It may be the richest event on The European Tour featuring 60 of the best players in the world but many of the most important people at this week’s Dubai World Championship presented by DP World are neither household names nor international sportsmen.
 
Making sure the $7.5 million tournament goes with a swing will be more than 130 students recruited from the GEMs group of schools who will act as scoring support when the event is staged from Thursday to Sunday (November 25-28) at the Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates.
 
Representing GEMS World Academy, Jumeirah College, Wellington School and Winchester School, the multi-national mix of boys and girls will handle a variety of roles to ensure that the 2010 Race to Dubai reaches a smooth and professional finale with the crowning of the European Number One.
 
As well as acting as walking scorers and board carriers for each match, the students will be allocated scoring jobs at scoreboards on the course, in the Media Centre and in the Championship Village, while others will look after the on course leaderboards and afterboards all under the direction of Paul White from The European Tour’s Scoring Management.
 
“It is a wonderful effort by the GEMs group to get so many students involved in the 2010 Dubai World Championship,” said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International Dubai Office.

Photo: Keeping the scoreboards up to date will be a key role during the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World
 
“I know Paul White is very impressed that we managed to get so many people together to handle these voluntary roles and our thanks go to all the teachers and students who have made this possible. It just goes to show how the people of Dubai are happy to get behind the major sporting events in the city not only as spectators but also as volunteers.”
 
While the tournament allows the youngsters the opportunity of seeing the action up close and personal just yards from golfing superstars such as World Number One Lee Westwood, Major winners Martin Kaymer, Louis Ooosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, YE Yang, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and
Retief Goosen, it is also a highly responsible and tiring job which requires stamina and attention to detail.
 
“It’s not an easy job but we have every faith in the GEMs team and look forward to working closely with them at what is shaping up to be a close-fought end to the season,” added Tarratt.
 
Free season tickets are available from www.dubaiworldchampionship.com as well as from branches of MMI, Costa and all Dubai golf clubs.
 
In addition to DP World – Presenting Sponsor for the second year in succession – the Dubai World Championship is supported by Premium Partners Rolex, Emirates, and BMW; Sponsors Atlantis, CNN, The National and Polo/Ralph Lauren; and Event Supporters Dubai Duty Free, MMI, TNT and Toshiba.