The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah by Worldwide Golf

Official Programme

January 25, 2010

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

www.theinvitational.com

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Contents 10

P3 Welcome from Abdullah Al Naboodah P7 Message from The European Tour P9 Premier Partners and Sponsors P10-11 Al Noor Charity P13 Dubai Autism Center P14-15 History of The Invitational P17 2010 The Invitational Professionals P20-23 Abdullah Al Naboodah P24-27 Ross Fisher P30-33 Graeme McDowell P34-35 Amelia wins the Golden Ticket P37 Spectator Guide P39 Celebrities join in the action P40-59 Meet the Pros: Player biographies P60-61 The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club P63 Map of the course and facilites

Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore Editor: Alex Gallemore Publisher: Mike Gallemore Sales & Marketing Director Middle East: David Burke Senior Editor: Richard Bevan Editorial Assistants: Todd Staszko, James Reeves, Tabitha Florence Design Manager: Mark Frain Technical Manager: Mark Collinge Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Printed by: Raidy, Dubai

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Welcome from

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abdullah al naboodah

I welcome you all to The Invitational – amateur guests, Tour Professionals, celebrities, our Partners and, of course, our spectators who we value as integral contributors to the event. When we launched the inaugural charity Invitational in 2007 we did not envisage that the occasion would progress into the wonderful tournament it is today. It is a great aspect of golf that you can have an enjoyable day for all, while raising significant funds for charity – and since last year we have made much-needed contributions to a number of charities. I feel honoured and humbled at the support we have received from our Premier Partners, Dubai Duty Free, Hawker Beechcraft, Delwood, The National and Atom, and our support partners, Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, Titleist, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Park Hyatt Hotel, Worldwide Golf, GMI and ISM. I also thank the Tour Professionals, who have offered to play our Invitational despite their busy schedules during The European Tour’s Middle East Swing, the celebrities who have eagerly accepted our invitation, and the all-important spectators, who we hope and expect will turn out in force at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on Monday, January 25. The success and reputation of our Invitational has been built on the fun aspect of the event. Over the years it’s not only the calibre of the players that has given so much pleasure to the spectators, it’s the fact that they are fun personalities who enjoy their golf and are happy to share a joke with their playing partners and interact with the galleries. My thanks also go to Alan Mackenzie and his team at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for welcoming us back and for looking after us so well. I know the course will be presented in wonderful condition as it was last year. My final thanks go to Tournament Director, James Bowring, for his expertise and hard work in organising the event. I have been overwhelmed with the offers of support we have received from so many people and I wish all the players, partners and spectators an enjoyable day.

Steve Stricker

Padraig Harrington

Lee Westwood

Ross Fisher

Rory McIlroy

Around the world,

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19,651 3,120

Nearest Competitor

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Geoff Ogilvy

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Adam Scott

Cristie Kerr

Camilo Villegas

THE #1 BALL PLAYED AROUND THE WORLD.

Pro Sports International, PO Box 26723, Dubai, UAE. Source: Darrell Survey, Sports Marketing Surveys, LTD. Based upon results through 30/11/09 on the U.S. PGA, U.S. LPGA, Champions, Nationwide, South African, Asian, Korean, Australasian, Japan, Canadian PGA and PGA European Tours. Sign up to In The Swing, our free e-newsletter, at intheswing.info Explore titleist.co.uk

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MESSAGE from

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the european tour

WE would like to wish Abdullah Al Naboodah a successful and enjoyable day at The Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on Monday, January 25. The Tour thanks Abdullah Al Naboodah and his colleagues for their support of The Tour and its Members over the past year. It is a measure of the esteem in which he is held that so many of our Members are playing in The Invitational. Now in its fourth year The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah has progressed into a much-anticipated Pro-Am played between The European Tour events during the Middle East Swing of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the Commercialbank Qatar Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. We wish all the competitors and spectators an enjoyable and fun day at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Keith Waters Chief Operating Officer The European Tour

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Partners

Official Suppliers

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Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs has been in existence since 1981 and provides quality and effective training to the Special Needs community of Dubai. The Centre supports children with challenges such as Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism. These are addressed through special education methods, physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. Al Noor also has its own Work Placement Unit which trains children with an aptitude for open employment. History of the Centre IN 1981 the Centre started with just eight children and then moved to a larger facility to accommodate 220 children by 1998. The services offered by the Centre grew, along with the number of children being admitted. In April 2007, Al Noor moved to a new purpose-built facility generously donated by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and was made possible through the benefaction of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein. Al Noor is truly grateful for their support and magnanimity which enabled the setting up of this facility situated beside The Mall of the Emirates, in Al Barsha. The new facility is able to accommodate 300 children and offers a wider range of amenities, including a swimming pool and a multi-purpose hall.

The core principles of the Training Programme include: Multi Disciplinary Team: The team at Al Noor consists of a Special Educator, Speech and Language Therapist, Psychologist, Vocational Trainer, Sports Instructor, Computer Teacher, Islamic and Arabic Teacher, Art and Craft and Music Teacher, which formulates the Training Programme for the children. Goal Oriented: The Goals are selected from the Al Noor Curriculum and implemented in the different areas of development after the initial assessment of each child. The assessment is done comprehensively to determine a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level of functioning and once the programme is drawn up and implemented an evaluation is carried out to review the progress.

Developmentally Sequenced: The Al Noor Curriculum is a series of skills covering all areas, arranged in a developmental sequence from a basic level to independency. Individual Education Plan: The key to the development of each child is an individual, childspecific training programme. The assessment of each child is conducted in consultation with each member of the multidisciplinary team and then the Individual Education Plan is created. Fundraising: The Centre charges highly subsidised fees, making FundRaising, an essential and continuous task. The cost of training a child is more than Dhs45,000 annually and the fees charged only partly cover these costs. Events like the Fun

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Fair, Charity Ball and projects like the Greeting Cards and the Desk and Wall Calendar help in raising much-needed funds for the Centre. Al Noor as a non-profitable organisation, provides sponsorship opportunities such as Unit, Transportation Division and Seating System as well as Child sponsorship opportunities to

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AL NOOR TRAINING CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

organisations and individuals who are willing to make a difference in the lives of our special children. The escalating costs in Dubai and the widened services provided by the Centre have contributed to

our escalating Fundraising requirements. The Al Noor Centre is very keen to partner with people who are committed to supporting our endeavour.

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Dubai Autism Centre After the issuance of the decree on 18th November 2001, from the late Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Autism Center began the creation of its various services targeted at encouraging a better understanding of Autism and providing specialist services for people with Autism and those who care for them. DAC aims at improving the future of all who struggle with Autism. Currently the Center provides an individualised programme for 48 children that include academics, various therapies and outdoor activities to encourage social interaction. The family support programme facilitates sharing experiences and interacting with other families. A major part of DAC services include Assessment and Diagnosis as well as reaching out to the various communities to spread awareness and engage public interest in this growing and serious social issue.

Our Mission

Goals & Objectives of the Family Support Club

Successfully integrate children with Autism into the community through our holistic approach to intervention and therapies, together with our focused efforts to create social awareness about Autism.

n Discuss topics related to the services offered at the Center and receive constructive feedback from the families. n Build up trust through highlighting parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights. n Create a friendly environment for parents to meet one-another.

Goals

n Run an educational center/ school for children with Autism. n Support local authorities in the development of their own specialist services toward Autism. n Publish a range of books and leaflets about Autism to support families and professionals. n Have a library that parents and researchers can use. n Run an Autism helpline for parents and caregivers. n Organise conferences and training programmes. n Offer specialist assessments and diagnosis. n Provide consultancy services to professionals and organisations working in the field of Autism. n Encourage research in the field of Autism. n Offer an accredited program for Autism-specific education. n Support local groups and families around the country. n Raise awareness and create a better understanding of Autism.

Adel Zarouni, right, accepts a donation on behalf of DAC from Worldwide Golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s David Burke (centre) following the Worldwide Golf 100th Anniversary Invitational. Also pictured is Rod Bogg, Managing Director of Dubai Golf.

The Family Support Club Established in November 2005, the Family Support Club of DAC caters exclusively for the needs of the families of children attending the Center. We believe that the family is an essential member of a successful intervention team. The main services include family counselling, creating a sense of continuity and cooperation between the parents and DAC. In the future, membership will be open to families of children with Autism outside the Center, and other interested members of the community.

n Create a forum for parents to discuss difficult issues they may face with their children or even families in the presence of a professional. n Encourage parents to share experiences. Parents who have succeeded in handling difficult behaviour can speak about their experiences and effective methods that they have used. n Discuss new issues on the subject of Autism. n Offer seminars and workshops that provides families with the most recent information regarding interventions. n Provide a source of involving parents in spreading awareness about Autism. n Invite suggestions and participation in marketing strategies. n Support and advocate accelerated research into the cause and causes of autism and the treatment of autism.

