Sport | Golf
Race to Dubai goes global
The multi-million dollar Race to Dubai has given the European Tour the confidence to "go around the world", said the Tour's chief executive George O'Grady.
- By Duane Fonseca, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:24 October 7, 2008
- The Race to Dubai has attracted interest from some of the world's top golfers with American Phil Mickelson, Colombian Camilo Villegas and Vijay Singh of Fiji.
- Image Credit: AP
Turnberry, Scotland: The multi-million dollar Race to Dubai has given the European Tour the confidence to "go around the world", said the Tour's chief executive George O'Grady.
The 55-tournament Race to Dubai, which replaces the European Order of Merit this year, begins in Shanghai next month.
It will climax with the 60 top earners competing for the Dubai World Championship, which carries a total purse of $10 million making it the world's richest golf tournament.
New dimension
"The Race to Dubai will bring a new dimension to the European Tour," said O'Grady.
"The 2009 schedule confirms how the Tour has become ever more global in its outlook, with 26 destinations now featuring on the calendar and the Czech Golf Open returning for the first time in 12 years.
"What the Race to Dubai has done is it has given us the confidence to go around the world."
The Race to Dubai has attracted interest from some of the world's top golfers with American Phil Mickelson, Colombian Camilo Villegas and Vijay Singh of Fiji.
The tournament generated enormous excitement when it was announced last year and Tour boss O'Grady said he could not for it to begin.
Quality of players
"We are excited about the start of The Race to Dubai and the superb quality of the field for the HSBC Champions in Shanghai," said O'Grady at Turnberry, which is the latest acquisition of Dubai World company Leisurecorp.
He added: "With five of the top seven currently active players in the world all entered to play, it provides ample evidence of the high drama and great theatre that lies ahead.
"The tournament has not only captured the imagination of the people, it has also captured the imagination of some of the big names in the sport.
"Lots of them, like Phil Mickelson, have talked about it, but have not joined yet.
"Vijay Singh certainly wants to but he'll have to check his schedule."
The Tour's chief executive dismissed fears that the global credit crunch and the gloom surrounding financial markets around the world would hurt golf and the Race to Dubai in particular.
He saw saw no reason why "98 per cent" of the tournaments would not go ahead as planned and insisted that the Tour would see to it that at least 53 of its 55 tournaments were played out.
"Some of the venues will be announced shortly and within a month most of them will be confirmed. "If not all, we will host at least 98 per cent of the events on the calendar."
Share this article
Popular in Sport
-
Football
Goal rush expected at Beach Soccer World Cup
A total of 970 scored in four editions
Sport Editor's choice
-
Agassi's book reveals lies he 'can't live with'
It turns out Andre Agassi was lying throughout his career.
-
Inside the mind of Pacman
In the ring with Manny Pacquiao to see what makes this boxer tick
-
Ajtebi's phenomenal assent
The former camel jockey was at the peak of his powers when upstaging Garret Gomez
