Dubai To Create Golf History

Dubai To Create Golf History

Last updated:
Jaydip Sengupta, Pages Editor
2 MIN READ

When Greg Norman began designing the Fire and Earth Courses at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, little did he know that one day one of them would be witness to history.

Come 19th November 2009, when the Dubai World Championships makes its debut, the final and the most prestigious event on the European Tour's Race to Dubai that replaces the Order of Merit, Dubai will see the top 60 golfers of the European Tour teeing off for a prizemoney of $10,000,000.

The partnership between the European Tour and Leisurecorp will run initially for five years, with an option to extend for a further five years. It includes the creation of the end-of-season Dubai World Championship and an additional annual $10,000,000 bonus pool.

Apart from significant support for selected European Tour events, the partnership will also see the construction of International Headquarters for The European Tour at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Also on the anvil is the creation of a global property company to develop new tournament venues around the world.

The announcement of the new European Tour format has already created ripples around the world. The Race to Dubai, for The Dubai World Championship 2009, will start in November 2008. The Number One player will receive $2,000,000, the runner-up $ 1,500,000 and the third-placed player $1,000,000, with prizes down to the 15th player, who will earn $250,000.

George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said, “The Race to Dubai will bring a new dimension to The European Tour, creating great drama and theatre throughout the year as all the best players in the world are given the opportunity to compete in the world's richest tournament - The Dubai World Championship. With the combined prize funds of The Dubai World Championship and The Race to Dubai, we have the prospect of a player standing over a putt for $3,666,660.''

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