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The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah

A History of success THE Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah began life in 2007 as a way to thank business associates and clients of the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group for their efforts. Since that inaugural event, the tournament has grown into the most prestigious ‘invitation only’ charity Pro-Am in the region, bringing together the cream of The European Tour and a host of talented amateurs for an unforgettable, competitive and fun day of golf for players and spectators alike.

2009

LAST year’s tournament, held here at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, featured 39 European Tour players, including 2008 Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson, Ross Fisher, Graeme McDowell and Alvaro Quiros, who was to go on to win the Commercialbank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club the following week. Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher was the Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher receives the Individual winner’s charity cheque of AED250,000 from tournament victor in the individual professional event, host Abdullah Al Naboodah. shooting a solid three under par 68 to win AED250,000 for his chosen charity, the Kidney Dialysis Unit at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. The English pair of Robert Rock and Simon Dyson shared second place, one shot back, and earned AED87,500 each for their chosen charities. Scoring was tight in the team event with Tour professional Scott Strange and his partner Dubai Creek member Paul King taking the title on a countback after shooting six under par 65. Rock and partner Rodolfo Ducos had to settle for second place due to an 2009 team event winners Scott Strange (right) and local amateur Paul King (left) with Abdullah Al Naboodah. inferior back nine.

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2008

THE 2008 Invitational was held at the Four Seasons Golf Club with a stellar line-up that included Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Graeme McDowell, Steve Webster and Anders Hansen to name but a few of The European Tour’s leading players. Denmark’s Hansen and Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez shared the spoils in the individual pro event, each taking home personally selected Hublot watches after shooting matching scores of six under par 66. The team event consisted of 22 fourman teams, each led by a European Tour Professional with a ‘best two scores from four’ stroke play format. The team of Ian Poulter, tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah, Dino Varkey and Tejan Fadlu-Deen claimed the grand prize and the elegant trophy by a whisker after shooting 12 under par 132. In second place after a countback was the team of Gregory Havret, Firdhose Coovadia, Rahul Yadav and William Dewsall.

2007

THE inaugural Invitational event was also held at the Four Seasons Golf Club. The Pro-Am was played as a team event in a ‘best two from four’ Stableford format with a three-quarter handicap allowance, while one Professional in each team was also competing for an individual prize. PGA Professionals Peter Bailey and Greg Holmes tied for first place in the Professionals individual event after shooting matching winning scores of level-par 72. The team event produced a captivating contest with Professional Nick Oakley, Tariq Al Sowaidi, Stephen Jeppesen and Shahriar Khodjasteh winning by just one point with a score of 83. The next three places all had to be decided by a countback after three teams tied on 82 points.

2010

THE 2010 Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah promises to be the best event yet with star names from the world of golf including European No.1 Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Darren Clarke and Thomas Björn joining a sensational line-up of players here at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The format will be a two-ball betterball stroke play competition with one Professional and one amateur making up each of the 50 pairs with a three-quarter handicap allowance for the amateurs. With a charity prize fund of AED500,000 to be split among the top five Professionals’ chosen charities, the competition will be fierce yet fun and spectators are in for a real treat when the tournament gets underway.

Golf Management International is one of the world's leading client representation companies. We currently have several tournament winners in our portfolio, including Bradley Dredge, Steve Webster, Jyoti Randhawa, David Lynn, John Bickerton, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie to name a few. GMI currently has a total of seventeen golfers on the European Tour with our core business being the affairs of our clients, GMI has a reputation of being strongly connected to the corporate market creating marketing solutions through associations and brand alignment with leading European Tour golfers. If you would like to discuss how your brand or organisation could benefit through an association with one of our European Tour golf clients, then please contact Golf Management International on +44 1344 724 616 or email euan@golfmi.co.uk

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european tour competitors European Tour players confirmed for The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah are listed below with their final 2009 Race to Dubai Ranking.

Lee Westwood Rory McIlroy Ross Fisher Paul Casey Oliver Wilson Simon Dyson Sergio Garcia Peter Hanson Thongchai Jaidee Charl Schwartzel Robert Rock Tomas Levet Louis Oosthuizen Johan Edfors Graeme McDowell Jeev Milkha Singh Peter Lawrie Chris Wood Gregory Bourdy Thomas Aiken Steve Webster Graeme Storm James Kingston Gareth Maybin Bradley Dredge

1 2 4 5 7 8 10 16 19 24 27 28 31 32 33 34 43 44 45 46 47 49 51 53 57

Jamie Donaldson Darren Clarke Michael Jonzon Ricardo Gonzalez Marcus Fraser Richard Green Daniel Vancsik Rafa Echenique Felipe Aguilar Paul Lawrie Marc Warren Paul Broadhurst David Lynn Thomas Bjรถrn Jyoti Randhawa Mark Foster Jean Franรงois Lucquin Simon Khan Gregory Havret Shane Lowry David Howell Stephen Gallacher Sam Walker Steven Jeppesen

59 61 69 72 73 74 77 78 80 82 84 85 89 91 100 105 121 127 138 153 158 206 274 276

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Happiness is the key to success A

BDULLAH Al Naboodah doesn’t do anything by halves. If he’s in, he’s in – all the way. He’s also a natural competitor in everything he does. Through the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group and the Emirates Golf Federation, he is closely involved in the construction and development of golf and golf course infrastructure in the Middle East and as a player himself he is fast becoming one of the most outstanding amateurs in the region. Last year’s Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club saw 38 top professionals – including many of the leading lights on The European Tour – and 38 of the region’s best amateurs battled it out in one of the most competitive and enjoyable Pro-Ams ever held in the Middle East. The individual Professional tournament was won by Stephen Gallacher who collected the AED250,000 for his charity back home in Scotland, the Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, while Abdullah himself partnered Graeme McDowell to third place in the team event. Abdullah’s interest in golf is intriguing to say the least. He started playing seriously less than four years ago at the age of 29 and today he is a singlefigure handicapper. Not bad for a player whose first

encounter with the Royal and Ancient art resulted in him walking off the course saying: “Guys, this is not my game – I’m off.” Abdullah explains: “I started playing polo in 1996 and really enjoyed the sport. I loved the speed, the agility of the ponies and the players, the movement and the skill required to play it well. “I was playing competitively in England with some Argentine players who suggested we had a game of

“When I got back to Dubai in March I went to the Creek, bought a set of clubs and had another go. Despite the fact that I was wearing a kandura I hit the ball well – they were really taking off and going straight.” – Abdullah Al Naboodah golf. I’d never tried the game before but despite all my best efforts I just couldn’t hit the ball straight. I decided it wasn’t for me. “In February, 2006, I was in Switzerland skiing when an Australian friend asked me if I’d like to have a game of golf. When I got back to Dubai in March I went to the Creek, bought a set of clubs and had another go. Despite the fact that I was wearing a kandura I hit the ball well – they were really taking off and going straight. I thought, ‘this is nice.’ I booked some

4 21

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lessons with one of the Pros at the Creek, James Bowring. It was the first golf lesson of my life and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I suddenly thought, ‘this is fun – I could be good at this.’ I decided there and then that I could enjoy wasting my time on this game. “I took a few more lessons with James and when his contract at the Creek expired he started working for me. He has also developed The Invitational with me since 2007 and is now the Tournament Director.” Abdullah believes that the association between golf and the UAE is an ideal match and that Dubai is steadily emerging as a genuine golf and tourism destination. “The weather in the UAE between October and March is perfect for golf,” says Abdullah. “The success of the Dubai Desert Classic and the Middle East Swing has shown how good golf is in the region. I have a lot of business associates from all over the world and when they ring me to fix up business meetings the first thing they ask is where we should play golf – especially if they have never been to Dubai before.”

Emirates Golf Federation Abdullah is passionate about the re-launched Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), of which he is Vice Chairman. “Through my involvement with the EGF we are trying to promote the game in general and junior golf in particular, especially for nationals,” says Abdullah. “We want to try and get more and more nationals involved in the game, particularly the youngsters. It’s a long-term investment to bring them on and encourage them. It really all boils down to their natural talent but where they have that ability and the desire to succeed we can do a great deal to further their careers in golf – and even produce scholarships in the US and elsewhere.” The Saaed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group plays an integral part in many of the iconic buildings that have earned Dubai its reputation and put the Emirate on the world map. “We have constructed many developments, including golf clubhouses at the Creek Golf & Yacht Club, The Four Seasons Golf Club and the Emirates and we’re working on the project for the Clubhouse for Jumeirah Golf Estates.”

