Earth course set to wow golfing connoisseurs at showpiece event

Dubai With just over a week until the Dubai World Championship, presented by DP World, the stunning Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates is preparing to host the world's leading golfers.

The tournament, which is hosted by Nakheel Leisure, will see the top 60 qualifiers from The Race to Dubai compete for the first time on the new Greg Norman-designed course, ensuring one of the greatest player fields ever to play in the Middle East.

The showpiece event, which takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 19-22, has attracted 70,000 registrations for free tickets. Tickets are still available at www.dubaiworldchampionship.com

As preparations gather pace, grandstands have now been erected, while the finishing touches are being added to the Championship Village, which will offer a range of entertainment for the whole family away from all the action on the course, including live bands, free golf lessons and a Kid's Zone.

The Earth course itself, complete since January this year, is now in Championship condition and ready to host the world's top golfers who will be competing in the thrilling climax to The Race to Dubai — The European Tour's season-long competition which takes in 51 golf tournaments in 27 destinations around the world.

The Earth course is one of the four courses that anchor new neighbourhoods in Jumeirah Golf Estates, which have been designed by a dream team that includes Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and the father of modern-day golf course design, Pete Dye.

With millions of golf fans around the world watching, both on television and on the course, the Dubai World Championship will shift the epicentre of golf towards Dubai — and will be one of the most memorable sporting events of 2009.

Positioned adjacent to the 18th Green, the Hospitality Pavilion will provide the luxury hospitality one expects from the UAE.

McArthur ahead

The third event in the battle for the 2009-2010 UAE PGA's Order of Merit title, saw a third professional step up to the winners' podium, and though these are early days in the season, Ross McArthur showed he is keen on claiming the accolade.

Scoring a two-under par 70 on the Jebel Ali Golf Resort, McArthur, of Al Hamra Golf Club, maintained a tight grip on the day's trophy ahead of Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club's Steve Chambers, who finished with a one-under par 71. Nick Oakley, Yas Links' latest managerial appointment in Director of Golf, led the Abu Dhabi-based contingent with a polished 73, which was good enough to guarantee him a third place finish.

McArthur said: "The course was in exceptional playing condition and on behalf of my fellow PGA members I'd like to thank Director of Golf James Williams and his team." He added he was pleased with his consistent performance and was delighted to better his shared third place finish in the season opening Order of Merit tournament in Ras Al Khaimah.

Julian Danby, Chief Executive of the UAE PGA said "it was great to see yet another new winner for this season picking up the first place cheque today, this really shows the strength of players we have within the UAE and it has already created quite a buzz to this year's Order of Merit Series."