The second edition of The Race to Dubai, culminating in the Dubai World Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, will start in South Africa on The 2010 European Tour International Schedule with the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open Championship being played from 10-13 December and 17-20 December respectively.
Two new tournaments – the Africa Open in January and the Hassan II Golf Trophy in Morocco in March – feature in the first sector of The 2010 European Tour International Schedule announced today.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted that with the support of our partners in Dubai we can confirm the way forward for The Race to Dubai prior to the inaugural competition concluding in the United Arab Emirates next month.
“The Race to Dubai has brought a new dimension to our season and we are confident that by continuing to globalise the game it will grow in stature with the best golfers in the world being given the opportunity to compete in an exciting and dynamic season-long competition.”
Hamza Mustafa, Acting Managing Director, Nakheel Leisure, said: “We are committed and proud to take our partnership with The European Tour forward into the new season. The inaugural Race to Dubai has been a phenomenal success and I believe we are currently seeing the benefits of the new format with some impressive fields in the latter part of the season as players race to qualify for the Dubai World Championship.
“We look forward to hosting this thrilling climax to the season in November on Greg Norman’s stunning new Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates; we have already received more than 56,000 registrations for free tickets to the event and have some exciting plans in store for spectators.”
The second edition of The Race to Dubai will start with four successive tournaments in South Africa, and The 2010 European International Schedule will see no fewer than eight hosting territories – South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai, the United States, Portugal, Morocco and Spain – prior to the Masters Tournament taking place at Augusta National from April 8-11.
The Race to Dubai comprises all events on The European Tour International Schedule including all European Tour tournaments, the Major Championships and the World Golf Championships (WGCs), ensuring that the cream of world golf can qualify for the end-of-season Dubai World Championship.
England’s Lee Westwood leads The 2009 Race to Dubai with five events remaining prior to the Dubai World Championship from November 19-22. Westwood, with €2,241,940, is ahead of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (€2,032,695), Germany’s Martin Kaymer (€1,982,055) and England’s Paul Casey (€1,965,150).
THE RACE TO DUBAI ON THE 2010 EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE
2009
Dec 10-13Alfred Dunhill Championship Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa
17-20South African Open Championship Pearl Valley Golf Estates, Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa
2010
Jan7-10Africa Open East London GC, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
14-17Joburg Open Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC, Johannesburg, South Africa
21-24Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
28- 31The Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy Doha GC, Doha, Qatar
Feb 4-7Dubai Desert Classic Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE
11-14TBC
18- 21 WGC - Accenture Match Play ChampionshipRitz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain - Marana, Arizona, USA
25-28TBC
Mar 4-7TBC
11-14 WGC – CA ChampionshipDoral Golf Resort & Spa, Marriott Resort - Doral, Florida, USA
18-21Hassan II Golf Trophy Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Souissi, Rabat, Morocco
25-28Open de Andalucia de Golf Parador de Málaga Golf, Málaga, Spain
Apr 1-4Estoril Open de Portugal TBC
8-11 MASTERS TOURNAMENTAugusta National, Georgia, USA
8-11Madeira Islands Open BPI - Portugal Porto Santo Golfe, Madeira, Portugal
