The total prize fund on offer for next year's Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club from March 4-7, 2004, has increased by $150,000 to $2 million, a rise of eight per cent on this year's figure.
In March, the total prize fund was approximately $1,850,000 from which the eventual champion Robert-Jan Derksen took home a cheque for $314,740 after his thrilling victory over defending champion Ernie Els.
Next year, the winner of the prestigious title on the superb verdant oasis in the desert that is the Majlis Course, will collect a cheque for $333,330.
Since it first appeared on The European Tour International Schedule in 1989, the Dubai Desert Classic at The Emirates Golf Club, has become one of the most eagerly awaited tournaments of the year.
Apart from two stagings at the nearby Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club in 1999 and 2000, all other 12 tournaments have been staged at the Emirates GC, with the Roll of Honour resembling a Who’’s Who of Golf itself.
Reigning Open Golf Champion Ernie Els has won twice, in 1994 and 2002 while fellow Major Champions to have triumphed at the Emirates GC include Seve Ballesteros (1992), Fred Couples (1995) and José Maria Olazábal (1998). Other winners have included two Members of last year’’s winning Ryder Cup team, Thomas Björn (2001) and seven time Volvo Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie (1996).
A measure of the progress of the tournament in recent years can be made by comparing the prize fund on offer when Els won his first title in 1994, a victory made possible largely thanks to his course record 61 in the first round.
Then, the South African received a first prize of $116,000 from a total prize fund of $700,000. The $2 million on offer in 2004 represents an increase of some 185 per cent.
