2011 Emirates Airline Invitational hosted by Abdullah AlNaboodah

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Welcome from HH Sheikh Ahmed Welcome from Abdullah Al Naboodah Message from ADTA Message from The European Tour Title Partner, Premier Partners and Partners Lee Westwood & Review of 2010 Invitational The Invitational & Local Charities Hawker Beechcraft US Open Champion Graeme McDowell TNT Spreading its wings Ross Fisher Celebrities join in the fun Guide to viewing the action Battling it out for the Golden Ticket spots Professional entries and player profiles Course Map Yas Links Golf Club

Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore Editor: Alex Gallemore Publisher: Mike Gallemore Sales & Marketing: David Burke, Sallie Taylor, Dina Lunina Editorial: Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko, James Reeves Design: Mark Frain Technical Manager: Mark Collinge Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Printed by: Raidy, Dubai

Welcome from HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum

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t is with great pleasure that I welcome you on behalf of Emirates, the Title Partner of the 2011 Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

This year’s Emirates Airline Invitational is particularly special, with the event staged for the first time at Yas Links Golf Club, a course which has a growing reputation as one of the best in the region.

With 52 European Tour Professionals taking part, including 11 Ryder Cup players, three Major champions and the current world number one, Lee Westwood, it is easy to see why this event is recognised as one of the most popular and prestigious Pro-Ams in the sport.

Emirates has a great affinity with golf and it is tremendous to be strengthening our commitment to the sport further by supporting a tournament which will give amateurs the chance to line up alongside stars like Graeme McDowell and Ross Fisher.

The popularity of golf in the region continues to grow and as the curtain-raiser for the four-tournament European Tour Middle East Swing, the 2011 Emirates Airline Invitational has attracted its best field yet, which is great news for all the charities being supported.

Emirates is very proud of our involvement in golf around the world – we sponsor 19 tournaments, including The Ryder Cup and nine others on The European Tour International Schedule, but local events are particularly special to us.

In addition to our sponsorship of numerous events across tennis, horse

HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group

racing, sailing, football and cricket, our golf portfolio already features the Dubai World Championship, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters.

It is with great pride then that we are now the Title Partner of the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, and we look forward to helping the event grow from strength to strength.

I wish you all an enjoyable day and my best wishes to the players taking part.

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Welcome from abdullah al naboodah

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welcome you all to the 2011 Emirates Airline Invitational – amateur guests, Tour Professionals, celebrities, our Partners, Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, and, of course, our spectators who we value as integral contributors to the event.

Emirates Airline’s Title Partnership is a great boost to The Invitational. Since we launched the inaugural charity Invitational in 2007 we have been successful in building a base of select international brands as Premier Partners and Partners and to go into our fifth year with the addition of Emirates Airline as Title Partner is a big step forward.

The Emirates Airline Invitational will boost the Pro-Am, and particularly the charities that we – and the Professional Tour players – support. The three local charities that will benefit are the Make A Wish Foundation UAE; the Emirates Brest Friends cancer charity and the Future Centre for Special Needs, Abu Dhabi.

It really does take The Invitational to a new level and establishes the event as a World-class golf tournament.

I feel honoured and humbled at the support we have received from our Premier Partners, Hawker Beechcraft, Toshiba, the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, The National, Atom and Delwood and our Partners, Rolex, Voss Water, Jaguar, TNT, Yas Links Golf Club, Titleist, Prosports International and Worldwide Golf.

I also thank the Tour Professionals, who have offered to play our event despite their busy schedules during The

Abdullah Al Naboodah Host of the Emirates Airline Invitational European Tour’s Middle East Swing and the celebrities who have eagerly accepted our invitation.

The success and reputation of our Invitational has been built on the fun aspect of the event. Over the years, it’s not only the calibre of the players that has given so much pleasure to the spectators, it’s the fact that they are fun personalities who enjoy their golf and are happy to share a joke with their playing partners and interact with the galleries.

My thanks go to Chris White at Aldar Golf and to Tournament Director, James Bowring, for his expertise and hard work in organising the event.

I have been overwhelmed with the offers of support we have received from so many people and I wish all the players, Partners and spectators an enjoyable day.

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Welcome from

ADTA Dear Visitor,

Abu Dhabi has enthusiastically welcomed the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah to the Yas Links course, and what an event to tee-off this breathtaking week of golfing excellence in the UAE capital.

The presence of so many of the world’s best players competing across all three of Abu Dhabi’s championship-ready courses over the next seven days, is a powerful endorsement of the emirate’s ambition to become a world-class golfing destination of distinction.

