Westwood and Woods lead a star parade for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Challenge Match
A sizzling star-cast, spearheaded by world number one Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods, will feature in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Challenge Match to be held on Tuesday, February 8, at the Emirates Golf Club's Par-3 course, starting at 6.00pm.
The duo will be joined by defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez and three golf in DUBAi ambassadors – Mark O'Meara, Jeev Milkha Singh and Noh Seul-yul — in the six-player field that offers fans a rare opportunity to watch the marquee players up close and personal as they deliver a 'clinic' in wedge play.
The Challenge Match, one of the highlights of the tournament week, will be followed an official dinner reception which golf in DUBAi is hosting for players featuring the field.
The six players will be split into three teams, each comprising two stars and play the nine-holes in the greensomes format in which both players hit their tee shots and then select the best-positioned ball. Thereafter, they hit alternate shots with the same ball until the hole is completed.
The pairings for the Challenge Match are: Team -1 (Woods and O'Meara), Team-2 (Jimenez and Westwood) and Team-3 (Singh and Noh).
The par-27 course, measuring 1,239 yards from blue tees, has been designed such a way that it tests the skills of all. The longest hole on the course is the 194-yard third hole while the shortest hole (the fourth) measures 96 yards.
"The six players have been selected for the challenge match on the basis of their rankings and, of course, for their star value on the tour," said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'golf in DUBAi,' the promoters and organisers of the event.
"We would like to encourage more and more golf fans to come to the Emirates Golf Club and cheer top professional golfers.
Tickets for the Challenge Match cost Dh75 for general public and Dh60 for members of the Emirates Golf Federation. The opening of the Nakheel metro station just across the road would make it much easier for the fans to commute to the venue without any traffic hassles.
"We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the fans enjoy the proceedings on all four days of the tournament. A giant TV screen has been installed in the 'public village' for them to catch up the live action," he said.
"Different food and beverage outlets, charity putt competitions and free golf clinics will further add to the carnival-like atmosphere at the village," Buamaim said.
The Challenge Match will be followed by a pro am, the traditional curtain-raiser to the event, on Wednesday, starting at 7.30 am. The second shot gun is at 12.45pm.
'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Gulf News, Emirates Airlines, Emirates NBD, Mercedes-Benz, Jumeirah and wasl
