Dubai Desert Classic
Encyclopedia
The Dubai Desert Classic is an annual professional golf
tournament which takes place in Dubai
in the United Arab Emirates
. It has been part of the European Tour
schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East
. Except for the 1999 and 2000 editions, which were held at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, it has been played on the "Majlis" course at the Emirates Golf Club
.
The event is noted for attracting some of the biggest stars in the world of golf with the assistance of generous appearance fees. Ernie Els
has had the most success, having won the Desert Classic on three occasions. The main sponsor of the event is Dubal
, with co-sponsors consisting of Omega, National Bank of Dubai
, Jumeirah Golf Estates
, CNN
, Emaar, Emirates Airlines, BMW
and Gulf News
.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament which takes place in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. It has been part of the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Except for the 1999 and 2000 editions, which were held at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, it has been played on the "Majlis" course at the Emirates Golf Club
Emirates Golf Club
Emirates Golf Club located in Dubai, UAE is a world famous 18 hole golf course in Dubai.Desert Classic with a 2.5 million prize is the annual event organized by the club....
.
The event is noted for attracting some of the biggest stars in the world of golf with the assistance of generous appearance fees. Ernie Els
Ernie Els
Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing...
has had the most success, having won the Desert Classic on three occasions. The main sponsor of the event is Dubal
Dubal
The Dubai Aluminium Company Limited , located in Jebel Ali, is one of the largest industrial companies in the UAE. Some 14% of its total workforce are UAE nationals....
, with co-sponsors consisting of Omega, National Bank of Dubai
National Bank of Dubai
Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, was formed on 16 October 2007 when the shares of Emirates NBD were officially listed on the Dubai Financial Market...
, Jumeirah Golf Estates
Jumeirah Golf Estates
Jumeirah Golf Estates is a part built luxury residential golf community that is located along Emirates Road, near the Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates....
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Emaar, Emirates Airlines, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and Gulf News
Gulf News
Gulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Country | Score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega Dubai Desert Classic | ||||||
| 2011 | Álvaro Quirós Álvaro Quirós Álvaro Quirós García is a Spanish professional golfer.Quirós was born in Guadiaro, a borough of San Roque, Cádiz. He turned professional in 2004.-Professional career:... |
277 (-11) | 1 stroke | Anders Hansen Anders Hansen Anders Rosenberg Hansen is a Danish professional golfer.Hansen was born in Sønderborg, Denmark. He turned professional in 1995... |
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| James Kingston James Kingston James Hubert Kingston is a South African professional golfer.Kingston was born in Ottosdal, South Africa. He turned professional in 1988, and is currently a member of the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour... |
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| 2010 | Miguel Ángel Jiménez Miguel Angel Jiménez Miguel Ángel Jiménez Rodríguez is a Spanish professional golfer. He has won 18 times on the European Tour.-Early years:... |
277 (−11) | Playoff (3rd hole) |
Lee Westwood Lee Westwood Lee John Westwood OBE is an English professional golfer. Noted for his consistency, Westwood is one of the few golfers who has won tournaments on every major continent, including victories on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He was named player of the year for the 1998, 2000, and 2009 seasons... |
||
| Dubai Desert Classic | ||||||
| 2009 | Rory McIlroy Rory McIlroy Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer from Holywood in County Down. He has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007... |
269 (−19) | 1 stroke | Justin Rose Justin Rose Justin Peter Rose is a South African-born English professional golfer who plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour while keeping his membership on the European Tour... |
||
| 2008 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
274 (−14) | 1 stroke | Martin Kaymer Martin Kaymer Martin Kaymer is a German professional golfer. He became the No. 1 ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings on 27 February 2011 after his runner-up finish in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.... |
||
| 2007 | Henrik Stenson Henrik Stenson Henrik Stenson is a Swedish professional golfer who plays both on the US and European tours. He has spent over 100 weeks ranked in the World top ten and his career high ranking of fourth is the best by any Swedish golfer.-Career:... |
269 (−19) | 1 stroke | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
||
| 2006 | Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
269 (−19) | Playoff (1st hole) |
Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
||
| 2005 | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
269 (−19) | 1 stroke | Stephen Dodd Stephen Dodd Stephen Dodd is a Welsh professional golfer who after a relatively moderate career, unexpectedly won two events on the European Tour in the 2005 season at the age of 38.Dodd was born in Cardiff... |
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| Miguel Ángel Jiménez Miguel Angel Jiménez Miguel Ángel Jiménez Rodríguez is a Spanish professional golfer. He has won 18 times on the European Tour.-Early years:... |
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| 2004 | Mark O'Meara Mark O'Meara Mark Francis O'Meara is an American professional golfer who was a prolific tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s... |
271 (−17) | 1 stroke | Paul McGinley Paul McGinley Paul McGinley is an Irish golfer who plays on the European Tour. He is most famous for holing the winning putt for the European team in the 2002 Ryder Cup. He currently resides in Sunningdale, England.... |
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| 2003 | Robert-Jan Derksen Robert-Jan Derksen Robert-Jan Derksen is a Dutch professional golfer.Derksen was born in Nijmegen. He won the Dutch Amateur Championship four years in a row from 1993 to 1996 and turned professional in 1996.... |
271 (−17) | 1 stroke | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
||
| 2002 | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
272 (−16) | 4 strokes | Niclas Fasth Niclas Fasth Niclas Fasth is a Swedish professional golfer.Fasth was born in Gothenburg. He turned professional in 1993 and won three events on the second tier European Challenge Tour that year. Since 1994 he has been a member of the European Tour for every season except for 1999. He qualified for the U.S... |
