Dubai: The incentives for Europe's top golfers to follow in Luke Donald's footsteps by winning the 2012 PGA European Tour Race to Dubai title were announced yesterday, with the winner set to receive $1 million (Dh3.67 million).
The top ten players in The Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the 2012 European Tour international schedule will share the $3.75 million Bonus Pool. This revision of the Bonus Pool follows the announcement by the European Tour of a new three-year agreement to extend the Race to Dubai through to the end of 2014.
The season-long competition, launched in 2009, got under way for another year yesterday morning in the Africa Open at East London Golf Club, where two-time Major Champion and former European Tour No 1 Retief Goosen hit the opening tee shot.
Last leg
The 2012 Race to Dubai will conclude with the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai on November 22 to 25, where the prize fund has been increased to $8 million and the winner's cheque rising to $1.33 million.
DP World is continuing its support of the Hong Kong Open, which will be played between November 15 to 18, following which the leading 60 players in The Race to Dubai will qualify for the DP World Tour Championship here. Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy of the European Tour, said: "We are delighted to have everything in place for the new three-year phase of the Race to Dubai.
In DP World and Nakheel, we have two incredibly strong partners fully dedicated to the future success of the Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai."
Donald earned a record €5,323,400 (Dh23.58 million) by winning last year's Race to Dubai, following in the footsteps of Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.
The Race to Dubai winner receives the Harry Vardon Trophy, which was first awarded in 1937, and a seven-year European Tour Card exemption, in addition to Category One membership of The European Tour.
On offer
The 2012 Race To DubaiBonus Pool:
- 1. $1,000,000
- 2. $650,000
- 3. $500,000
- 4.$375,000
- 5. $325,000
- 6. $275,000
- 7. $225,000
- 8. $175,000
- 9. $125,000
- 10. $100,000.
