A NEW SEASON-LONG COMPETITION FOR THE EUROPEAN TOUR

• Leading to The Dubai World Championship
• Replaces European Tour Order of Merit from the 2009 season
• The number 1 to 60 Tour players at the end of the season vie for US$10,000,000  prize fund at The Dubai World Championship
• The Race to Dubai delivers additional Bonus Pool of US$10,000,000 to the15 top-ranked players after The Dubai World Championship

The Race to Dubai is a US$10,000,000 season-long competition for the world’s leading golfers, which culminates in the world’s richest golf tournament, The Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, UAE.

Players will be ranked according to their earnings from all events on The European Tour International Schedule, including all European Tour tournaments, the Major Championships and the World Golf Championships (WGC)s, ensuring the cream of world golf will qualify.

The number 1 to 60 players in The Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the previous tournament then compete in the season’s climax, The US$10,000,000 Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. 

Following this tournament, the season’s 15 top-ranked players by earnings share a Bonus Pool of US$10,000,000.  The Number One player will receive US$2,000,000, the runner-up US$1,500,000 and the third-placed player US$1,000,000, with prizes down to the 15th player, who will earn US$250,000.

The winner of The Race to Dubai will receive a ten year European Tour Card exemption.

The Race to Dubai for The 2009 Dubai World Championship will start in November 2008.  From 2010 it is anticipated that The Race to Dubai will commence in January and The Dubai World Championship will complete the season in November.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: "The Race to Dubai will be a major boost for The European Tour.  We feel the Bonus Pool will provide an extra incentive for the players and ignite interest for the fans throughout the season culminating in an exciting finale at 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 US$3,666,660.   All eyes will focus on Jumeirah Golf Estates at the end of the season.”

For further information, please click on the following related items

The European Tour lands in Dubai

The European Tour International Headquarters

Media Conference Transcript