Abdullah Al Naboodah tees off under the watchful eyes of Spain’s Sergio Garcia during the Pro-Am for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Despite being so busy off the course, Abdullah is still determined to join the elite group of amateurs in Dubai. “My goal is to make it into ‘Category One’ (handicap of 5 and below),” says Abdullah, “I am a competitor in everything I do – including golf. I cannot do something without wanting to be really good at it. I’m not interested in being just average. “I know it’s not possible for me to be the best amateur in Dubai because I have too many family and business commitments and there are too many good amateurs in Dubai. I cannot afford to devote the necessary time to practice to get that much better.”

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Below: Abdullah Al Naboodah pictured with Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson and Tejan Fadlu-Deen at the 2009 Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

World Class tournament One place Abdullah can showcase his skills is here at The Invitational when he will once again tee it up alongside top European Tour Professionals and with the likes of Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy participating, he’s very happy with the growth the tournament is experiencing. “The event is moving forward into becoming a world class tournament,” he says. “I was so pleased for Lee to win the Dubai World Championship. He was one of the first Tour players to volunteer for the event, along with Rory, who finished runner-up to Lee in The Race to Dubai. “The players enjoy playing the tournament because it’s a fun event. If they did not enjoy it

then there would be no point having it. It has to be enjoyable for everyone involved with the day – the Pros, amateurs and spectators alike. “The reward for having such a good time is the fact that we are generating much-needed funds for charity. When we held our first Invitational in 2007 we asked the Professionals if they would attend the dinner and they came. The next year they hardly needed asking and all of them turned up. “I want the Professionals to be happy. If they are happy it makes for a happy atmosphere and the amateurs are happy to be in their company.” With an all-star cast lined up for a day of great competition and fun Abdullah will no doubt see plenty of smiles around the course during this Invitational.

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king fisher Richard Bevan talks exclusively to England’s Ross Fisher who showed just why the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group became his shirt sponsor last year by delivering the finest season of his career so far.

HE Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group thought highly enough of England’s Ross Fisher to become his shirt sponsors last year. At that point the rising star had two European Tour victories – the 2007 KLM Open and the 2008 European Open – under his belt. Ross returns to Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for his third appearance in The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, having repaid the faith his sponsor had in him with a magnificent season. His name was up in lights in each of the Majors – where he was the world’s best performing player on aggregate across all four events – and the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, where he finished fourth, losing to fellow Englishman Paul Casey in the semi-final. He captured his third European Tour title with a swashbuckling 4 and 3 victory over US Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim at the prestigious Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain and finished a career-high fourth on The Race to Dubai ranking as well as making it into the top 20 on the Official World Golf Ranking. To top it all he also became a father for the first time when wife, Jo, gave birth to their daughter Eve. “It was a great year for me both on the golf course and in a personal sense with the birth of our lovely daughter,” says Ross. “I performed well in the big events – the WGCs and the Majors – and I really feel I could have won two or three Grand Slam tournaments. “I had a great chance to win the US Open but a couple of putts just slid by at the wrong time, and I finished fifth and I led The Masters after the first day but unfortunately didn’t quite hang on.

“At The Open I was two shots clear after four holes on the final day but one bad swing cost me the Championship, and at the US PGA Championship I was right up there on Saturday but unfortunately finished with a couple of bogeys. “After that I’d gone a little bit cold and hadn’t really been in the mix so my victory at the Volvo World Match Play Championship capped a great season for me. Any time you win is special but the Match Play was particularly special because it’s such an historic tournament and so many great players have won the event over the years. It’s also in a different format than we normally play so it’s satisfying to show you can win playing a different sort of golf. I beat some big guys like Camilo Villegas and Masters Champion Angel Cabrera – not to mention Kim himself – so it was a massive win for me.” Ross was one of only four players, along with Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer, who entered the season-ending Dubai World Championship with a chance to top the inaugural Race to Dubai ranking and pick up the bonus prize. Admittedly, his was only an outside chance as he needed to win the tournament and hope that Westwood and McIlroy finished

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lower than second place. But, in the event, Greg Norman’s Earth Course just didn’t suit Ross’s eye as he laboured to a share of 42nd place and Westwood’s irrepressible tournament-winning performance made it academic anyway. “Although I enjoyed a great season I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed with how it ended,” says Fisher. “I was pleased that I’d got into the mix and given myself a chance to win The Race to Dubai heading into the Dubai World Championship. But I just couldn’t get comfortable on the golf course. It’s not really a bomber’s course and I would have preferred the greens to be a bit smaller. I also think you should be able to see more greens with your second shot. “But if you look at the scoring, there’s obviously a way to play it and I take my hat off to Westy (Lee Westwood) for a great performance. If I make it into the tournament again this year, we’ll just have to figure out a way to play the golf course.

Surpassed expectations “But, all in all, I can’t complain about how the season went. Every year I set myself new goals and last year I wanted to improve as a player, win again, finish higher on the Order of Merit and progress in the World Ranking. I managed to achieve all four goals and also performed well in the big events so, for me, it was a really successful season that surpassed all my expectations.” Ross will kick off his 2010 season here at The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah and, having played the event twice before, he has nothing but praise for both the tournament and the man behind it. “It’s a fantastic event that is really well organised and always attracts a great field,” he says. “All the players are treated exceptionally well and we all have a great time. I think the fact that three of the top four players from last season’s Race to Dubai in Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and myself, have signed up to play this year along with players like Sergio (Garcia) speaks volumes about the growing reputation The Invitational has earned itself. “Abdullah himself is great for golf in the Middle East – he’s got a real passion for the game and is very driven and committed to developing it throughout the

region at every level. He’s got very ambitious plans for The Invitational and I’m sure in the coming years it will continue to grow in stature into a truly world-class international tournament. “I first met Abdullah when I played The Invitational in 2008 and got to know him quite well. I met him again when I came out for a short winter break later that year and we had a game together. He hadn’t been playing that long and he was off about 11 or 12 but I have to say he was a bit of a bandit at that time! “Still, when I saw him at his event last year and he told me he was playing off 5.8 I was pretty impressed – he hadn’t even been playing for three years at that point!” Ross’s association with Abdullah and The Invitational led to the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group becoming his shirt sponsor last year and the Englishman admits that nothing

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“Abdullah himself is great for golf in the Middle East – he’s got a real passion for the game and is very driven and committed to developing it throughout the region at every level. He’s got very ambitious plans for The Invitational and I’m sure in the coming years it will continue to grow in stature into a truly world-class international tournament.” would give him more pleasure than to win The 2010 Invitational. “Abdullah’s event has become even more special for me now that the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group have become a sponsor of mine,” he says. “I was delighted when the offer came in last year as I already knew Abdullah and got on with him very well. He’s a great bloke. We’re playing more and more in

the Middle East and that’s going to continue in the coming years so it’s great to be associated with such an important company in the region. It would be great if I could win Abdullah’s event for them.” Ross is facing arguably the strongest in-depth worldclass field ever assembled in an invitational event but if he can reproduce the form that took him to such great heights last season his wish could well come true.

www.alnaboodah.com

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GRAEME McDowell is one of the hottest properties on The European Tour with four titles to his name. He enjoyed the season of his career in 2008 when he claimed the Ballantines Championship in South Korea and the Barclays Scottish Open on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland before making his Ryder Cup debut on Nick Faldo’s European Team at Valhalla, Kentucky. Graeme found 2009 a more difficult year in comparison but produced some fine performances in the Majors, finishing in tied 17th place at the Masters Tournament and a career-high tenth at the US PGA Championship. He ended the season on a high after taking advantage of an unexpected invite to Tiger Woods’ Chevron World Challenge due to the tournament host’s late withdrawal. He finished second in the event to move from 55th to 38th in the Official World Golf Ranking, gaining entry into this season’s World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Masters Tournament in the process. The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group sponsored player will be among the star attractions today and he’d dearly love to win this event for both his sponsors and his chosen charity, Multiple Sclerosis Northern Ireland (MSNI), who help thousands of suffers in Graeme’s home country every year, including his mother Marian, who was diagnosed with the disease several years ago.

