Only a few days after the world's finest golfers took centre stage at the Emirates Golf Club in the 15th Dubai Desert Classic, it is now the turn of the UAE's own local talent.

At the same venue, 55 UAE nationals begin the first round of the 9th Lexus UAE National Championship on the Wadi course today.

The first group tees off at 8.10 am with home golfer Mana Al Manna having the honour of starting proceedings under the watchful eye of official starter Bob Conner.

The field is banded into categories with the eventual champion likely to come from the 8.30 tee time of Khalid Yousuf (TMD) and Abdullah Al Thani (DCGYC), 9.00 tee time of Ismail Sharif (EGC), Mohamed Al Mansouri (AGGC) and Khalid Mubarak (DGYC).

10.40 tee time of Mohammed Al Mosharrekh (DCGYC), Rashid Al Abbar and Khalid Al Halyan (DCGYC) or the 10.50 tee time of Abdullah Al Mosharrekh (DCGYC), defending champion Walid Al Attar (EGC) and Abdullah Obaidullah (DCGYC).

Al Attar commented: "I am thoroughly looking forward to this weekend. We have largest field in the events nine-year history with more potential winners than ever before."

The only year Al Attar didn't win the Lexus National Championship in the last four years was in 2001.

Tomorrow's tee times will begin at 8.10 am on the Majlis course with the draw determined by today's first round gross scores.