The OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic is set to receive a huge boost this year with the return to the Middle East’s oldest golf event of a certain Tiger Woods.
The 14-time Major champion has played in the tournament seven times, winning it twice (2006, 2008) but hasn’t joined the field in Dubai since 2014.
Having made his long-awaiting comeback after numerous back operations at last month’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas Woods will continue his re-introduction to tournament golf at the Emirates Golf Club from February 2-5.
The former world No.1 can’t wait to play in the UAE again: “I’ve always enjoyed playing in Dubai and it’s fantastic to see how the city has grown phenomenally from when I first started playing there,” said Woods, whose return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge saw him make the most birdies for the week at 24 in a sign that showed glimpses of his return to form.
“It was great winning in Dubai in 2006 and 2008. When you win in Dubai, you know you’ve beaten an outstanding field. The support from the fans is also just wonderful,” said Woods, who boasts 14 Major victories and 79 PGA Tour wins, making him one of the most dominant players in the history of golf.
“I still remember making that long putt on the 18th. That was nice. Also, I remember I shot three straight 64s, but only two of them were counted because one was in the pro am. That was the year (2001) when I finished runner-up to Thomas (Bjorn),” he added.
“It was Mark (O’Meara), who first told me about this tournament in 2000. ‘You would really enjoy it’ he said. I went to Dubai the following year and had a great time,” said Woods, who needs one more win to equal great Ernie Els’ long-standing record of three victories at Emirates Golf Club.
Exciting news for Dubai with Tiger Woods heading to our sunny city to play the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. #golf #mydubai #tigerwoods
— Trump Dubai (@TrumpGolfDubai) January 5, 2017
The Desert Classic is an event that Tiger shares a huge affinity with and one that he’s enjoyed some wonderful moments at over the years. He led from the opening round of his first ever appearance on the Majlis back in 2001 before being pipped at the post by Thomas Bjorn. A fifth place finish followed on his next outing in 2004 before he caught Ernie Els over the closing holes in 2006 to force a play-off with the South African which he duly won to get his hands on the famous ‘coffee pot’ trophy for the first time. Two years later, he again underlined his status as the finest player on the planet with a sensational final round of 7-under 65 to beat Germany’s Martin Kaymer by one.
The Omega Dubai Desert Classic was born in 1989 when the European Tour visited the Middle East for the first time. The roll of honour includes eight different Major Champions. They are: Seve Ballesteros (1992), Ernie Els (1994, 02, 05), Fred Couples (1995), José Maria Olazábal (1998), Mark O’Meara (2004), Tiger Woods (2006, 08), Rory McIlroy (2009, 15) and Danny Willett (2016). Between them they have won 33 Major Championships.
