Dubai: Ernie Els is relishing the prospect of returning to one of his happiest hunting grounds when the South African tees off at the 25th edition of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic later this month.
A winner at the Emirates Golf Club event an unprecedented three times, Els will join a star-studded field for the tournament’s 25th anniversary edition, headlined by world number one Tiger Woods, Europe’s newly-crowned champion Henrik Stenson and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, from January 30 to February 2.
It was Els’ emphatic six-shot victory at the 1994 event — his first on the European Tour — that launched the South African into the golfing world’s top tier.
Since that triumph, Els, nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’ for his calm demeanour on the golf course, has become one of the most decorated golfers in the world, boasting 70 professional wins including a record seven World Match Play titles and four majors.
“It feels great to return to a course where you have enjoyed some success. I think everyone knows I love playing in Dubai,” Els said. “I like the lines off the tees and the greens are quite soft, so if you get your ball up, you can shoot some good scores.
“It will be fun to be part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the tournament. Obviously I will be looking to win the event again,” added Els, who is an incredible 169-under-par for the 46 rounds he has played at the Majlis course.
Els made his Dubai debut in 1994, when, as a 24-year-old, he eclipsed a strong field that included the likes of Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples and Greg Norman to announce his arrival on the big stage. The South African wasted no time in seizing the early initiative with a sizzling 11-under-par 61 — a Majlis course record that stands to this day.
That opening round, which included 12 birdies — equalling the record for most birdies in a round — is still widely regarded as one of the greatest rounds in the history of the European Tour.
Els, who has only missed the cut once in his 12 appearances, triumphed again in 2002 and his love affair with the event continued when he claimed a record third Omega Dubai Desert Classic title in 2005 after a dramatic eagle three on the final hole carried him past Welshman Stephen Dodd and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, vice-chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai, the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, said: “We are delighted to welcome our only three-time champion back to Dubai. Ernie is a true champion and a great friend of Dubai.
“We have an incredibly strong field for the 25th edition of the event and I’m sure the fans are in for a real feast of golf with all the drama and emotions on the course.”
The main tournament will be preceded by the Champions’ Challenge, an 18-hole stroke-play showpiece that will see former winners of the event battle it out for a $600,000 (Dh2.20 million) prize fund on Tuesday, January, 28.
Golf in Dubai is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubai 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 in Golf in Dubai’s drive to showcase the emirate’s golfing scene to a worldwide audience.
