Jairaj Gorsia will be teeing off with Rafa Cabrera-Bello at this year’s DP World Tour Championship Rolex Pro-Am after being crowned the winner of the 2015 Luckiest Ball on Earth Series at the Grand Final held on Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday 25 October.
After 21 events played across 20 Emirates Golf Federation affiliated golf clubs in the UAE with more than 800 players taking part, Gorsia, who represented The Track, Meydan Golf, Dubai put on a stellar performance to beat the 20 other Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final competitors with a superb net Stableford score of 44 points.
Visiting the world-renowned European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at Jumeirah Golf Estates ahead of the European Tour Final Series, Cabrera-Bello was there himself to award the prizes and announce that Gorsia would be joining his team at this year’s Rolex Pro-Am.
The Rolex Pro-Am on Tuesday 17 November is the curtain raiser to the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship to be held on Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Thursday 19 November to Sunday 22 November. The eagerly awaited Rolex Pro-Am will be contested by 46 teams captained by European Tour professionals including the likes of Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett and double defending champion Henrik Stenson.
“It’s feels incredible to be the winner of the DP World Tour Championship Luckiest Ball on Earth. I didn’t think I could do it and it’s been two months preparing for this so I’m delighted it worked out the way it did,” said Gorsia.
“I didn’t get off to the best of starts – the heat was getting to me a little bit to be honest but I got myself together and managed to play some steady golf to make it through.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with Rafa at the Rolex Pro-Am next month. With the weather getting better I’ll definitely be heading out to the range a bit more at The Track, Meydan Golf before the big day!”
Gorsia is also invited to the Championship Beach Party held at Nasimi Beach, Atlantis, The Palm on 17 November and will also receive two VIP Hospitality passes to the Championship Chalet for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final saw players teeing from the Signature Tees on Fire course and in the end it was Kirsten Schwinghammer of Abu Dhabi Golf Club who took the runner-up position with 37 points while Peggy O’Dea of The Address Montgomerie secured third place with 36 points.
The Luckiest Ball on Earth Series has proved to be a resounding success since it was launched in 2011 when Kevin Barrett of Arabian Ranches Golf Club won his spot in the Rolex Pro-Am. Since then Ornella Parigi (Jumeirah Golf Estates) in 2012, Maureen Platt (Emirates Golf Club) in 2013 and Dipesh Makwana (Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa) last year have enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of teeing-off with some of the game’s biggest names.
Nick Tarratt, Director, European Tour International – Dubai Office said: “We enjoyed an extremely successful Grand Final of the fifth edition of the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final yesterday (Sunday) at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“Many Congratulations to Jairaj on his wonderful victory. We wish him all the best in the Rolex Pro-Am and we are sure he will enjoy a memorable day with Rafa next month. Our special thanks go to the Emirates Golf Federation for sanctioning this initiative through all the EGF affiliated golf clubs in the UAE and to Jumeirah Golf Estates for hosting the Grand Final on Fire.”
