Dubai: The Omega Dubai Desert Classic kicks off with the traditional Pro Am tournament on Wednesday, when top players competing in the tournament will team up with local golfers and celebrities, including shock-rock icon Alice Cooper.
Altogether 52 teams, 26 each in the morning and afternoon sessions, will participate in the fun-filled event. The morning session will start at 7.30 am and the afternoon session at 1.30pm.
Sergio Garcia of Spain will feature in the OMEGA team, which comprises Adel Zarouni, Abdul Fattah Sharaf and Ishwar Jodha at 7.30am while the Chairman’s team will consist of Lee Westwood, Khalfan Kaabi, Alan Thomas and Alice Cooper (12.45 shot gun).
Shaikh Fahim Al Qasimi, chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, will also play in the afternoon. His team consists of Stephen Dodd, who won the 2012 Mena Golf Tour Order of Merit title, Khalid Mubarak and Rami Al Nuaimi.
Mena Golf Tour will also have their own team, which will be led by Barry Lane, the only golfer who has played in every Omega Dubai Desert Classic since its inception in 1989, Khalid Al Halyan, Kamal Kosta and Hassan Al Suwaidi.
Organisers of the Classic have, meanwhile, commended Dubai Police for their role in providing logistical and security support to the longest-running European Tour event in the region at Emirates Golf Club.
“We appreciate Dubai Police’s significant support in helping us streamline our logistical operations in the run up and during the tournament. They have been a great partner and it is an honour to be associated with them,” said Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, Vice-Chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi.
“Police work can be a demanding and stressful field, requiring common sense and good judgment, but Dubai Police have always been spot-on when it comes to performance, follow-up, education, training and the launch of creative initiatives,” he added.
“If Dubai is fondly referred to as the sporting capital of the region, it is primarily because the city is seen as one of the safest in the world and a relatively crime-free place to live. The rapidly rising number of tourists clearly shows that Dubai is fast becoming the world’s playground,” he added.
“We look forward to their continued support as we approach the 25th anniversary of our event in 2014,” he added.
The event is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are CNN, Drydocks World & Maritime World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons of the event.
