McIlroy, Stenson and Willett headline
Omega
Dubai Desert Classic field in February
By VIREN VARMA
DUBAI,
December 26 — World number two Rory McIlroy, pictured above, and fourth-ranked Henrik Stenson will
join defending champion and world number 11 Danny Willett in spearheading a stellar
cast for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club from February 2
to 5, 2017.
The
sizzling trio, who between them have won six major championships and 29
European Tour events, are no strangers to success at the Majlis course, having
won the ‘Major of the Middle East’ at least once as the event keeps assuming a
much grander profile with time.
“To
think the tournament is now in its 28th year, just older than I am,
is testimony to its enduring strength,” said McIlroy, a four-time major winner,
who will be making his 11th appearance in Dubai, the most number of times he
has played anywhere in the world.
“I
have great memories of this course and tournament. I made cut here for the
first time in a European Tour event as a 17-year-old amateur in 2007 and it was
here I secured my first professional win two years later.
“I
will always cherish those important moments in the early part of my career. That
first win was a real stepping-stone for me, helping my confidence and leading
to the successes that followed.
“My great
relationship with Dubai was pretty much set in stone from then,” said the 27-year-old
Holywood, Belfast native who is now 96-under-par for his last seven appearances which
resulted in first in 2009, sixth in 2010, tenth in 2011, fifth in 2012, ninth
in 2014, first in 2015 and sixth in 2016.
The
2016 European Tour Player of the Year and Olympic silver medallist Stenson, who
had been a long-time Dubai resident before moving full-time to the United
States in 2012, will be a compelling storyline, certain to provide a gruelling
challenge to the field.
“It
feels nice to get back to a golf course where you have played a number of
times. Playing well in front of family, friends and supporters always gives you
that extra bit of satisfaction,” said the 40-year-old, who became the first Swede
to win a Major, a feat he achieved at the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon
and dedicated it to his friend Mike Gerbich, “one of the real good guys back in
Dubai.”
“I am
really looking forward to playing in Dubai. It would be great fun to win in
Dubai again, but they (the organisers) have once again assembled a strong field
and nothing can be taken for granted. We will have to see how things unfold,”
said Stenson, who won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2007 in a field led by
Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.
Defending
champion Willett, who, like Stenson, also picked up a first Major (at the 2016
Masters) and had good showings elsewhere around the world, will be will be
hoping to tap into good vibes and emulate Stephen Gallacher, the only
back-to-back winner of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
With
virtually who’s who on the European Tour in the field, potential winners are
aplenty who will be itching to step up to the plate and challenge the top draws
for supremacy, promising first-class entertainment for the fans
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
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