Golf Digest
Dubai, Nov 21:The richest prize in golf is up for grabs in the Dubai World Championship set to begin in 2009.
According to press reports, this extravagant tournament will dangle a total prize fund of US$10 million and draw the sport’s biggest names.
The competition will be held at the emirate’s Jumeirah Golf Estates and would initially run for five years as part of the European Tour. The over-all winner will get a total of US$1.66 million
The Tour’s Order of Merit will be re-named as the “Race to Dubai” with the winner pocketing US$2 million. Should a single player wins both the “Race to Dubai” and the Dubai World Championship, he will get a total of US$3.66 million.
The world’s best players, including Tiger Woods, are welcome to play, according to organizers. But those not part of the European tour should fulfill its criteria before qualifying.
The tournament, they say, offers an alternative to the PGA Tour, particularly those who opt not to reside in the United States.