In the coming week, the world’s golfing eyes will be on Abu Dhabi – and rightly so. From the Emirates Airline Invitational at Yas Links to the new-look, European Tour-backed Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and, ending with the Saadiyat Beach Classic charity tournament hosted by Gary Player at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, there is something for everyone.

These events give you an unparalleled opportunity to connect, up close and personal, with this dynamic golf destination and we hope that you spread word of our facilities when you return home.

I would like to close by thanking Abdullah Al Naboodah, himself such a strong local champion for the development of golf in the UAE, for his continued support and I hope that everyone involved in these wonderful

Mubarak Al Muhairi Director General Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

events, whether as a player or spectator, leaves with great memories of their experiences and of this emirate.

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E would like to wish Abdullah Al Naboodah a successful and enjoyable day at the Emirates Airline Invitational at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, on Monday, January 17th, 2011.

The addition of Emirates Airline as the Title Partner is a huge boost to the event.

The European Tour thanks Abdullah Al Naboodah and his colleagues for their support of The Tour and its Members over the past year.

It is a measure of the esteem in which he is held that so many of our Members are playing in the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

Now in its fifth year The Invitational has progressed into a much-anticipated Pro-Am which this year has become the curtain-raiser for The European Tour’s

four tournament Middle East Swing of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

We wish all the competitors and spectators an enjoyable and fun day at Yas Links Golf Club.

Keith Waters Chief Operating Officer The European Tour

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old Pals take the spoils Mike Gallemore recalls the 2010 Invitational hosted

by Abdullah Al naboodah which more than lived up to expectations and enhanced its reputation as the most enjoyable and prestigious Pro-Am in the world of golf.

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T was an ‘old pals act’ of the highest order that became the centrepiece of The Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club last January. Lee Westwood, hot on the heels of his 2009 Race to Dubai and Dubai World Championship wins cleaned up, sharing the Individual Professional prize with his good friend and ISM stablemate Darren Clarke and then partnering Abdullah to win the team event.

Westwood, who has since gone on to become world number one, was at his brilliant best and Clarke showed signs of returning to the form that won him two World Golf Championships titles as the Englishman and Irishman both shot course recordbreaking rounds of 8-under 63.

Westwood also partnered his friend and tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah to take first place in the Professional-Amateur team event section with a 9-under 62. Clarke teamed up with George Horan, Deputy Managing Director of Premier Partners

to The Invitational, Dubai Duty Free, to take third place with a 63, losing out on a one-shot countback for second place to Professional Richard Green and amateur James Collins, who qualified through the Golden Ticket he won at the Worldwide Golf Midweek Open played at Arabian Ranches prior to the event.

Professional Michael Hoey was presented with a Rolex watch for scoring a hole-in-one at the par-3 fifth hole with an 8-iron.

Westwood joked at the excellent and fun-filled prizegiving ceremony and dinner at the Park Hyatt Hotel that, “the secret to winning the team event was choosing the right partner – and Abdullah chose me.” Joint winner Clarke thanked all the Professionals for supporting Abdullah and The Invitational and commented that the field equalled any of the best Tour Pro-Ams played anywhere in the world.

Clarke and Westwood also paid tribute to the huge contribution Abdullah had made to golf in the UAE in recent years and the much-needed funds

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ALL SMILES at The Invitational last January as the fourball of Sergio Garcia, Hawker Beechcraft’s Allan Stanton, Lee Westwood, Abdullah Al Naboodah and their caddies pose for a picture. Below: Darren Clarke shows off his rarelyseen legs, and Rory McIlroy takes the time to sign autographs for his young fans.

“The secret to winning the team event was choosing the right partner – and Abdullah chose me,” joked Lee Westwood he and the Al Naboodah Group had donated to deserving charities. A live auction raised a magnificent Dhs750,000 for the three benefiting charities, Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs, Dubai Autism Centre and Red Crescent UAE.

Fun factor The players, sponsors and the considerable crowd of spectators all commented on the friendly, relaxed atmosphere of the event. At the prizegiving ceremony Clarke said he had never played in an invitational event where the fun factor affected everyone from the sponsors to the players to the spectators.

Throughout the day the banter and laughter between the players and the galleries made it a day to remember.

One young lady who won’t forget the occasion was the then 10 year old Amelia McKee, who qualified for a Golden Ticket as the leading female player and leading junior at the Worldwide Golf Midweek Open.