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Graeme McDowell Q&A

GMAC BACK ON TRACK Q: You enjoyed a career year in 2008. How do you feel 2009 went by comparison? GM: The 2009 season was a frustrating one for me. I played some very good golf and worked very hard on my game. I had set my targets in 2009 as the Majors and was very satisfied with my performance in those, especially with a career highest tenth at the USPGA. Last year lacked that really big week, and that’s what having a big season is all about. World Ranking points and purses on a week to week basis are so top heavy that it is important to make your good weeks count, to get those big boosts. 2009 was a year of top 25s and consistent golf, rather than sparkling finishes, so it’s been tough to make any significant jumps in the World Ranking. Q: You mentioned your performances in the Majors, how much confidence do they give you going into the big events this year? GM: The way I approached the Majors last season gives me a lot of confidence going forward and I felt like I learned a great deal from my experiences in them. The golf courses are so much more difficult than a regular Tour event that it’s so important to plot your way around, rely on a great short game and realise that par is a good score most of the time. Q: It’s a strange irony but Tiger Woods’ problems and subsequent withdrawal from his Chevron World Challenge opened the door for you to compete. Did you feel a certain sense of good fortune that it worked out well for you in that sense and how satisfying was it to end your 2009 schedule on a high note? GM: My invitation to the Chevron World Challenge was

a pretty big surprise, both for the reasons of Tiger’s withdrawal and that I didn’t really know that I’d been on the invite list. It was due to some good fortune and some great work on the part of my management company, Horizon Sports, who had forged a good relationship with the people at Chevron and the Tiger Woods Foundation. Being 55th in the World at that time, I had decided not to go chasing the magic Top 50 spot by playing in South Africa and was relying on a good start to the season in 2010 to get me back in. To get the invite and play as well as I did at Sherwood, put a nice shine on the season for me and shot me back up to 38th in the World, and a guaranteed spot at Augusta. GM:You formed a great partnership with Rory McIlroy in the World Cup but must have been disappointed to miss out to Italy having led for so long? GM: Rory and I were obviously very disappointed not to win at Mission Hills. We had played some fantastic golf during the week, only to be pipped by the Molinari brothers. We had no complaints though. I really enjoy getting the opportunity to play team golf, especially with such a great friend and talented player as Rory. We had a lot of fun on the course and gelled very well together. Q: How big a priority is The Ryder Cup for you this year and is the McIlroy partnership one that you’d like to reignite should you both make Monty’s team? GM: Getting on to Monty’s team this year is my number one priority. I enjoyed every second of The Ryder Cup at Valhalla and would dearly love to taste some more of it. I would play with anyone at Celtic

4 33

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Manor, but it would be amazing to tee it up with Rory. We certainly bring out the best in each other and it would be fantastic to experience the feeling of winning some points in the Ryder Cup with a great friend. Q: When did you first meet Abdullah Al Naboodah and what were your impressions of him? GM: I met Abdullah at his Invitational in 2008. He is an extremely classy guy, who has an intense passion for the game of golf. Q: Have you been surprised at his improvement in golf given that he’s been playing for less than four years? GM: Abdullah’s improvement in golf hasn’t surprised me at all. He is extremely passionate about the game and has played with some of the top players in the world, for example, Tiger, at the Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am, and has always been so keen to learn and improve his own game. Q: How important do you think the efforts of people like Abdullah are in growing the game of golf at all levels throughout the Middle East? GM: People like Abdullah and the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group are hugely important in developing the game of golf in areas like the Middle East, where golf is a relatively new sport. With world class golf courses popping up all over the Middle East, the area will start to produce top quality players and having people like Abdullah to help back the game in Dubai is huge. Q: What do you think of the news that a 10-year-old girl, Amelia McKee, who has only been playing for two years, will now join you stars of the European Tour in the field at The Invitational after winning one of the two ‘Golden Tickets’ up for grabs with a wonderful performance at the Worldwide Golf Midweek Open qualifying event where she shot a net 65? GM: That’s fantastic news. A 65 net is very impressive from a 10-year-old. I hope she gets to meet some of her golfing heroes at The Invitational and that her experiences inspire her to chase her golfing dreams and perhaps be a professional player herself one day.

Top: Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy join forces to finish second at the 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China. Bottom: Graeme is congratulated by caddie Ken Comboy after a runner-up finish at the Chevron World Challenge in California last month. Q: What have your impressions been of The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah on the two previous occasions you’ve played? GM: The Invitational is an extremely professionally run golf tournament. The course here at Dubai Creek is exceptionally good and fun to play. The professionals, customers, clients and friends of the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group who play the event, very much enjoy themselves with a mixture of competitive fun and a relaxing social day. The field is very strong with some top European Tour players in attendance so there is definitely a serious edge to the day from our point of view, because you always want to compete.

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Q: How did you become involved with the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group from a sponsorship perspective? GM: As mentioned, I played The Invitational in 2008 and got to know Abdullah that week, spending some time with him at the Dubai Desert Classic. With Abdullah becoming progressively more involved with European golf, I became one of the ambassadors for the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group ambassador. Obviously it’s a pretty strong field, so it would be like winning a mini tour event almost!

Q: How much more special would it be for you to win the tournament given that the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group sponsor you? GM: It would be very special to win the event being a

Q: What will your chosen charity be should you win? GM: My chosen charity will be Multiple Sclerosis Northern Ireland (MSNI). My mother is a sufferer and it’s charity very close to my heart for that reason.

Above: Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Abdullah Al Naboodah pose with their prizes after finishing third at last year’s Invitational.

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ONE of the surprise attractions among the galaxy of European Tour superstars at The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah will be a 10 year old girl, Amelia McKee, who is no bigger than the cut-down men’s driver she swings.

ITTLE Amelia McKee was the star of the Worldwide Golf Midweek Open played at Arabian Ranches Golf Club on January 5 when she shot a net 65, gross 91, off a handicap of 26 to earn one of only two muchcoveted Golden Tickets to play in The Invitational. The other Golden Ticket was won by James Collins as the leading adult. Amelia’s was a phenomenal round of golf that could have been even better. Faced with cameras and spectators at the final green, understandably, the nerves got to her and she four-putted when she could so easily have made it a net 63. Amelia’s performance was still good enough to put her five shots clear of her nearest rival junior and four shots clear of the nearest adult in the field. “She putted really well and that was what won the day for her, although it was a shame that the pressure got to her on the final green when she was in the spotlight and the cameras were on her,” says her proud father, Rob. Amelia’s coach at The

Montgomerie Dubai, Rhys Beecher, was equally delighted, saying: “She telephoned me straight after her win and was so pleased that she had made it into The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah. It has been her main motivation to play in The Invitational and I know she will cherish the experience.

Amelia McKee meets one of her heroes, Sergio Garcia, at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic.

Hours hitting balls “Amelia has continued to improve her game. I believe her strength lies with her ability to take on new information and work hard to achieve her goals. We’ve made a few changes recently but she coped fine and that’s down to her own dedication and the parental support that she has. That will continue to make her excel within the game.” Amelia started playing golf at the age of eight in Houston, Texas, having excelled as a swimmer. “We lived beside a golf course in the States and Amelia began to take an interest the game, spending hours hitting balls on the practice range,” says Rob. “She virtually lived on the course

and won the first junior competition she entered. She was junior champion at the age of eight. She loves the game and she’s got such a competitive spirit in everything she does.” Amelia’s record in the game already reads like that of a true phenomenon. Of the 18 tournaments she’s entered she has won 15, finished second twice and fifth once. She was the Al Naboodah Jr. Par3 Series Girls Overall Champion in the 18 years and under age group last year and leads the same Series this season. “She’s not particularly big for

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Left to right: Tournament Director James Bowring with Amelia McKee and James Collins who display the Golden Tickets they won to gain entry into The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

her age but I gave her a cut-down men’s Ping driver and she’s now hitting it off the tee between 165 and 180 yards and occasionally gets it 200 yards plus,” says Rob.

Wonderful experience “She’s going to love every minute of playing in The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at the Creek with the all the Tour Pros and she’s been lying awake in bed at night just thinking about it – she’s so excited. What a wonderful experience this will be for Amelia to play in The Invitational and we’re all very grateful to everyone

concerned that she’s been given this opportunity.” Asked who her golfing heroes are, Amelia said: “I can’t make my mind up whether it’s Padraig Harrington or Sergio Garcia – and my favourite lady player is America’s Christina Kim.” If she carries on the way she’s going it won’t be long before Amelia emulates one of her heroes.

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A Guide to viewing the action The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah promises to be another spectacular tournament and to ensure the event is an enjoyable experience for both the world-class field and the many thousands of fans, we have produced a brief guide help you follow the action and get the best out of the day.

