Chris May, Dubai Golf CEO, believes if Tiger Woods was to add any overseas tournaments to his limited schedule, then the Dubai Desert Classic would be at the top of his list.
The 15-time Major winner has a rich history with the ‘Major of the Middle East’, playing the tournament on eight occasions and winning the prestigious Dallah Trophy twice.
But Woods hasn’t returned to Emirates Golf Club, which May’s Dubai Golf manages, since withdrawing from the 2017 Dubai Desert Classic with a back injury.
That also remains the last time Woods made a professional start outside of the PGA Tour, which is primarily based in the United States.
Since then, the former World No.1 has undergone several surgeries on his spine and suffered career-threatening leg and ankle injuries in a car crash in 2021.
When he made the cut at the Masters Tournament for the 24th consecutive time earlier this year, it marked just the fourth time Woods has managed to complete four rounds in a competitive event since his title defence of the Masters in 2020.
All of these issues have resulted in Woods playing a very limited schedule, with the four Major Championships and the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts, expected to be the only events he plays this year as he continues his comeback from last year’s surgery on his right ankle.
But there is hope he could play more tournaments next season as he continues to get stronger, with Woods himself stating last year that he hoped to play once a month going forward.
Could he return to the Dubai Desert Classic for one last hurrah?
“I wouldn’t say no,” May replied when I asked if we’d ever see Tiger Woods back in Dubai.
“It would be great if he was able to come back and play again. A lot obviously depends on his personal health, but if there was a tournament that he would play overseas then I think the Dubai Desert Classic could be it.
“If you remember when he last played, he pulled out after one round due to issues with his back. I think it would be a nice thing for him to do to come back and play again after that. Whether that’s possible really depends on him and whether his focus is purely on the Major Championships.
“I think he recognises, with what has happened this year, that he does need to play a couple of other events to get his game in shape to play the Majors – he can’t just turn up to the Majors and perform.
“We’ll see, it would be great. I think it would pretty much guarantee a sellout tournament if he did come, but who knows? Let’s see if we can make it happen.”
If he is to feature once again in Dubai, the marketing team behind the Dubai Desert Classic will need to think of another epic stunt to mark his return.
Back in 2004, Woods hit balls from the Burj Al Arab helipad. It is estimated that, within 24 hours, the images from the stunt featured in close to 4,000 publications worldwide.
