Emirates airline, the official carrier for the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic, has announced the sponsorship of two Swedish golfers, Mats Hallberg and Mathias Gronberg, for the upcoming PGA European Tour event to be held at the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course from March 1-4.

Hallberg and Gronberg will vie for the $250,000 top prize alongside some of the world's best golfers including world No 1 Tiger Woods and European No 1 Lee Westwood.

Emirates has been the Official Carrier of the Dubai Desert Classic since the inaugural event in 1989 as part of its dedication to promoting Dubai as a world-class international sporting and leisure destination.

"We are very pleased to offer our sponsor's invitation to Mats Hallberg," commented Mike Simon, Director of Communications. "At the same time we are equally proud to have Mathias Gronberg wear the Emirates logo on his golf apparel over the next two weeks in Dubai and in Qatar. Both are excellent competitors."

The two Swedish players are Dubai Desert Classic veterans as Gronberg will play in his sixth event and Hallberg his 11th.

Gronberg, who promoted Emirates at the 2000 Dubai Desert Classic, will once again play on one of the Emirates Pro-Am teams. His three PGA European Tour victories to date include a very impressive 10-stroke triumph at the Smurfit European Open in 1998.