From April 27-30, the Road to Mallorca returns to the UAE for the first time since 2018, and marks ten years since the first European Challenge Tour event took place in the country.
With back-to-back events, the UAE double header is part of the European Tour group’s long-term partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), announced last year, which aims to develop golf in the United Arab Emirates for at least the next decade.
When the 156-strong field tee it up at Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the Abu Dhabi Challenge, they’ll be building on the history already made in the Middle East.
Kapur makes history at Grand Final
Back in 2013, the UAE became the 45th country to host a Challenge Tour event when it staged the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final at Al Badia Golf Club.
Al Badia provided the perfect backdrop for Shiv Kapur to rewrite the record books. His four shot victory saw him climb the end of season Rankings to make history, becoming the first Indian to graduate from the Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour.
Hébert dominates in the Middle East
The following year, the tour returned for the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final at Al Badia Golf Club, and this time it was Frenchman Benjamin Hébert that came out on top with an emphatic performance.
His five shot victory, ahead of compatriot Jerome Lando Casanova, was his third win of the Challenge Tour season. That was enough to see him secure his card for the following DP World Tour campaign.
After playing on the top tier for the past eight seasons, Hébert missed out on securing his playing rights in 2022 and will be back in the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Challenge as he looks to return to the DP World Tour at the first time of asking.
Grand Final returns in 2018
After hosting the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge in both 2016 and 2017, Al Hamra Golf Club was the scene for the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final the following year.
Adri Arnaus would go on to secure a wire-to-wire victory to make sure of his promotion. The UAE has been a happy hunting ground ever since for the Spaniard. He finished in a tie for sixth place earlier this year at the same venue, at the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
