Get Complimentary Tickets to the Dubai World Championship

Editor’s note: Complimentary tickets to the 2011 Dubai World Championship are available at www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com.

By Alan Ewens

World No. 1 Luke Donald.

THE DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP presented by DP World is set for yet another star-studded occasion featuring many of the biggest names in world golf. While there are still chances for some players to cement a playing place in the final top 60 line-up at the Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates from December 8-11, a quick glance at the current Race to Dubai standings shows that many of the game’s biggest names are already Dubai-bound for the $15 million showdown.

Among them, the world’s top three ranked players—World Number One Luke Donald, inaugural Dubai World Championship winner Lee Westwood and 2011 US Open Champion Rory McIlroy—as well as three other European big guns currently residing in the top twenty of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Germany’s World Number Six Martin Kaymer, winner of The Race to Dubai less than twelve months ago, is another player ready to tackle the Greg Norman-designed Earth course, while current Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel (World Number 13) and 2011 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell (World Number 15) will tee it up at the eagerly awaited finale to the season. And with no halfway cut in the tournament, an estimated 60,000 spectators are expected to take advantage of the complimentary tickets to see four days of guaranteed action from their favourite stars.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood.

One player who is relishing playing in the lucrative Dubai World Championship after his impressive victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland. His win by two shots at St Andrews—and the €588,148 first prize—launched him from 83rd to 15th in The Race to Dubai, not only guaranteeing exemption to the Dubai World Championship but also giving him a good chance of earning a share of the US $7.5 million end of season Bonus Pool.

“It’s just amazing what winning a big tournament can do for you,” said Hoey. “Winning the Dunhill Links will open a lot of doors for me and getting into huge tournaments like the Dubai World Championship is one of the biggest benefits. I’m ecstatic.

“Trying to get into the Dubai World Championship was one of my goals before winning in St Andrews but I don’t have to worry about any of that now. I can’t wait to get to Dubai—it will be a great way to end the season.”

For complimentary tickets to the 2011 Dubai World Championship, visit www.DubaiWorldChampionship.com.

(Photos: Alan Ewens, Dubai World Championship)