So please follow our guide to make your visit memorable:

CAMERAS  Please – No Flash/No Noise. You are permitted to take pictures from a safe distance so that the players will not hear your camera clicking. Please set your camera to silent and remember to take the flash off. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN USING MOBILE PHONES OR PAGERS  You are allowed to bring these items on to the course but they must be switched off at all times when watching the action as we don’t want you to disturb the players. PLEASE OBEY THE MARSHALS  Please follow the instructions of the marshals as they are there to ensure the event runs smoothly and that you have the best available view of the action. PLEASE KEEP STILL DURING PLAY Please stay still when the players are about to hit the ball so you don’t disrupt their concentration – we want to see them at their best and we’re sure you do, too!   KEEP QUIET – AT THE RIGHT TIMES! Please remain quiet when the players are about to hit the ball so as not to put them off – but feel free to clap and cheer at any other time when you’re impressed by the standard of play! NO AUTOGRAPHS DURING THE ACTION Please do not distract, speak to, or request autographs from the players during their round because they’ll be concentrating on trying to win the tournament. There will be plenty of opportunities for autographs during the course of the day.   STAY BEHIND THE ROPES You are advised to stay behind the ropes for your own safety and avoid getting too close to the players when they are playing their shots. If you want to watch a shot from the fairway please ensure that you are a good distance from the players. The on-course marshals will advise you if they think you are too close. IF YOU SEE A BALL ON THE COURSE – PLEASE DON’T TOUCH IT! Never attempt to pick up any golf ball on the course – or try and move a golf ball on the course! PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL TO ALL PLAYERS You may have a favourite player competing, but we please ask that you do not applaud or cheer a mistake made by one of their opponents!  If you follow our guide we’re sure that you will have a great time at The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah – enjoy the action!

Create something special. Thomas Lyte is the creator of some of the world’s most iconic sporting trophies, including The Al Naboodah Invitational Trophy and the European Tour “Players’ Player of the Year Award” as presented to Padraig Harrington in 2009. The complete collection, including luxury leather and silver accessories, silver vault and bespoke design gift service can be found at thomaslyte.com

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CELEBS JOIN IN THE FUN

PLAYING their part for good causes England cricketer Andrew Flintoff and BBC Radio presenter DJ Spoony are teeing it up at The Invitational

ANDREW ‘FREDDIE’ FLINTOFF

DJ SPOONY

ANDREW ‘Freddie’ Flintoff began playing golf while he was on an England under-19s cricket tour of Zimbabwe in the late 1990s. Since his meteoric rise in becoming one of the best all-rounders of his generation, Flintoff has made friends in the golfing world and can count Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood as past playing partners. However, Flintoff admits he’s a long way off their standing and says they give him a shot a hole whenever they play together. On the cricket pitch Flintoff can be defined by his performances on home soil against Australia in England’s winning Ashes series of 2005 and 2009. He was the star of the English team that regained the Ashes from Australia in 2005 in spectacular fashion and then again played his part last summer as England once again regained the Ashes. He announced his retirement from Test cricket shortly after England’s 2-1 series victory but will continue to play for Lancashire and IPL team the Chennai Super Kings.

BROADCASTING personality and BBC Radio presenter DJ Spoony’s love for the Royal & Ancient game started roughly ten years ago at the turn of the millennium. The then disc jockey was a keen footballer and follows Liverpool FC but his unsociable hours on the UK club scene forced him to look elsewhere for competitive sport – so he turned to golf. After years of practice Spoony is down to a single figure handicap and is a regular competitor at many of the pro-ams around the world on The European Tour – including the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – and is good friends with Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter. Spoony DJ’d for Poulter at his wedding in 2007 and a year later Poulter invited Spoony to caddie for him at the par-3 tournament at the Masters. Last year Spoony displayed his golfing credentials in winning the Fourball Alliance event at the Gary Player Invitational at Fancourt in November alongside Abdullah Al Naboodah, Vincent Tshabalala and Thomas Aiken.

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Date of Birth: July 16, 1983 Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa Height: 5’ 10” Career Victories: 7

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 46th

SOUTH Africa’s Thomas Aiken has seven titles to his name on his native Sunshine Tour and last year he had his best year on The European Tour, finishing 46th on The Race to Dubai. Aiken was helped by a superb run of five top-ten finishes in seven outings in the early stages of the season, including a tie for seventh place at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. He also took tenth place at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and was impressive on the big stage again with a share of eighth place at The Open Championship at Turnberry. Aiken ended the season with a tie for 13th place at the Dubai World Championship to finish with prize money of €660,332. Aiken has started brightly again this season, taking the runner-up spot at the Africa Open at East London Golf Club in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Thomas Björn Date of Birth: February 18, 1971 Birthplace: Silkeborg, Denmark Height: 6’ 2” Career Victories: 11

DENMARK’S Thomas Björn has long been recognised as one of the finest players in world golf. Having won the European Challenge Tour Order of Merit in 1995 with four victories in one season, Björn joined The European Tour in 1996 and has gone on to win nine titles, finishing inside the top ten on the Order of Merit five times. Björn’s last victory came at The Irish Open in 2006, where he showed his true fighting spirit by birdieing the last two holes to secure a one-stroke victory over Paul Casey. Björn has come agonisingly close to winning a Major three times in his career. He was runner-up at The Open Championship in both 2000 and 2003 and was again second at the 2005 US PGA Championship. Björn was a member of the winning European Ryder Cup teams of 1997 and 2002 and a member of Bernhard Langer’s backroom team at the 2004 tournament.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 91st

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Date of Birth: April 25, 1982 Birthplace: Bordeaux, France Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 3

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 45th

GRÉGORY Bourdy cemented his place as one of France’s top golfers after winning two European Tour events in the space of six months. Bourdy claimed his first title at the Mallorca Classic in October 2007 after rounds of 69, 68, 64 and 67 gave him a 12 under par total and a two-stroke victory over England’s Sam Little. The victory saw him earn €333,330 which helped him to a final finish of 39th on the Order of Merit. Following on from his successful end to the 2007 season Bourdy won the Estoril Open de Portugal in April 2008. He defeated England’s David Howell and Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth on the fourth extra hole of a play-off to clinch the cheque for €208,330. Last year Bourdy continued his winning ways at the penultimate tournament of the season as he took the UBS Hong Kong Open by two strokes from the in-form Rory McIlroy to end season 45th on The Race to Dubai.

Paul Casey Birthplace: Cheltenham, England Date of Birth: July 21, 1977 Height: 5’10” Career Victories: 11 PAUL Casey shot up to a career high third place on the Official Wold Golf Ranking last year after three superb wins in the space of five months. Casey won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January before going on to win his first US PGA Tour event at the Shell Houston Open in April. He was defeated in the final of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship by Geoff Ogilvy but then claimed a one-stroke victory at The European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, to boost his ranking. A rib injury sustained at The Open Championship at Turnberry forced Casey to miss the final Major of the season at the US PGA Championship, and the US PGA Tour FedExCup Playoffs but he returned to action at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in October and ended the season fifth on The Race to Dubai.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 5th

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Darren Clarke !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: August 14, 1968 Birthplace: Dungannon, Northern Ireland Height: 6’ 2” Career Victories: 16

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 61st

DARREN Clarke has been a stalwart of The European Tour since his rookie season of 1991. His first win came in 1993 when he claimed the Alfred Dunhill Open title by two shots from Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh. He secured another title in 1996 at the Linde German Masters and in 1998 he won both the Benson and Hedges International Open and the Volvo Masters to finish runner-up to Colin Montgomerie on the Order of Merit with €902,867 in prize money. Two years later Clarke became the first European player to win a World Golf Championships event with a memorable victory over Tiger Woods in the final of the Accenture Match Play Championship and in 2003 he became the first player since Woods to win more than one WGC title when he won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

jamie donaldson Birthplace: Pontypridd, Wales Date of Birth: October 19, 1975 Height: 5’ 11”

JAMIE Donaldson had his best season on The European Tour last year with a final position of 59th on The Race to Dubai thanks to four top-ten finishes. The Welshman earned €594,696 for the season with his best result a runner-up finish at the SAS Masters, two shots behind winner Ricardo Gonzalez. As an amateur Donaldson had a strong year in 2000, taking second place at the Brabazon and St Andrews Links Trophies and helping Great Britain and Ireland to second place in the Eisenhower Trophy. He turned professional later that year and had a successful Challenge Tour season in 2001, earning his European Tour card at the first time of asking. Donaldson won the BMW Russian Open and the Telia Grand Prix in Sweden to end the season second on the final ranking with €92,740 in prize money.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 59th

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Bradley Dredge !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: July 6, 1973 Birthplace: Tredegar, Wales Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 2

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 57th

BRADLEY Dredge enjoyed the most rewarding victory of his professional career when partnering his fellow Welsh countryman Stephen Dodd to a thrilling victory in the 2005 World Golf Championships-Algarve World Cup in Portugal. Dredge won his first European Tour title at the 2003 Madeira Island Open with a commanding eight-stroke victory over Andrew Marshall, Brian Davis and Fredrik Andersson Hed. In 2006 Dredge secured his second Tour title at the Omega European Masters and narrowly missed out on back-to-back victories when he finished runner-up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Last year Dredge came close to winning his third European Tour title but had to settle for second place behind Alexander Noren at the Omega European Masters. He ended the season 57th on The Race to Dubai after three top-ten finishes.

