With the European Senior Tour returning to the United Arab Emirates after a 17 year absence, we take a look at the early days of the European Tour’s presence in the Persian Gulf.
The European Tour has had a presence in the Middle East since 1989 and the staging of the inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The Senior Tour returns to the United Arab Emirates after a 17 year absence with the first Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq, and a number of the golfers who took part in the early years of the Desert Classic will tee it up in Sharjah in March.
At the inaugural edition, held at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, The 1999 European Ryder Cup Captain Mark James beat Mark O’Malley in a play-off to win the European Tour’s first ever event in the Middle East.
James birdied the first extra hole after making up a two shot deficit in the final round.
Mark James won the inaugural Dubai Desert Classic in 1989
Paul Broadhurst, winner of the 2016 John Jacobs Trophy and Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, turned professional in 1989 after finishing as the Leading Amateur at The Open Championship in 1988.
His third-placed finish at the Desert Classic in 1989 kick-started a fairytale debut season, as he won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. 26 years later, he would become the second player to win the Rookie of the Year award on both the European Tour and Senior Tour, alongside record-Senior Tour winner Carl Mason.
The same year, Magnus P Atlevi, deserved winner of last year’s Rookie of the Year award, finished inside the top ten for the seventh time in his career with a five under par fifth-placed performance.
Former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance and five-time Senior Tour winner Barry Lane shared sixth place on four under par.
In 1990, Emirates Golf Club hosted the second edition of the Desert Classic where Eamonn Darcy finished four shots clear of David Feherty to win his fourth European Tour title.
The late, great Seve Ballesteros finished tied for third place with two-time Ryder Cup player and vice captain Des Smyth, who has gone on to make over 100 appearances on the Senior Tour.
Peter Fowler, winner of the John Jacobs Trophy in 2011 for topping the Senior Tour Order of Merit, finished in sixth place alongside former Ryder Cup player Steven Richardson, who made his debut on the Senior Tour last year.
Ronan Rafferty in Dubai in 1992
Ronan Rafferty, who won the Harry Vardon Trophy in 1989 for finishing at the top of the European Tour Order of Merit finished 14th that year.
The Northern Irishman would miss out on the 1992 Desert Classic title as he was beaten in a play-off by Ballesteros on the second extra hole. Lane also recorded his second sixth-placed finish in Dubai that year, sharing it with 2006 Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam.
Lane would improve to third place in the 1993 edition, with Paul McGinley, who turned 50 in December, finishing in fifth place alongside Anders Forsbrand.
David Gilford, Rafferty and Ryder Cup star Costantino Rocca finished in ninth place, as did Sven Strüver, who will be eligible to join the Senior Tour this year as he turns 50 in August.
The European Tour has since added the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, to its International Schedule.
With the stars of the Senior Tour set to return to the UAE in March, the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq heralds a new chapter of professional golf in the Middle East.