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| 2001 | Thomas Bjørn Thomas Bjørn Thomas Bjørn is a professional golfer from Denmark who plays on the European Tour. He is the most successful Danish golfer to have played the game having won thirteen tournaments worldwide on the European Tour. In 1999 he also became the first Dane to qualify for a European Ryder Cup team... |
266 (−22) | 2 strokes | Pádraig Harrington Padraig Harrington Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:... |
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| Tiger Woods Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... |
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| 2000 | José Cóceres José Cóceres José Eusebio Cóceres is an Argentine golfer who spent many years on the European Tour and is now a member of the U.S.-based PGA Tour.... |
274 (−14) | 2 strokes | Paul McGinley Paul McGinley Paul McGinley is an Irish golfer who plays on the European Tour. He is most famous for holing the winning putt for the European team in the 2002 Ryder Cup. He currently resides in Sunningdale, England.... |
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| Patrik Sjöland Patrik Sjöland Patrik Sjöland is a Swedish professional golfer.Sjöland was born in Borås. He turned professional in 1990 and after several season on the second tier Challenge Tour, graduated to the European Tour for the start of the 1996 season... |
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| 1999 | David Howell David Howell (golfer) David Alexander Howell is an English professional golfer from Swindon. His career to date peaked in 2006, when he was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for a short time.... |
275 (−13) | 4 strokes | Lee Westwood Lee Westwood Lee John Westwood OBE is an English professional golfer. Noted for his consistency, Westwood is one of the few golfers who has won tournaments on every major continent, including victories on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He was named player of the year for the 1998, 2000, and 2009 seasons... |
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| 1998 | José María Olazábal José María Olazábal José María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:... |
269 (−19) | 3 strokes | Stephen Allen Stephen Allen Stephen Allen was the Mayor of New York for three terms from December 1821 through 1824.Under the new constitution the Mayor was appointed by the Common Council, as opposed to the governor, leading to Allen being the first elected Mayor.Feb 1824 Allen declined a directorship on New York and Sharon... |
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| 1997 | Richard Green Richard Green (golfer) Richard George Green is an Australian professional golfer.Green was born in Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria. He turned professional in 1992, and joined the PGA Tour of Australasia the same year.... |
272 (−16) | Playoff (1st hole) |
Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
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| Ian Woosnam Ian Woosnam Ian Harold Woosnam OBE is a Welsh professional golfer.Nicknamed 'Woosie', 'Woosers', or the 'Wee Welshman', Woosnam was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all born within 12 months of one another, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the Ryder Cup... |
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| 1996 | Colin Montgomerie Colin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31... |
270 (−18) | 1 stroke | Miguel Ángel Jiménez Miguel Angel Jiménez Miguel Ángel Jiménez Rodríguez is a Spanish professional golfer. He has won 18 times on the European Tour.-Early years:... |
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| 1995 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... |
268 (−20) | 3 strokes | Colin Montgomerie Colin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31... |
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| 1994 | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
268 (−20) | 6 strokes | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
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| 1993 | Wayne Westner Wayne Westner Wayne Brett Westner is a South African golfer.Westner was born in Johannesburg. He turned professional in 1981 and has won several events in his home country, including two South African Opens. He spent many years on the European Tour where he won two tournaments and had a best Order of Merit... |
 South Africa |
274 (−14) | 2 strokes | Retief Goosen Retief Goosen Retief Goosen is a South African professional golfer who has been in the top ten in the Official World Golf Rankings for over 250 weeks between 2001 and 2007. His main achievements have been two U.S... |
South Africa |
| 1992 | Seve Ballesteros | 272 (−16) | Playoff (2nd hole) |
Ronan Rafferty Ronan Rafferty Ronan P. Rafferty is an Northern Irish professional golfer, who formerly played on the European Tour.Rafferty was born in Newry, Northern Ireland. He won the Boys Amateur Championship aged fifteen and played in the Walker Cup aged seventeen... |
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| Emirates Airlines Desert Classic | ||||||
| 1990 | Eamonn Darcy Eamonn Darcy Eamonn Darcy is one of the most successful golfers produced by the Republic of Ireland.Darcy was born in Delgany, County Wicklow. He turned professional in 1968 and played on the European Tour from 1972, winning four European Tour tournaments. His best years were 1975, when he came third on the... |
276 (−12) | 4 strokes | David Feherty David Feherty David Feherty is a former professional golfer on the European Tour and PGA Tour. He now works as a writer and broadcaster with CBS Sports and Golf Channel.Feherty was born in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland... |
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| Karl Litten Desert Classic | ||||||
| 1989 | Mark James | 277 (−11) | Playoff (1st hole) |
Peter O'Malley Peter O'Malley (golfer) Peter O'Malley is an Australian professional golfer.O'Malley was born in Bathurst, New South Wales. He won the Australian Junior Championship and the New Zealand Amateur Championship in 1986, and turned professional the following year. He has won several times on the PGA Tour of Australasia, but... |
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See also
The other three European Tour events part of the "Gulf Swing":- Abu Dhabi Golf ChampionshipAbu Dhabi Golf ChampionshipThe Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is a European Tour golf tournament that was staged for the first time in January 2006. It is played at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates....
- Qatar MastersQatar MastersThe Commercialbank Qatar Masters is a golf tournament held at the Doha Golf Club in Doha, Qatar. The tournament was established in 1998, and is one of four European Tour golf tournaments which are staged in the countries of the Persian Gulf, the others being the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the...
- Volvo Golf ChampionsVolvo Golf ChampionsThe Volvo Golf Champions is an annual 72 hole stroke play men's professional golf tournament on the European Tour. Following last year's inaugural Tournament in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the 2012 event has moved to the Southern Hemisphere and the Fancourt Golf Resort in South Africa...