Dubai: The one-month countdown to the 11th edition of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and inaugural EDGA Dubai Finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates was ushered in when Irish professional Brendan Lawlor hit a ceremonial tee shot off the first tee of the iconic Earth course on Sunday.
This year’s championship will witness one of the most exclusive fields in world golf with only the top 50 players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings eligible to compete in the prestigious event from November 21-24.
The tournament will also boast the richest first prize in golf with the champion receiving a mouthwatering US$3 million.
To celebrate the UAE’s Year of Tolerance, EDGA Dubai Finale star Lawlor was invited to take the first ceremonial tee shot as Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation and Mohammad Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director of DP World, watched on.
Lawlor is one of eight golfers of determination who will be taking part in the inaugural EDGA Dubai Finale, a 36-hole tournament that will be played in conjunction with the DP World Tour Championship — a Rolex Series event — using the same course set-up as the European Tour’s elite players. As well as taking the first ceremonial tee shot, the 22 year old hosted an inclusive coaching clinic for the Students of Determination from Dubai Heights Academy and the UAE’s 13 and Under Boys National Team, who recently won the bronze medal at the Pan Arab Golf Championships in Egypt.
Mohammad Al Muallem said: “DP World aims to build a better future for everyone and it’s great to see, first-hand, children of all ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities playing a sport that means so much to our business. Golf is much more than just a game, it’s a platform for us to inspire people through the DP World Tour Championship and our partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation to build a more inclusive society.”
