Dubai Desert Classic

A tournament that has been graced by virtually all of the world’s top players at some stage over the past couple of decades, the Dubai Desert Classic is staged in January or February of every year on the majestic Majlis course of the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.

Traditionally following straight on from the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters, the Dubai Desert Classic offers a prize fund of $2.65 million and is a key date in the calendar for golfers looking to build momentum in the Race to Dubai. It was the first European Tour event to take place in the Middle East and remains a favourite with players and spectators alike.

Played on a course that is as visually stunning as it is technically challenging, the Dubai Desert Classic retains as much of the natural character of the original landscape as possible and the brightness of the greens and fairways stand out even more against the starkness of the desert. The 18th hole is particularly eye-catching, with a glorious lake set just in front of the final green to provide one last test of nerve for the competitors.

All-time greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods and three-time Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy are among the former champions at the Dubai Desert Classic, while Ernie Els is the most successful player in the event’s history after winning in 1994, 2002 and 2005.