World Number One Tiger Woods returns to the Emirates Golf Club this week looking for a second Dubai Desert Classic title, having launched his 2008 campaign his season in typical dashing style by equalling Arnold Palmer’s record of 62 victories on the US PGA Tour.
Woods was simply awesome in winning the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in California, demolishing the field on his first appearance of the year with an eight shot victory to join Palmer in fourth place in the all-time standings for US PGA Tour career victories. Only Sam Snead (82), Jack Nicklaus (73) and Ben Hogan (64) have won more.
This week he turns his attention to The European Tour and the magnificent Majlis Course where he triumphed in 2006, defeating Ernie Els in a play-off, and finished joint third behind Henrik Stenson last year.
It will be Woods’ fifth appearance in Dubai in the past eight years as he sets his sight on a 34th European Tour title.
On his previous visits he was beaten by Thomas Björn in 2001, Mark O’Meara in 2004, won on his third appearance in 2006 and lost out to Stenson last year.
The third and final leg of The European Tour’s Gulf Swing once again has a world-class field with Woods, World Number Six Els and defending champion Stenson leading the way hoping to follow the example of Martin Kaymer in Abu Dhabi and Adam Scott in Qatar as winners in the Gulf.
Els will be seeking an unprecedented fourth Dubai Desert Classic title having again come so close a year ago when he was pipped to the post by Stenson. Els won the title in 1994, 2002 and 2004 and has finished runner-up the last two years.
Dubai-based Swede Stenson denied Els last year with a birdie on the final green at the end of a thrilling finale when any one of five players could have walked away with the title. But it was Stenson - like Els, an ambassador for organisers GolfinDubai - who delighted his many friends and supporters by lifting the famous trophy.
Stenson went on to win the WGC – Accenture Match Play title in Tucson, Arizona, and showed he is back on peak form with his second place finish in last week’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy, where he closed with an impressive seven under par 65 and was beaten only by the brilliance of Adam Scott’s 61.
“I’m delighted with the way I played,” said Stenson in Doha. “A couple of tee shots that could have been better but still I really stepped it up a notch or two with the long game compared to last year. I kept the fighting spirit, and the putting was good again and I don't think I made a bogey on the weekend.
“So I'm really happy with that , will take the positives and some more good Ryder Cup points in the bank and I'll just keep on moving forward. Dubai is going to take some good golfing to defend that title, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.”
Stenson’s runner-up finish lifted him to second on The European Tour Order of Merit behind Lee Westwood, who secured his third top five in as many events in Qatar, and notched up his 11th top ten in his past 12 events.
“Dubai is one of the best tournaments we play on Tour,” said Westwood as he looked ahead to the week. “A lot of players look forward to it and do their winter practice down there. The tournament is fantastic and it is a great test. They get a great field and it is great that Tiger is coming over – lots of World Ranking points so I am looking forward to it. I am playing very well - week in week out I have been in contention. I am delighted with the way things are going.”
The Dubai Desert Classic is also another opportunity for some of The European Tour’s up and coming stars to showcase their skills. A year ago England’s Ross Fisher made the world sit up and take notice as he stood toe-to-toe with Els, Stenson and Woods before finishing joint third with the World Number One, and Rory McIlroy provided an early glimpse of his talent when he competed as an amateur.
Twelve months on and much has changed for the teenager from Northern Ireland as he returns having become the fastest and youngest player to win a European Tour card as an Affiliate Member at the end of last year. McIlroy finished tied 33rd in Doha last week after being in contention after three rounds.