Simon dyson Date of Birth: December 21, 1977 Birthplace: York, England Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 7 SIMON Dyson won the biggest title of his career last season with a superb three-shot victory over Rory McIlroy and Oliver Wilson at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Englishman had already won The KLM Open in the Netherlands for the second time two months earlier, defeating Peter Lawrie and Peter Hedblom in a play-off. With an additional six top-ten finishes he ended the year a career-high eighth place on The Race to Dubai with €1,807,753 in prize money. Dyson won his first European Tour title in Asia at the 2006 Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia Open and later in the year defeated Richard Green in a play-off to win The KLM Open. Dyson began his career on the Asian Tour in 2000 and had a memorable maiden season, topping the Order of Merit and earning Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honours after three victories.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 8th

MIddl e Ea s t ’ s No. 1 Golf ma ga zine Issue 105, June 2009

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Est: 1999

MIDDLE EAST’S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

MID DL E EAST’S No.1 G OL F MAG AZINE

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MIDDLE EAST’S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

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Issue 105, June 2009

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johan edfors !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: October 10, 1975 Birthplace: Varberg, Sweden Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 3

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 32nd

JOHAN Edfors enjoyed the season of his life in 2006 with three victories on The European Tour. The Swede won the TCL Classic in China, the British Masters at the Belfry and The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on his way to finishing 10th on the Order of Merit with career-best earnings of €1,505,583. Edfors became the first Qualifying School graduate to win three times the following season. Edfors earned his first European Tour card in 2003 after topping the Challenge Tour rankings with two victories and nine top-ten finishes. After narrowly missing out on retaining his European Tour card in 2004 he returned to the Challenge Tour in 2005 before a successful trip to Q-School. Last year Edfors’ best result came at the Alfred Dunhill Championship where he took a share of second place. He posted four top tens in 2009 and ended the year 32nd on The Race to Dubai.

ross Fisher Date of Birth: November 22, 1980 Birthplace: Ascot, England Height: 6’ 3” Career Victories: 3 ROSS Fisher won the biggest title of his career in October last year with a superb victory at the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain. Fisher defeated American Anthony Kim 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final after playing 126 holes in four days. Fisher ended the season fourth on The Race to Dubai ranking with €2,531,183 in prize money after excelling in the big events. He was the best performing player in the world on aggregate across all four Majors and posted his best ever finish in a Grand Slam event with fifth place at the US Open. Fisher won his first title in 2007 at The KLM Open with a one-stroke victory over home favourite Joost Luiten and a year later he lifted his second trophy at The European Open thanks to a superb seven-stroke win over Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 4th

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stephen gallacher !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: November 1, 1974 Birthplace: Dechmont, Scotland Height: 6’ 2” Career Victories: 1

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 206th

WINNER of The 2009 Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, Stephen Gallacher won his maiden professional title exactly 35 years after his uncle, former Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher, won his first European Tour title. Gallacher made the breakthrough in impressive fashion, winning the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on home soil at St Andrews by defeating Graeme McDowell in a play-off. He knocked his approach to three feet on the first extra hole – the first – and after McDowell dumped his pitch shot into the Swilken Burn Gallacher tapped in to secure the cheque for €645,162. Gallacher was a member of the victorious Walker Cup team at Royal Porthcawl in 1995 and won his card for The European Tour shortly after.

sergio garcia Date of Birth: January 9, 1980 Birthplace: Castellon, Spain Height: 5’ 10” Career Victories: 16

SERGIO Garcia capped his best year as a professional with his third tournament victory of the year at the 2008 HSBC Champions in Shanghai after defeating Oliver Wilson in a play-off. Earlier in the season Garcia won the prestigious Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on the US PGA Tour and played in his fifth consecutive Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in September. Garcia then returned to The European Tour and won the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar one month later. He ended a wonderful year with the biggest victory of his European Tour career in China at the expense of Ryder Cup team-mate Wilson. Garcia turned professional in 1999 and made an immediate impact. He won his first European Tour title at The Irish Open and then became the youngest ever Ryder Cup participant aged 19 years, eight months and 15 days at Brookline, Massachusetts.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 10th

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Ricardo Gonzalez !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: October 24, 1969 Birthplace: Corrientes, Argentina Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 4

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 72nd

RICARDO Gonzalez won his fourth European Tour title at last year’s SAS Masters in superb fashion, birdieing five of the final six holes to beat Jamie Donaldson by two strokes. The Argentine holed out for birdie from a bunker on the 17th and then struck a 9-iron approach through some trees to within five feet of the pin – a shot which later earned him The European Tour Shot of the Month for July. Gonzalez won his maiden European Tour title with a commanding wire-to-wire victory at the 2001 Omega European Masters. His second title came at the 2003 Open de Madrid and he won his third title a year later at the Open de Sevilla. The Argentine began his golfing career as a caddie in Correientes and qualified for the 1999 European Tour season after winning the Tusker Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour.

Richard Green Date of Birth: February 19, 1971 Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Height: 6’ 2” Career Victories: 3 RICHARD Green became the first left-hander to win on The European Tour since 1975 when he beat Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam in a play-off at the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic. The Australian then had to wait ten years and 100 days before triumphing again on The European Tour at the 2007 BA-CA Golf Open Presented by Telekom Austria. Last year Green posted four top-ten finishes in a row at The Celtic Manor Wales Open, the Austrian Golf Open, the BMW International Open and the Open de France Alstom. Green had his most consistent season as a professional in 2004 when he made three runner-up finishes on The European Tour and finished a career-high 17th on the Order of Merit. He was also triumphant at the MasterCard Masters in Australia, three years before it became a European Tour co-sanctioned event.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 74th

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Peter Hanson !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: October 4, 1977 Birthplace: Svedala, Sweden Height: 6’ 3” Career Victories: 2

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 16th

PETER Hanson produced the highlight of his career in 2008 when he became the first Swede to win his national open tournament – the SAS Masters – in ten years. Hanson carded a final round 71 to win by one shot from compatriot Pelle Edberg and England’s Nick Dougherty and take home the cheque for €266,660. He went on to end the season 16th on the Order of Merit with €992,622. Last year Hanson had another successful season on The European Tour, coming close to stepping into the winner’s circle on numerous occasions. Hanson posted eight top-ten finishes, including a share of third place at the HSBC Champions, to end the season 16th on The Race to Dubai for the second consecutive season. Hanson picked up his maiden European Tour title in 2005 at the Jazztel Open de España after defeating fellow Swede Peter Gustafsson in a play-off.

David Howell Date of Birth: June 23, 1975 Birthplace: Swindon, England Height: 6’ 1” Career Victories: 5

DAVID Howell joined The European Tour in 1996 and won his first title at the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 before adding a second title six years later at the BMW International Open in 2005. He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2006 with two wins and five top-ten finishes on The European Tour, ending the year in a career-high third place on the Order of Merit with €2,321,166. Howell won the HSBC Champions by three strokes from Tiger Woods and took the BMW Championship before ending the year with his second consecutive winning appearance in The Ryder Cup at The K Club. After the highs of 2006 Howell was plagued by injuries to his shoulder and lower back but came back strongly in 2008, finishing 45th on the Order of Merit with two top-ten finishes including runner-up at the Estoril Open de Portugal. Howell posted one top ten last season.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 156th

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Thongchai Jaidee !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: November 8, 1969 Birthplace: Lop Buri, Thailand Height: 5’ 7” Career Victories: 12

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 19th

THONGCHAI Jaidee had his best season as a professional last year with two victories on The European Tour which helped him finish a career-high 19th on The Race to Dubai. Jaidee won the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesian Open in March and the Ballantine’s Championship in April (both co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour) to take his European Tour victory tally to four and his Asian Tour tally to 12. Jaidee posted one additional top-ten finish with a fifth place at the Omega European Masters and ended the season with €1,161,466 in prize money. On the Asian Tour he topped of the Order of Merit with earnings of $981,931. Jaidee made his breakthrough on The European Tour in 2004 with victory at the Carlsberg Malaysian Open and a year later successfully defended his title.