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Amelia, was a sensation as she kept pace with her playing partners Jean-François Lucquin, Richard Green and amateur James Collins. Her team partner, Frenchman Jean-François, commented: “She’s an amazing girl and a phenomenal talent.” Amelia’s efforts were rewarded by Abdullah giving her a special personal invitation to this year’s Invitational.

Westwood’s victory at Dubai Creek proved to be just the start of another phenomenal year for the Worksop Wonder, who built on his Europeconquering 2009 by proving himself the finest player on the planet.

He picked up his second US PGA Tour title with a play-off victory over Robert Karlsson at the St Jude Classic and although without a win on The European Tour, Westwood was a model of consistency with six top three finishes. He was third at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, runner-up at both the Dubai Desert Classic and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and third at the

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season-ending Dubai World Championship. But it was at the Majors that Westwood really showed his class.

Second-place finishes at both The Masters and The Open meant that he had finished in the top three in four of his last five Major championship appearances.

However, his season was derailed when a calf injury he had been carrying flared up at The Open and put him out of action until The Ryder Cup, causing him to miss some key events in his defence of The Race to Dubai title, including the US PGA Championship.

But he returned in the style of a true Champion at Celtic Manor, spearheading Europe’s dramatic 14½-13½ victory over the USA with 2½ points from a possible four, despite still being troubled by the injury.

World No. 1 A lifelong ambition was realised in November when he overtook Tiger Woods as world number one before retaining his ranking with a string of strong results, including an emphatic eight-stroke victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. He’s come a long way since the dark days when his game and confidence deserted him and he slipped down to 266 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

“Getting to the top of the ranking isn’t something you set out to do,” said Westwood. “With Tiger in his pomp everybody else kind of thought it was unattainable. But, obviously, people go through different things in their lives and form comes and goes. I’m one of the best examples of that.

“When you get to rock bottom you just have to break your game down and rebuild.”

The 37-year-old knows that he can’t afford to rest on his laurels with the world’s top golfers breathing down his neck. He also knows that to truly cement his legacy in the game he must finally claim the Major he so richly deserves.

“If you’re the best at something you have to put yourself in the position of the people behind you and remember what that felt like,” he said. “They all want something that I’ve got. So to retain it, I’m going to have to work harder. Besides, while being world number one is great, the defining thing in golf and what everyone is judged by is the Majors, and I still haven’t won one.”

Westwood, along with US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, again heads a star-

studded cast for this year’s Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah. The pair will be joined by some of the biggest names in European golf including current and former Ryder Cup stars Ross Fisher and Peter Hanson, Henrik Stenson, Paul McGinley, Soren Hanson, David Howell, Paul Lawrie, Thomas Levet and Ignacio Garrido; European Tour Rookie of the Year Matteo Manassero and the talented young Welshman Rhys Davies.

Must-play Pro-Am Such an esteemed line-up is no less than we’ve come to expect from this highly-respected and much-loved event. The inaugural Invitational became a must-play Pro-Am right from the outset at the Four Seasons Golf Club in 2007.

The concept of a fun but competitive Pro-Am seemed to catch everyone’s imagination, played in two-man teams as a four-ball ‘best two from four.’

The event returned to the Four Seasons in 2008 with Denmark’s Anders Hansen sharing the spoils

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Left: Fun-loving Shariar Khodjasteh hands over an IOU to his playing partner, 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie, to Paul’s chosen charity.

Below: Darren Clarke, Abdullah Al Naboodah and Lee Westwood with a cheque for AED250,000 from The Invitational to their respective charities.

Left: The laughter continues at The Invitational Prizegiving Ceremoney and Dinner at the Park Hyatt Hotel as the guests join in the fun of the occasion.

“If you’re the best at something you have to put yourself in the position of the people behind you and remember what that felt like. They all want something that I’ve got. So to retain it, I’m going to have to work harder,” Lee Westwood in the individual Pro event with Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez, ahead of a quality field that included Poulter, McDowell and Fisher. In 2009 the event moved to Dubai Creek where the field included the 2008 Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, who went on to win the Commercialbank Qatar Masters the following week.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher won the individual Pro event with a 3-under 68.

