Nakheel hopes to achieve hole-in-one with Tiger and Co

Taking place on 31st January 2006, it is the fourth consecutive year that Nakheel has been a key sponsor at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Challenge Match. The 2006 Challenge Match sees the strongest line up in the event's history, with three of the world's top five ranked players participating. There are six match players in total: Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Mark O'Meara.

Nakheel is sponsoring both the 'hole-in-one competition', and the 'Birdie, Eagle, and Albatross Challenge'. Nakheel's sponsorship, as well as helping attract the world's leading players to Dubai, will also play a key role in raising money for UAE charities. The three designated charities for the event are Al Noor Training Centre, Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, and Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

The players will have two opportunities to win the hole-in-one competition. The first opportunity to secure the prize money will be on the par-three second hole, which carries a US$500,000 prize. If it is achieved $300,000 will go to the competitors, and $200,000 to the nominated UAE charities. If none of the players hole-in-one at the second, they get another chance on the par-three eighth, where the prize money doubles to US$1 million, and US$400,000 will go to charity. In order to maximise the money received by local charities, Nakheel is also offering AED10,000 for every Birdie, AED15,000 for each Eagle, and AED20,000 for an Albatross. In addition to these amounts, Nakheel will pay a further AED5,000 for each shot under par (36 strokes) achieved by each competing team on the nine hole course.

Ms Dina Al Jaflah, General Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates, said: "It promises to be a spectacular day's golf, and Nakheel is delighted to be involved. With our Jumeirah Golf Estates development, we are totally committed to making Dubai one of the world's premier golfing destinations, and our continuous support of the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Challenge Match is only fitting - an event which, along with the Desert Classic, attracts the world's best golfers into the region."

David Spencer, Nakheel Director of Marketing & Brand Management, said: "Nakheel is proud to sponsor the hole-in-one challenge for the fourth consecutive year, particularly due to the event's strong links with the local community. We are hoping to raise more money for charity this year than ever before; with a line up of such quality, we're positive that the players will be able to raise record amounts."