scottish Open held at the prestigious Loch Lomond Golf Club, while in December 2003, Emirates signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the New Zealand Open Golf tournament in Auckland, which is now co-sanctioned by the PGA European Tour.