Leisurecorp, the Dubai World Company and partners with The European Tour in the creation of The Race to Dubai, has unveiled “Earth” – the spectacular golf course at Jumeirah Golf Estates that will stage The European Tour International Schedule season-ending Dubai World Championship from November 19–22, 2009.
Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Robert Karlsson, Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose were joined by Khalid Yousuf, three time UAE champion and one of the Emirate’s most talented young golfers, for a sneak preview of the Greg Norman-designed course which will provide the ultimate test for the Number One to 60 players in The Race to Dubai.
The star golfers played the last four holes of the Earth course, which Norman has described as the “most challenging in golf”, in front of Abdul Wahid Al Ulama, vice chairman of Leisurecorp, George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour and David Spencer, Leisurecorp CEO – Golf, and local and global media. They provided expert insight and an early taste of what spectators can expect when the world’s top golfers go head to head later this year.
George O’Grady said: “We walked the four holes this morning – they’re all in wonderful condition and offer great variety. I’m confident they will provide a tremendous finish to the tournament. When you see the progress which has been made on the course over the past two months, it really is very impressive indeed. So I’m very excited about seeing what happens at the Dubai World Championship, as are all the players. The Race to Dubai has got off to a great start, and I’m sure it will provide us with an even better finish.”
Through their wide-ranging partnership The European Tour and Leisurecorp have created the world’s richest golf tournament, the Dubai World Championship, which will carry a US$10million prize fund and will be held annually at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Dubai World Championship will be open to the players numbered first to 60th in The Race to Dubai, the season-long competition on The European Tour International Schedule for which there is an additional US$ 10million bonus fund.
Greg Norman, the legendary designer of the Earth course, said: “I fully expect the last four holes to be one of the most challenging and exciting miles in golf. There is great reward, but there is also great risk. When we first conceived Jumeirah Golf Estates back in 2004 we dreamt that one day we would host a great championship, but we could not have imagined the level to which this will be taken.
“I have been fortunate to have golf tournaments played on courses that I have designed, but not something of the magnitude of the Dubai World Championship. The Earth course is going to be showcased on a global basis which is fantastic, and I am fully confident that the end result will be a truly great course.”
Sergio Garcia, currently leading The Race to Dubai, World Number Two and co-designer of Wind, the fourth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, said: “The buzz surrounding The Race to Dubai has made this season one of the most exciting in living memory and the grand finale at The Dubai World Championship, where so much will be at stake, deserves a golf course that will test the very best in the world. This is an incredibly impressive golf course, and worthy of such an important golf tournament. Earth could easily be played competitively now, and I am amazed how much it has progressed. I am looking forward to coming back in November to play for real!”
Ongoing course developments stopped for one day only as the last four holes of the course – which measure a mile in length – were unveiled in the Dubai sunshine for the first time. The Earth course will not be played competitively until the inaugural Dubai World Championship to ensure pristine conditions for what promises to be the ultimate test of the world’s finest golfers.
David Spencer, Leisurecorp CEO – Golf said: “Earth is one of the world’s most anticipated golf courses and we are delighted to show that we are on the home stretch to the Dubai World Championship. The course was actually fully grassed in April last year and it is ready to play now, but we are giving it two full seasons to mature before the Championship. Over the next ten months there will be intensive maintenance to ensure it is in immaculate condition and has the look and feel of an established golf course.”
The Race to Dubai started in November 2008 at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai and continues this week with the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club, where a stellar field has gathered for the 20th anniversary celebrations of this outstanding tournament.
