Dubai Hole in one Wins Howell First Class Emirates Flights
David Howell won First Class return flights with Emirates – the Official Airline of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic – after notching a hole-in-one on the opening day of the tournament.
Howell struck lucky on the 175-yard seventh, the hole which Emirates is holding a competition in celebration of its flagship Airbus A380.
And the Englishman plans to treat his wife to a First Class trip to Asia on the A380 with Emirates, which operates the aircraft to both London Heathrow and Manchester, as well as 10 other destinations, including four in Asia – including Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong and Beijing.
“I’m not sure whether I will bring my wife with me to an event or take a holiday, but we have been thinking of a trip to Asia for some time, most likely Thailand,” said Howell who finished on one-under par.
Sir Maurice Flanagan – Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group – presented Howell with his prize in the Emirates hospitality suite immediately after completing his round.
“Hitting a hole-in-one is extremely difficult and I must congratulate David on this tremendous achievement. I wish him well for the rest of the tournament and Emirates looks forward to welcoming him on board for his First Class flight,” said Sir Maurice.
“With millions of TV viewers able to watch David’s shot, it is great way to reinforce our position as a global force in sports sponsorship.”
Howell – who is no stranger to success in Dubai, having won the event in 1999, added: “This might sound slightly cocky, but I think that must have been my sixth hole-in-one and the second on Tour. My first hole-in-one was at Gleneagles, but this was a much more difficult shot. I hit a six-iron and it looked good from the moment I hit it and then when it landed it always looked as if it was going to go in. I almost didn’t show any emotion when it dropped because I knew it was going in.”
Emirates is the Official Airline of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the $2.5 million European Tour event held on the Majlis course, and is also sponsoring Ryder Cup great and Emirates ambassador Colin Montgomerie; 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell; 2003 Open Championship winner Ben Curtis – who has Arizona Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson caddying for him; and British rookie Chris Cannon.
Photocaptions: DDCDay1-1: David Howell is presented two First Class Emirates flights by Sir Maurice Flanagan – Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group – after hitting a hole-in-one at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Mohamed Juma Buamaim – vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi – was also at the Emirates hospitality suite to congratulate Howell.
