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Leisurecorp’s Trilogy of Golf Events Continues
1 January 2009
Back to ArchiveThree World-Class Tournaments Part of The Race to Dubai
Leisurecorp’s incredible “hat trick” of tournaments will span across three continents and includes Africa’s oldest tournament, the South African Open; the world’s oldest tournament, The Open Championship; and the Dubai World Championship. Leisurecorp started its trilogy of international golf tournaments last month when the 98th South African Open Championship got underway at its very own Pearl Valley Golf Estates.
The 2009 season is the first year of The Race to Dubai, a new US $10 million season-long competition, which has replaced the longstanding European Tour Order of Merit and is part of Leisurecorp’s partnership with The European Tour.
Abdul Wahid Al Ulama, Vice-Chairman, Leisurecorp, said:
“The inaugural Race to Dubai is arguably one of the most exciting seasons in The European Tour’s history. For Leisurecorp, this will see three of our golf courses rise to the occasion with the South African Open at Pearl Valley Golf Estates, The Open Championship at Turnberry and the Dubai World Championship—one of the most important sporting events to ever be held in the Middle East. We are certain that each of these tournaments will prove our passion and commitment to the golf world.
“It’s not an understatement to say that The Race to Dubai has taken the golf world by storm. The season-long competition will visit a staggering 51 tournaments in 27 destinations and is keeping Dubai at the forefront of the sporting world throughout the entire year, while taking the game to fresh audiences around the world. I believe it is emblematic and reflective of what Dubai stands for.”
The South African Open Championship, won by Richard Sterne, is a key tournament in the 2009 season-long journey to Dubai, with the €1 million prize fund giving players the opportunity to move up in the rankings—such as Sterne, who sat at third place in The Race to Dubai after his win—and get one step closer to making the cut for the Dubai World Championship.
Boasting the strongest field in South African Open history, with three Major champions, four current Ryder Cup players, and six of South Africa’s top players, including Masters champion Trevor Immelman, triple-Major champion Ernie Els and double-US Open champion Retief Goosen, the South African Open was a great start to Leisurecorp’s trilogy of events, with the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry to represent the second.
Abdul Wahid said:
“When the eyes of the world fall upon Turnberry this summer, we are determined that the venue will stand tall with pride, taking its rightful place as one of the top golf courses in the world. When the first ball is hit, everyone at Leisurecorp—and the entire city of Dubai—should feel great pride and perhaps get a few goose bumps at the realisation that perhaps the greatest sporting event in the history of golf is being played on not only a piece of historic Scotland, but also a small piece of Dubai!”
Speaking after the South African Open Championship held last month, David Spencer, CEO–Golf Leisurecorp, said:
“We assembled one of the greatest fields ever seen at the South African Open and worked relentlessly to make our first event in The Race to Dubai the greatest golfing tournament South Africa has ever hosted. Judging by the comments made by our new champion and the trilogy of South African legends on display—Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen, not to mention many more in the world-class field—it’s clear that we have received a big thumbs up!
“We have some incredible tournaments to organise and host in 2009, so it’s good to get off to a flyer here in South Africa. And next year’s Championship at Pearl Valley Golf Estates will be even better!”
With the acquisition of the iconic Turnberry in Scotland, Leisurecorp will cement this triumvirate of prestigious international golf events when it hosts the Open Championship on the Ailsa course at Turnberry in Scotland in July this year, followed by the much anticipated climax event, the Dubai World Championship, in November.
