Local Golfers aiming for Luckiest Ball on Earth win
The UAE’s golfers came out in their droves last month to participate in the hugely successful Luckiest Ball on Earth Qualifying Series hoping to bag a spot alongside the professionals of The European Tour in the Rolex Pro-Am, the curtain raiser to the $8 million DP World Tour Championship to be held on Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates 20 – 23 November, 2014. The hotly contested series took in 21 qualifiers across 20 Emirates Golf Federation affiliated clubs with players vying for a place in the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final which is set to take place on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates this coming Sunday 12 October.
All-in-all 818 players competed in qualifying events and, in addition to the 21 qualifiers, three members of the UAE National Golf Teams have been invited to join the field for Sunday’s Grand Final where a place to play with one of the leading players on The European Tour two days before the DP World Tour Championship gets underway, is up for grabs for one lucky winner. Playing in the Pro-Am will be 46 teams captained by the European Tour professionals including the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.
The Luckiest Ball on Earth Series has proved a roaring success since it was launched in 2011 when Kevin Barrett of Arabian Ranches Golf Club won his spot in the Rolex Pro-Am. Since then Ornella Parigi (Saadiyat Beach Golf Club) in 2012 and Maureen Platt (Emirates Golf Club) last year, have enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of lining up next to some of the game’s biggest names.
Nick Tarratt, Director, European Tour International – Dubai Office, said at the draw announcement: “The Luckiest Ball on Earth initiative is one of our key local activation programmes for the DP World Tour Championship. It involves all the UAE Emirates Golf Federation affiliated golf clubs and encourages both engagement and support of the tournament. We all see things in different ways and we must never assume every golfer has all the necessary information about how to get involved with the DP World Tour Championship. Hopefully the Luckiest Ball on Earth along with our other marketing activations ensures as many loyal DP World Tour Championship fans and supporters and new golfers who may not be aware of the tournament come to Jumeirah Golf Estates in November to enjoy watching the best players on The European Tour as well as experience the tournament atmosphere. We especially thank the Emirates Golf Federation for the local sanctioning of the Luckiest Ball on Earth.”
The format for the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final will be an 18-hole individual Stableford playing off the Signature Tees, meaning the Fire course will play to around 6,800 yards. Players will tee off in threeballs off the first and tenth tees at 12.40pm, 12.50pm, 1.00pm and 1.10pm. As well as the main prize there will be subsidiary prizes for Ladies Longest Drive, Men’s Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin.
Picture caption: The 2013 Luckiest Ball on Earth winner Maureen Platt, qualifier from Emirates Golf Club, is pictured with Nick Tarratt, Director of European Tour – Dubai Office and Neal Graham, General Manager – Golf Operations of Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The top 10 European Tour Race to Dubai Rankings as of 6 October following the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship:
1. Rory MCILROY €5,400,699
2. Sergio GARCIA €2,275,712
3. Jamie DONALDSON €1,856,696
4. Thomas BJORN €1,780,152
5. Henrik STENSON €1,691,231
6. Martin KAYMER €1,570,937
7. Justin ROSE €1,503,781
8. Victor DUBUISSON €1,477,224
9. Stephen GALLACHER €1,406,033
10. Joost LUITEN €1,359,927