James Kingston Date of Birth: November 30, 1965 Birthplace: Rustenburg, South Africa Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 14 JAMES Kingston won his first European Tour title on European soil last year with a play-off victory over Denmark’s Anders Hansen at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany. Both players finished on 13 under par but it was Kingston who took home the cheque for €320,000 with a solid par on the first extra hole. Kingston won his first European Tour title with a one-stroke victory over Oliver Wilson at the South African Airways Open in 2007 – an event cosanctioned with the Sunshine Tour. The South African won his first tournament in 1992 at the Lombard Tyres TVL Classic in his homeland and has gone on to win an additional eight times on the Sunshine Tour. In the late 1990s Kingston played on the Asian Tour and won four times.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 51st

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Paul Lawrie !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland Date of Birth: January 1, 1969 Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 5

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 82nd

PAUL Lawrie wrote himself into the history books at the 128th Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999 by coming from ten shots behind the leader with a final round of 67 to book his place in the four-hole play-off. He then birdied the final two holes to beat Frenchman Jean Van De Velde and former Open Champion Justin Leonard to claim the Auld Claret Jug. Having also won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, he finished a career-high sixth place on the Order of Merit. Lawrie also made the 1999 Ryder Cup team scoring three and a half points in Europe’s dramatic one point defeat by the USA. He had to wait until 2001 for his next Tour victory, which also came on Scottish soil at the inaugural Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Last year Lawrie’s best result was a share of third place at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Peter Lawrie Date of Birth: March 22, 1974 Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 1 PETER Lawrie had another consistent season on The European Tour in 2009 after earning almost exactly the same prize money as he did in 2008. Lawrie walked away with €682,097 last year, just €84 less than his haul of €682,181 a year earlier. The Irishman won his first European Tour title in 2008 after he defeated home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a playoff at the Open de España. Lawrie carded a final round five under par 67 to finish on 15 under par alongside Garrido and prevailed on the second extra hole to take home the cheque for €333,330. Last year Lawrie carded four top-ten finishes including runner-up at The KLM Open and a share of third place in his defence of the Open de España. He ended the season 43rd on The Race to Dubai after finishing 42nd at the Dubai World Championship.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 43rd

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Thomas Levet !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: September 5, 1968 Birthplace: Paris, France Height: 5’ 9” Career Victories: 5

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 28th

THOMAS Levet won his fifth European Tour title last season with a two-stroke victory over Fabrizio Zanotti at the Open de España. The win was Levet’s second on Spanish soil in successive seasons as he claimed the 2008 Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano after a play-off victory over Oliver Wilson. Levet had to miss most of the 2006 season and the early stages of 2007 due to suffering bouts of vertigo. Once back to full fitness the Frenchman showed his class to post four top-ten finishes towards the end of the 2007 season. Levet enjoyed a career-best season in 2004. He won The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and had seven top-ten finishes to take a career-high fifth place on the Order of Merit. His season’s earnings were €1,747,337 and he also became only the second Frenchman to play in The Ryder Cup, at Oakland Hills.

Shane Lowry Date of Birth: April 2, 1987 Birthplace: Clara, Co. Offaly, Ireland Height: 5’ 10” Career Victories: 1

SHANE Lowry had a dream debut on The European Tour last year with a stunning play-off victory over Robert Rock at The 3 Irish Open at County Louth Golf Club in Baltray. In winning Lowry became the third amateur to win on The European Tour but didn’t take home any of the €500,000 first-prize and decided to turn professional almost immediately after. His best result following the switch came at The KLM Open where he finished in a share of 15th place. Lowry had a superb amateur career as he emulated fellow Irishmen Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Rory McIlroy by winning the prestigious Irish Amateur Close Championship in 2007 before retaining the title the following year when he rose to sixth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 153rd

Jean-François Lucquin

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Date of Birth: December 25, 1978 Birthplace: Valence, France Height: 5’ 9” Career Victories: 1

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 121st

JEAN-François Lucquin announced himself as one of France’s top golfers with a play-off victory over Rory McIlroy at the Omega European Masters in 2008. Lucquin carded a final round 67 to get to 13 under par alongside the Irishman and then prevailed in the play-off with a birdie on the second extra hole. The prize money of €333,330 helped him finish the season with €592,104 and a career-high 52nd on The Race to Dubai. Luquin made the step up to The European Tour in 2002 after a superb season on the Challenge Tour. Lucquin finished second on the final rankings to earn his card after victory at the Panalpina Banque Commerciale du Maroc Classic and nine additional top-ten finishes. Lucquin finished inside the top 100 on the Order of Merit after each of his first four seasons on The European Tour.

Graeme McDowell Date of Birth: July 30, 1979 Birthplace: Portrush, Northern Ireland Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 4 GRAEME McDowell shot into the limelight on The European Tour in 2008 with two victories which helped him secure his debut appearance at The Ryder Cup. He beat Jeev Milkha Singh in a play-off at the Ballantine’s Championship in March before recording the biggest win of his career at The Barclays Scottish Open with a two-stroke victory over James Kingston. Including his two wins McDowell had eight top tens to his name and finished the season in fifth place on the Order of Merit. McDowell had a superb start to his career on The European Tour. In just his fourth start he won the 2002 Volvo Scandinavian Masters, beating Trevor Immelman by one stroke. He finished the season 56th on the Order of Merit after playing in 12 events. McDowell won his second title in 2004 with a play-off victory over Thomas Levet at the Telecom Italia Open.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 33rd

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Rory McIlroy !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: May 4, 1989 Birthplace: Holywood, Northern Ireland Height: 5’ 9” Career Victories: 1

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 2nd

RORY McIlroy confirmed his status as one of the hottest stars on The European Tour with a superb victory at last year’s Dubai Desert Classic. The then 19-year-old’s performance belied his age as he shot rounds of 64, 68, 67 and 70 for a wire-to-wire one-stroke victory over Justin Rose. McIlroy took home the €323,514 winner’s cheque and moved up to second place on The Race to Dubai. The win also took him inside the top 20 on the Official World Golf Ranking. McIlroy posted a fifth place finish at The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and he ended the season in impressive form with seven top tens in his last eight tournaments. He finished third at the Dubai World Championship to end the year second on The Race to Dubai behind Lee Westwood.

Louis Oosthuizen Birthplace: Mossel Bay, South Africa Date of Birth: October 19, 1982 Height: 5’ 10” Career Victories: 5

LOUIS Oosthuizen had his best season on The European Tour last year with six top-ten finishes including backto-back runner-up finishes on the Middle East Swing. Oosthuizen finished second behind winner Paul Casey at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and then a week later he finished second to Alvaro Quiros at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. He ended the year in 12th place at the Dubai World Championship which helped him finish a career-high 31st on The Race to Dubai. Oosthuizen is still to step into the winner’s circle on The European Tour but has five victories to his name on his native Sunshine Tour including three in 2007 which saw him finish second on the Order of Merit. He won his first title in 2004 at the Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour at Arbella and his most recent victory came in 2008 at the Telekom PGA Championship.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 31st

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Charl Schwartzel !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: August 31, 1984 Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 5

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 24th

CHARL Schwartzel won his first title in his second season on The European Tour with a play-off victory over England’s Neil Cheetham on home soil at the 2005 Dunhill Championship in South Africa. Schwartzel claimed his second European Tour title at the Open de España in 2007 with a one-stroke victory over India’s Jyoti Randhawa and he ended the season 35th on the Order of Merit with €826,368 in prize money. In 2008 he won his second title in Spain with a threeshot victory over Ricardo Gonzalez at the Madrid Masters to end 28th on the Order of Merit. Last year Schwartzel had another steady season with seven top-ten finishes including a tie for fifth place at the Barclays Singapore Open and fourth place at the Joburg Open in his hometown. He has started 2010 in fine form, winning the Africa Open at East London Golf Club.

jeev milkha singh Date of Birth: December 15, 1971 Birthplace: Chandigarh, India Height: 6’ 0” Career Victories: 18 JEEV Milkha Singh became the first Indian golfer to qualify for The European Tour after earning his card at the 1997 Qualifying School. He was a regular tournament winner on the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s before he finally made his breakthrough on The European Tour in 2006 with two victories. Singh won the Volvo China Open in April that year before rounding the season off with victory at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama to finish a then career-high 16th place on the Order of Merit. Two years later Singh won his third European Tour title at the Bank Austria GolfOpen presented by Telekom Austria and went on to end the season 12th on the Order of Merit with €1,218,209 in prize money. Last year Singh had three top-ten finishes on The European Tour and ended the season 34th on The Race to Dubai.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 34th

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Graeme Storm !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: March 13, 1978 Birthplace: Hartlepool, England Height: 5’ 10” Career Victories: 1

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 49th

GRAEME Storm secured his maiden European Tour title at the 2007 Open de France Alstom and went on to finish a career-best 16th on the Order of Merit. Storm came from five strokes off the lead to win by one from Denmark’s Søren Hansen after firing a brilliant final round five under par 66. Storm carded three top-ten finishes in addition to his win in France to break the €1 million mark for the first time in his career as he ended the campaign with €1,209,673. Last year Storm carded three top-ten finishes including a share of third place at the Open de Andalucia de Golf 09 and he ended the year 49th on The Race to Dubai with €649,875 in prize money. As an amateur Storm was a member of the victorious 1999 Walker Cup Team and won the 1999 Amateur Championship which sealed him a place in the Masters Tournament the following year.

