Best field for DP World Tour golf
dubai — The DP World Tour Championship has attracted best field in nine years since the Race to Dubai event is staged at the Jumeirah Golf Estate (JGE) in Dubai, according to Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International – Dubai Office.
“This is the best field we have had in nine years and the Race to Dubai title this year will go right to the DP World Tour Championship,” Tarratt told Khaleej Times on Sunday after a media tour of the 7,675-yard JGE course. “We have had couple of occasions when it had already been won, but before coming to Dubai this year, it (title race) is going right to the wire.”
“(Tommy) Fleetwood, (Justin) Rose and (Sergio) Garcia look like in the top of the field,” he pointed out about the top contenders for the season-ending Race to Dubai event from Thursday at the JGE. Talking about the preparedness of The Earth course, he said: “We are virtually ready, putting last coat of paint and last peg in the tent. We are ready for the players tomorrow and we are looking at the great week at the Jumeirah Golf Estate course.”
Expecting about 65,000 fans over four days, Tarratt advised fans to quickly register online for free tickets.
As Tarratt and his team at the JGE drove the media around the course on golf carts, a strong wind provided cooler relief in the afternoon. Tarratt believes that even if strong winds continue on the challenging Greg Norman layout, the 60 of the best players in the world will always give their best. “They want to win at the end of a long season and accumulate points for the world ranking, Ryder Cup and Race to Dubai.”
“What can be a challenge for golfers is that the trees have grown and it would be difficult to predict wind, when there’s no clouds, the wind could swivel a bit fair on earth course,” he explained.
Revealing a few changes to the course, he said: “Last year for various reasons we didn’t use the Back Tee, this year we are using the Back Tee on 12th par four hole at the hill.” He also added that there were a few challenges over the years with water tables but JGE have corrected that, so seventh hole is in excellent condition and it won’t be a problem or players .