European Tour Races to Dubai

From the end of 2008 the European Tour Order of Merit will be known as, “The Race to Dubai.” The top 60 players from all events on the European Tour International Schedule through 2009 will travel to Dubai to compete in the first "Dubai World Championship."

Fergus Bisset's avatar
By
published

From the end of 2008 the European Tour Order of Merit will be known as, ?The Race to Dubai.? The name is appropriate as the top 60 players from all events on the European Tour International Schedule through 2009 will travel to Dubai to compete in the first Dubai World Championship in November of that year.

The tournament will carry a purse of US$10,000,000 and US$1,660,000 will go to the winner. The victor will also earn a five-year exemption on tour.

?This is so much more than a tournament sponsorship. It is a long term partnership which will see The European Tour and Dubai joining together to significantly enhance the game world-wide and take golf to a new level for spectators everywhere." Said George O?Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour. "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."

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?