Dubai: It is not only the prestigious prize and winner's cheque that golfers at the Dubai Desert Classic will set their sights on at next week's event, but the chance to win big with the Emirates hole-in-one prize.

Competitors in next week's event will have the chance of winning up to Dh200,000 courtesy of Emirates, the Official Carrier for the tournament and sponsor of the hole-in-one prize.

Emirates, which has sponsored this prize for the past five years is again offering a daily hole-in-one prize to any player that can hole his tee shot on the par-three seventh hole at the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course from February 2-5.

For the first two days, Emirates is offering Dh100,000 for any hole-in-one scored on the 186-yard seventh, with the prize rising to Dh150,000 on day three and finally Dh200,000 on the fourth and final day.

In the past four years of Emirates' sponsorship of the hole-in-one, only two players have managed to achieve this golfing ace with Norway's Henrik Bjornstad picking up his prize of Dh200,000 for a hole in one in 2002, while last year locally-based professional Yasin Ali was successful, picking up a cheque for Dh100,000.

"Emirates is proud of its association with the Dubai Desert Classic, which is now firmly established as one of the main events on the PGA European Tour," said Tim Clark, Emirates' President.

"The event attracts top players from round the world and this year the line up is like a who's who of golfing greats with Tiger Woods, defending champion Ernie Els, 2005 Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and 2004 Desert Classic winner Mark O'Meara and Retief Goosen among the many big names taking part.

"The Emirates-sponsored hole-in-one prize adds extra spice to the occasion and ensures large spectator attendance at the seventh hole over the four days.

"The Dubai Desert Classic is the main golfing event in the region and we are very much looking forward to four days of excellent golf and hopefully of handing of the cheque to the player who achieves hole-in-one on the seventh."

Emirates has been the official carrier since the tournament sponsored by Dubal was first held in 1989, and has been involved in a sponsorship role for all 16 staged so far.

The carrier will also fly in many of the top stars competing in the tournament as well as 40 tonnes of freight and TV equipment which will beam pictures of the action across the globe.

Emirates also recognises the importance of encouraging golf at the grassroots level and extends its support to various golf events across its worldwide network.

Emirates commitment to golf around the world has significantly increased in recent years and in addition to the Dubai Desert Classic, the airline is now the Official Carrier for the BMW International Open in Munich, the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, the Austrian Open in Vienna and the New Zealand Open in Auckland, as well as the Malaysian Open and Singapore Masters.