Tiger Retains Promise to Return to Dubai Desert Basic
The Dubai Desert Basic will get beneath approach this week in Dubai this 12 months with out the fast risk {that a} pending conflict within the Gulf offered final 12 months. Because of an arguably improved political local weather within the area, Tiger Woods is again after discretion bought the higher of valour, when making a call to not play within the 2003 occasion. In a press release launched by the event late final 12 months Woods stated, aEoeAlthough IaE™ve lower down my schedule each 12 months to a quantity the place I can have sufficient vitality to play at a excessive degree each week, it has all the time been my intention to play once more in Dubai, I used to be actually dissatisfied to not have made it over to Dubai this 12 months so IaE™m greater than enthusiastic about returning in 2004. The organisers had been cooperative and supportive and I appreciated their understanding of my choice to not play again in March. As a result of I needed to thank everybody in Dubai for his or her understanding, I instantly agreed to play within the 15th Desert Basic.aE Woods was runner as much as Thomas Bjorn right here in 2001. The hazard to such a excessive profile American right here in 2003 was apparent, so his non-participation was comprehensible at the moment. His involvement this 12 months nonetheless, could have the event organisers now licking their lips on the prospect of Woods lining up in opposition to not solely Ernie Els, however a subject that additionally contains Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington amongst others. The occasion carries prizemoney of 1.6 million euros ($A2.5 million) with a primary prize of 268,000 euros.
The occasion was first performed in 1989 and in all however two of its stagings, it has been performed on the Karl Litten designed Emirates Golf Membership. In 1999 and 2000 it was held on the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Membership. The course was primarily the primary of the fashionable programs to be constructed on this area, the place constructing golf programs within the desert has turn into fairly an artwork. Latest winners have been Jose Coceres (2000), Thomas Bjorn (2001), Ernie Els (2002) and Dutchman, Robert-Jan Derksen final 12 months. In 2003, DerksenaE™s win was his first on the European Tour however he would have only one additional high ten for the 12 months, which got here in his very subsequent occasion on Madeira Island. The apparent possibilities this week are 2001 runner up, Tiger Woods, the winner in 1994 and 2002, Ernie Els, the 2001 champion, Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, an arguably improved Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey. Not that the successful possibilities cease there essentially. Brian Davis who received lately in Australia is right here, as is Michael Campbell who completed third behind Els on the Heineken in Australia. Miguel Angel Jiminez who received the Johnnie Walker Basic in Thailand final month is right here, as is ThailandaE™s Thongchai Jaidee. Jaidee, who turned a full European Tour member following his win in Malaysia two weeks in the past, tees it up for the primary time with that standing and, having completed ninth right here final 12 months, could do even better good for Asian golf this week. There are Australasians aplenty within the subject. Along with Michael Campbell, Brett Rumford, Marcus Fraser, Peter Fowler, Jarrod Moseley, Richard Inexperienced (1997 winner), Peter OaE™Malley, Stephen Scahill, Wade Ormsby and Brad Kennedy make up a giant illustration from our area. http://www.cycleconnections.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43477&PN=1&TPN=1
