Dubai: A golden chapter will be added to UAE golf history when Khalid Yousuf joins an elite field contesting for the honours in the 2008 Dubai Desert Classic to be played at the Emirates Golf Club from January 29-February 3.
The UAE national champion has been handed a dream sponsor's invite by 'golf in DUBAI' - the promoters and organisers of the mega European Tour event - in recognition of his meteoric rise not only on the UAE circuit, but in the Arab world as well.
Yousuf, who will be the first UAE national ever to tee off in the Dubai Desert Classic since the inception of the championship in 1989, took the Pan Arab Junior Championship held recently in Egypt by storm, winning the individual title and guiding the UAE National Team to emphatic victory in the team event.
Now playing off scratch, the 18-year-old prodigy was understandably ecstatic about the prospects of rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in golf.
"The feeling is incredible. I think it's a great honour to represent the UAE in the Dubai Desert Classic, a tournament I grew up watching every year," said Khalid, a fully home-grown product of UAE Golf Association's Junior Development Programme - better known by its acronym JDP.
Gratitude
"I would like to thank all my coaches for honing my skills over a period of time. What I am today is simply because of their hard work and dedication. Also my family has always been very supportive.
"Playing in the Dubai Desert Classic is the greatest incentive one can think of and I am really thankful to 'golf in DUBAI' for backing my talent and ambitions. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead," Khalid added. "I don't think I will be intimidated by big names in the field; in fact their presence will be quite motivating. All I can assure is that I will try and give off my best."
Mohammad Bu Amim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'golf in DUBAI' said: "We are delighted to extend a sponsor's invite to Khalid and his presence in the field proves that anything is possible with the bright future of our UAE junior elite players."
"I think the Desert Classic has been instrumental in giving UAE nationals strong impetus to learn and play the sport. The arrival of top stars, regular JDP clinics and exposures to big tournaments on the international levels have proved to be a catalyst in popularising the sport here tremendously," said Bu Amim.