Daniel vancsik Date of Birth: January 7, 1977 Birthplace: Posadas, Argentina Height: 6’ 1” Career Victories: 2 DANIEL Vancsik won his second European Tour title in spectacular fashion last year with a six-shot victory over John Daly, Robert Rock and Raphaël Jacquelin at the BMW Italian Open. Vancsik posted rounds of 68, 65, 69 and 65 to finish on 17 under par and take home the cheque for €216,660 which helped him towards a top-80 finish on the final Race to Dubai ranking. The Argentine qualified for The European Tour in 2005 after an impressive season on the Challenge Tour. Vancsik won the Tusker Kenya Open and finished the season ninth on the rankings to earn his European Tour card for 2006. Vancsik struggled during his rookie campaign but regained his card for the 2007 season at Qualifying School. He then won his maiden title on his 50th European Tour start at the 2007 Madeira Islands Open BPI with a seven-stroke win over David Frost and Santiago Luna.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 77th

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Steve Webster !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: January 17, 1975 Birthplace: Nuneaton, England Height: 5’ 8” Career Victories: 2

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 47th

TWO-time European Tour winner Steve Webster finished 47th on The Race to Dubai last year after a solid season. The Englishman posted four top-ten finishes including three runner-up spots. Webster finished in a share of second place behind Thongchai Jaidee at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open in March. In May he finished one shot behind winner Christian Cévaër at The European Open before collecting his third runner-up placing of the campaign at the Moravia Silesia Open presented by ALO Diamonds. Webster made the breakthrough on The European Tour in 2005 with victory at the Telecom Italia Open. In 2007 he picked up the biggest cheque of his career with victory at the Portugal Masters. He defeated Swede Robert Karlsson by two strokes after a final round 64 to take home the cheque for €500,000.

Lee Westwood Date of Birth: April 24, 1973 Birthplace: Worksop, England Height: 6’ 1” Career Victories: 30

LEE Westwood was crowned Europe’s leading player for the second time in his career last year as he topped The Race to Dubai after a thrilling six-stroke victory over Ross McGowan at the season-ending Dubai World Championship. The Englishman had a wonderfully consistent season, carding 13 top-ten finishes including second place at the Open de France Alstom and third place at both The Open Championship and the US PGA Championship. He claimed the Portugal Masters in October before winning one month later in Dubai, after which he was named The European Tour’s Golfer of the Year for the third time in his career. Westwood first topped the Order of Merit in 2000 with five victories, ending Colin Montgomerie’s seven year reign at the top of European golf.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 1st

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Oliver Wilson !8%+&99'7)"+: 0(12' 036/4'(36/4'136/4'73;//

Date of Birth: September 14, 1980 Birthplace: Mansfield, England Height: 5’11”

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 7th

OLIVER Wilson enjoyed his most successful season on The European Tour last year, finishing seventh on The Race to Dubai with €2,010,158 in prize money. He began the season well with a second place finish at the HSBC Champions and then posted two good results at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championships and the WGC-CA Championship, finishing ninth and tied fifth respectively. He was runner-up for the ninth time in his European Tour career at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship before ending the season with a share of 16th place at the Dubai World Championship. In 2008 Wilson finished 11th on the Order of Merit with four runner-up spots including defeat to Miguel Angel Jimenéz in a play-off at the BMW PGA Championship. Three additional top-ten finishes saw him qualify for the European Ryder Cup team at Valhalla.

Chris Wood Date of Birth: November 26, 1987 Birthplace: Bristol, England Height: 6’ 5”

CHRIS Wood burst into the limelight in 2008 with a superb performance as an amateur at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The youngster claimed the Silver Medal as the best placed amateur after finishing fifth alongside Jim Furyk Wood turned professional shortly after and played in eight European Tour events with his best result coming at the Portugal Masters where he finished in a tie for tenth place. He ended a memorable year with a fifth place finish at Qualifying School to earn his card for the 2009 European Tour season. Last year Wood posted four topten finishes including fifth place at The European Open and a share of third place alongside Lee Westwood at The Open Championship at Turnberry. Wood ended the season 44th on The Race to Dubai was crowned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

2009 Race to Dubai Final Ranking: 44th

DUBAI GOLF

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Dubai Golf is a government organisation, owned by Wasl LLC (part of DREC) that manages three of Dubai’s most unique and internationally renowned golf courses. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, set in the heart of the city, offers a challenging course with breathtaking views of Dubai Creek and the city skyline. Emirates Golf Club boasts the world famous Majlis Course and ‘The Faldo’ Course and is the current host venue of the annual Dubai Desert Classic and Dubai Ladies Masters tournaments. Both clubs are considered the pioneers of golf in the region, with Emirates Golf Club being the first grassed golf course built in the UAE more than 21 years ago, and Dubai Creek following suit just five years later. The two clubs have several awardwinning restaurants, event venues, recreational facilities, a marina, residential villas, golf academies, plus the 225 bedroom Park Hyatt Hotel at Dubai Creek. Furthermore, Dubai Golf manages a Central Reservations operation and an online tee time reservation system. Dubai Golf’s online tee time reservation system is one of the first live systems of its kind to be introduced in the Middle East. It provides both residents and tourists alike with the opportunity to book tee times at any of Dubai Golf’s three unique golf courses up to 180 days in advance at www.dubaigolf.com.

DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club opened in January 1993 to world acclaim and since then it has been host to numerous tournaments and events including the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 and 2000. Situated in the heart of the city on the banks of the Dubai Creek, the golf course recently underwent a major redevelopment and was transformed into a true golfing paradise. The world-class golf course is the centerpiece of a complex that also incorporates a 121-berth marina, 225-bedroom luxury hotel, yacht club and main clubhouse. The Par 71, 6,967 yard course is accompanied by a floodlit driving range, practice putting green, chipping greens and practice bunkers plus a nine hole Par 3 course offering facilities for every level of golfer. The Clubhouse has become a true icon of Dubai. Designed in the shape of the sails of a traditional Arabian dhow, the 45 meter high Clubhouse incorporates a fully stocked Pro Shop, restaurants and features a leisure swimming pool and gym facilities overlooking Dubai Creek.

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Holes to look out for !"#$%#&'(&$"))*+',-./'0 0(12' 03/4'(3564'13,,4'73.,

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By Alan MacKenzie Director of Golf Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

“The re-design undertaken by Thomas Björn in 2004 provided us with a completely new front nine holes and a second nine that was fine-tuned to take into account the technological advances made in equipment since the Club opened in 1993. It was important that we ended up with a golf course that was both aesthetically pleasing, yet challenging enough to appeal to every level of golfer. The constant and consistent feedback we receive from both local and overseas players confirm to us that Thomas did a great job and achieved just that. There is no doubt in my mind that the many world class golf courses that Thomas has played over the years as a Tournament Professional contributed a long way to producing the wonderful golfing experience we have here at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.”

Hole 6 The feature hole on the first nine (pictured below). The gentlemen’s competition tee is located some ten metres out into the Creek. The players really do feel isolated out there as they prepare to strike their ball back towards the mainland. Look out, too, for the three-tier water feature down the left side of the fairway which will usually have to be crossed with the approach shot, unless the players are playing conservatively down the right hand side. This is a gorgeous hole that requires a confident mind and a relaxed swing.

Hole 13 Arguably the favourite par 5 on the course for our Members. A well struck tee shot will get over the rise in the fairway and reward the golfer with potentially another 30 to 40 yards of roll. From there the decision is whether to have a go at the green. What is not apparent from the fairway is that the green is an island only accessible from a walk-bridge positioned on the

left side. Laying up may be the better option for those who are comfortable with their wedges, but no doubt some of the longer hitters will be tempted. This is a great example of risk and reward in a golf hole, and this is what makes it such a great one.

Hole 17 In my opinion this is the start of the finest two consecutive finishing holes in the region. The 17th (pictured left) is not overly long, but the salty Creek is only a few feet off the fairway on the left side and there is no real space for playing safe with the driver up the right side. For the big hitters, a long iron towards the bunker on the right is a sensible play. From there, a mid to short iron will be required to find the slightly elevated green but the players will have to make sure they don’t pull their approach shot left as a large bunker awaits and beyond that the watery doom of the Creek. This is a really beautiful hole.

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