The DP World Tour Championship’s Luckiest Ball on Earth competition returns this weekend and local amateur golfers across the UAE are urged to sign-up for their local qualifier to be in with a chance of a ‘once in a lifetime’ golfing experience alongside one of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai top 60 at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
A total of 21 qualifying events will be held at 21 golf clubs in the region across September and October with Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club playing host to the first qualifier on Saturday September 1. For the first time in Luckiest Ball on Earth history, women and men will compete in individual qualifiers as they try to book their spot in the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final, which is set to take place on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 4.
The leading female and male player at the Grand Final will join the ‘Luckiest Ball on Earth’ team alongside the Junior Luckiest Ball on Earth winner, which is also a new initiative for this year’s competition, where they will mix with the likes of Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, 2017 DP World Tour Championship victor Jon Rahm and former World No.1 and three-time Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour Championship’s Pro-Am on the Earth course on Tuesday November 13.
GREAT LOCAL GOLF INITIATIVE
“We can’t wait for the biggest Luckiest Ball on Earth competition to date to kick-off,” said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International, Dubai Office. “We encourage golfers across the UAE to get involved in this ‘one of a kind’ initiative allows amateur golfers to have a chance to play alongside their golfing idols at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. With women and juniors having separate events for the first time, we are expecting to see our biggest turnout yet, which can only be good news for the game in the region. We would also like to send our thanks to the 21 clubs involved and the Emirates Golf Federation who sanction this wonderful local golf initiative.”
The DP World Tour Championship sees the top 60 players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai competing for a prize fund of US$8 million plus a Bonus Pool of US$5 million split between the top 10 finishers on the Race to Dubai following the conclusion of the tournament.
The Luckiest Ball on Earth competition has proven a smash hit with the UAE’s amateur golfers since the initiative was first launched in 2011. The annual competition has traditionally been open to all golfers aged 18 or over who hold an Official Club Handicap recognised by the EGF (maximum 28 for men and 36 for ladies).
PLAYING WITH THE STARS
Arabian Ranches Golf Club member Kevin Barrett of Northern Ireland won the inaugural Luckiest Ball on Earth competition and played alongside Italy’s Ryder Cup icon Edoardo Molinari in the Pro-Am before Italy’s Ornella Parigi of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club became the first female winner in 2012 and lined up with Australia’s Marcus Fraser.
In 2013, former Dubai Creek Lady Captain Maureen Platt earned a place alongside Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen in the Pro-Am while in 2014 Dipesh Makwana came out on top against almost 1,000 hopefuls to be teamed up with Race to Dubai runner-up Danny Willett. In 2015, Jairaj Gorsia from The Track, Meydan was victorious and was given an unforgettable experience in the Pro-Am playing with England’s James Morrison. In 2016 another Saadiyat Beach Golf Club member took home the spoils with Blanca Rivollier, playing with Bradley Dredge.
Last year’s winner Ghazi Aurangzeb’s last minute decision to enter the competition paid off after coming through the qualifier and winning the Grand Final he teed off with France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera at Jumeirah Golf Estates. “I entered the competition on a whim and now I’m the champion,” said Aurangzeb. “I think it’s such a great series and in terms of being an amateur golfer I think this is as good as it gets.”
