DUBAI, 26 December 2003 — The 15th Dubai Desert Classic — the PGA European Tour event scheduled for March 4-7, 2004 at the Emirates Golf Club — will see prize-money reach the $2 million mark for the first time in the tournament's history.
The news comes quickly after world No. 1 Tiger Woods announced his intention to return to the Middle East's premier golf venue for the first time in three years.
Woods will lead a field of 150 professionals in the 2004 Dubai Desert Classic as they chase the biggest winner's cheque ever offered for a golf event in the region.
"The tournament's come a long way since we staged the first Dubai Desert Classic back in 1989," said Mohammed Buamim, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Desert Classic, organizers and promoters of the tournament.
"In 2004, the winner will receive the famous trophy and a cheque for $333,330 — that's just slightly less than what was the total overall prize-money on offer in 1989." Buamim added: " We continue to attract the big names — there are none bigger than Tiger — and we will announce many more of the stars who are lined up for next year over the coming weeks." Sponsored by Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL), next year's Dubai Desert Classic will be the ninth event on the PGA European Tour's 2004 calendar.
In the 14 times the event has been staged, no fewer than 13 different players have lifted the trophy.
South African superstar Ernie Els is the only man to have won it twice (1994 and 2002) while the current holder is Dutchman Robert Jan Derksen.
