UAE’s golfing bonanza sets bar high

From Abu Dhabi and Dubai to RAK, quartet of UAE DP World Tour events a sterling show

The UAE is now a global leader when it comes to golf and is one of the world’s top go-to destinations for players and fans of the game.

But this is a nation that never rests on its laurels as events such as Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, Fina World Swimming Championships, IPL, ICC T20 Cricket World Cup and the 30th anniversary Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships prove.

But the groundbreaking DP World Tour ‘UAE Swing’ stands head and shoulders above even these successes. The DP World Tour hosted four events in four weeks on these shores.

The traditional season opener in the UAE capital got things under way back in January as fans flocked to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship’s new home on a windswept Yas Links, where Belgium’s Thomas Pieters prevailed as many top golfers fell victim to the challenging links course.

Conditions improved at the second consecutive $8 million DP World Tour Rolex Series event and packed galleries witnessed one of the most thrilling finishes in the UAE at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Norway’s Viktor Hovland surged up to No. 3 in the world after taking advantage of Rory McIlroy’s visit to the water on the final hole, with the Northern Irishman having to settle for third and watch as Hovland beat Richard Bland in a play-off.

Dubai amateur Josh Hill then made his second consecutive cut following on from Abu Dhabi, while plenty of top names were packing their bags early having failed to make it to the weekend.

Wire-to-wire victory

February arrived and it was Ras Al Khaimah’s turn to take the spotlight with the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship — a $2 million DP World Tour debutant. Nicolai Hojgaard took the glory with a four-stroke victory at Al Hamra Golf Club.

Al Hamra then played host to the first ever Ras Al Khaimah Classic, with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox ensuring the UAE Swing closed with a bang thanks to a dominant wire-to-wire fivestroke victory last week.

With two more season-ending events to come in Dubai — the Viya Dubai Championship and the DSP World Tour Championships — golf fans can rest assured that they will have plenty more to cheer on this year and many more years to come in the UAE.