New European number one Monty heading for Dubai Desert Classic

The former Desert Classic champion will be hoping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his 1996 Dubai title success with another victory when the Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL)-sponsored tournament is held at the Emirates Golf Club from February 2-5.

And after the way the remarkable Scot has clawed his way out from the backwaters of the world rankings and back into the world's top twenty in the space of just 10 months, 42 year-old Monty will be among the favourites, despite the ominous presence of world number one Tiger Woods, who recently announced his entry in the Dubai event.

'The way Colin has bounced back to become European number one is one of the best sporting stories of the year,' said Dubai Desert Classic Vice Chairman Mohamed Buamim. 'It will also be his 15th visit to Dubai in the 17 years we have been staging the event so as a regular supporter of golf in Dubai we are always pleased to welcome him back.

'We spoke to Colin at St Andrews earlier this year and he indicated then he would join us in 2006. And after claiming his eighth Order of Merit at Valderrama, I'm delighted to say he has confirmed his entry, which means the tournament has already secured the number one players in both the World and European Rankings.'

The man known to golf fans worldwide simply as Monty has strong links with Dubai not only from his many trips to the Dubai Desert Classic but also because of The Montgomerie Dubai course, a venue he helped design.

A symbolic figure in European golf, Monty is a Ryder Cup talisman. At Oakland Hills Country Club last year, it was Europe who dominated thanks to a record 18 ½ - 9 ½ winning margin with the recognised on-course leader Montgomerie providing the winning point amidst emotion-packed scenes around the 18th green.

As an individual, the Scot has won somewhere around the world at least once every year since 1993 and continued that run in 2005 when he won the dunhill links championship at St Andrews, his first success in Scotland since Loch Lomond in 1999 and a fitting return to the Old Course where he finished second behind Woods at the 2005 Open.

'I've been visiting Dubai for many years now and know it as a world-class golfing destination,' he said. 'Obviously I know The Montgomerie Dubai very well but all the grass courses in the emirate are of the highest international standard and I always enjoy returning to the Majlis.'

Montgomerie added: 'My next goal is to get back in the world's top 10 - and stay there. I'm 15th at the moment, so I'm heading in the right direction,' he said.

Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Desert Classic, CNN International, Arabian Ranches by Emaar, 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.