Race to Dubai
The Race to Dubai, spanning 47 tournaments in 30 countries across five continents, is a season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s No 1 player. Celebrating the global connectivity of Dubai and the European Tour, the list of champions since 2009 reads like a who’s who of modern-era greats, including three-time winner Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson with two titles, as well as Tommy Fleetwood, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. Formerly known as the Order of Merit, points are accumulated based on prize money won, with the top ranked players at the end of the season sharing a Race to Dubai bonus pool.
The 60 highest ranked players on the Race to Dubai are invited to contest the final event of the season, the $8million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – the European Tour’s flagship tournament and one of the most prestigious events outside of the four Majors. Staged at Jumeirah Golf Estates every November, the warm weather conditions are perfect for both players and spectators. The Greg Norman-designed Earth course has a reputation for delivering dramatic finales and providing a stage for the biggest stars to shine. Double winners Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson - who both call Dubai a home from home - head a list of champions since its 2009 launch also including Jon Rahm, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Lee Westwood. The emirate is also home to the $3million Omega Dubai Desert Classic – running since 1989, the tournament was the first European Tour event to be staged outside European borders and paved the way for the Tour’s transformation into a year-round global competition. Staged at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course and one of the earliest tournaments on the Race to Dubai calendar, it has a stellar list of past champions including three-time winner Ernie Els, double winners Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, as well as Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Sergio Garcia.
