The UAE’S most prestigious golfing event is set to return to Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Championship Course on the 1st and 2nd October.
The 24th edition of the Dubai Golf Trophy will host the top 16 Professionals against the top 16 Amateurs in the UAE in a two-day Ryder Cup-style format. Originally launched by Dubai Golf, the event is rotated across five Dubai Golf courses; Faldo and Majlis at Emirates Golf Club, Earth and Fire at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the Championship Course at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, for a fiercely competitive showcase of tournament golf.
Each team consists of twelve automatic qualifiers from the season-long UAE PGA tournaments and qualifying Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) events across the UAE. In addition, the team captains welcome four ‘wildcard’ picks, and two ladies on both sides. Jack Woods will lead the Professional team and David Guinee will captain the Amateur team.
A highlight of the golfing season, the 2023 event will see the Professionals defend their 2022 win against the Amateurs, their first since 2016 after a 16.5 – 15.5 score during the final day at Emirates Golf Club. A continued feature within the 2023 Dubai Golf Trophy will also include the Ladies Challenge Match of the same format between two Professionals and two Amateur ladies.
Professional Team Captain, Jack Woods, said, it is a real honour to captain the Professional team in the Dubai Golf Trophy. The event is the pinnacle of our season and with the event moved back to October this year, the build-up has been even better than normal. After finally ending the Amateurs winning streak last year, we know they will be desperate to regain the Trophy and we will have to be at our best to retain the win. As always, it will be an amazing couple of days no matter the outcome.
Amateur Team Captain, David Guinee, said, it is a pleasure to Captain the Amateur team this year. We had a tough year last year, losing out by one point, and we will be aiming to win it back this year. We have a great mix of experience and youth in the team this year and I believe we can give the Professionals a great challenge. It is always the best weekend of our tournament season and I anticipate this year will be no different. But, hopefully, with a different outcome to last year.
Chris May, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Golf, said, The Dubai Golf Trophy was founded on the principle of raising the profile of golf in the region and bringing both amateur and professional golfers from clubs all over the UAE together in a competitive and enjoyable format. The tournament provides a focus for players to aim for throughout the qualifying events counting towards EGF and UAE PGA Order of Merits during the season and culminating in a season-ending spectacle on two of the finest courses in the region – especially exciting this tournament as we host the event during the 2023 Ryder Cup weekend. Best of luck to both teams!
With much anticipation to see if the Professional team can reclaim their victory, the two-day 2023 Dubai Golf Trophy will be played on Earth Course on Sunday 1st October for morning Foursomes and afternoon Fourball matches and will conclude with the Singles matches on Monday 2nd October on the Championship Course at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