Now, with Emirates Airline taking up the title sponsorship The Invitational has really taken off as a World-class event which this year becomes the curtain-raiser for the four-tournament European PA G E

Tour Middle East Swing. The event is followed by the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship (Jan 2023), the Volvo Golf Champions (Jan 27-30), the Commercialbank Qatar Masters (Feb 3-6) and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic (Feb 10-13). That’s a solid four weeks of World-class golf in the Middle East One man who can’t wait for the event to begin is the Host himself, Abdullah Al Naboodah. He’s in no doubt about who he’ll be choosing to partner in what promises to be another captivating and fun-filled ProAm contest. “I partnered Lee Westwood in the pairs last year and we won,” he says, “so I can hardly get rid of the world number one this time.” l 21

Charity at the heart of The Invitational THE most important aspect of the Emirates Airline Invitational is the much-needed funds it raises for charity. This year the three local charities that will benefit from the event are: The cancer charity Brest Friends; the Future Centre for Special Needs; and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the UAE:

BREST FRIENDS Breast cancer is a highly complex disease. There is not and will not be a single, simple solution.

Our mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer, to fund screening programmes, and to offer support for breast cancer patients and their families by removing such barriers as limited or no health insurance, lack of transportation and childcare or language and cultural differences.

We also aim to fund and facilitate research into breast cancer epidemiology in the region.

Our Objectives: n To introduce awareness and education programmes;

n Offer print and audiovisual materials for distribution on breast self-examination and screening in a multitude of languages; n Organise a month-long Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign to PAG E

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be held over four weeks, perhaps every October; n Arrange informal talks at ladies clubs, associations, schools, tertiary institutions, hospitals, private corporations and

The Emirates Airline Invitational Tournament Director, James Bowring, presents a cheque for AED200,000 to Sara Baker, Unit Head Community Service, Dubai Autism Centre, one of the benefitting local charities at last year’s event, along with the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs. Sara spoke to the assembled guests at The Invitational Gala Dinner last January. n Ad hoc activities where opportunities arise and where appropriate, working closely with the media to reach out to the masses, including poster campaigns and messages on taxi tops and bus shelters as well as information capsules on the radio.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH ProGRAMMES: n Fund and operate a mobile breast cancer screening service (van or bus) made possible through corporate sponsorship.

The service would bring mammography screening to the heartlands, companies and associations, making it easily accessible. n Fund a National Breast Care Helpline that is answered by trained and caring volunteers and staff, to provide timely and accurate information to anyone with breast health and breast cancer concerns, including breast cancer patients and their famililies and friends.

The Helpline will not provide medical advice, make referrals to physicians, or evaluate physicians, medical facilities or services. government organisations. Topics to include an overview of breast cancer, the importance of early detection, how to conduct breast self-examination and perhaps a survivor sharing her experience;

n Provide comprehensive and dynamic breast cancer resources through a website, giving women breast-care information and the tools they need following a breast cancer diagnosis; PAG E

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Breast screening services: n Regular free clinical breast examination camps. Subsidised screening mammograms for lowincome families.

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THE FUTURE CENTRE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS The Future Centre for Special Needs is the winner of the 2010-2011 Khalifa Award for Education, Special Needs Category. The Future Centre is a non-profit making special school and rehabilitation centre catering to young individuals between the ages of 3 and 20 years old from various nationalities.

Founded in 2000, the Future Centre has grown from strength to strength with the support of companies, organisations and individuals who help the Centre with donations, sponsorships, grants, gifts and voluntary services.

FRIENDS Its mission is to provide its students with the necessary knowledge and skills in a stimulating, safe and secure environment in order for them to lead fulfilling lives. The Centre is managed by a multi-national team of multi-disciplinary specialists in the field of special education, speech and language therapy, physical, occupational therapy and psychology.

Among its recent organisational achievements was the accreditation by the Tucci Learning Solutions, USA, as a CLM (Competent Learner Model) implementing site in the region.

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THE Make-A-Wish Foundation of the UAE Our Mission is to grant the wishes of children with lifethreatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Since 1980, the Make-AWish Foundation® has enriched the lives of children with lifethreatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work.

The Foundation’s mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.

Make-A-Wish Foundation, an international non-profit organisation with 36 active offices dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. In October 2003 ‘Dubai Humanitarian City” (now International Humanitarian City) granted license for Make-A-Wish Foundation to operate within the UAE, the first Make-A-Wish Office for the Gulf Region.

Currently within the UAE there are an estimated 1,200 children (age 3-18 years) living with a lifethreatening medical condition.

A further 200 new cases are diagnosed each year.

All wishes granted by MakeA-Wish Foundation of the UAE are for the children of the UAE

– national and expatriate alike, aged 3 – 18 years who are diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition from a UAE doctor, hold a UAE passport or UAE residency. We are here to serve the children of our own community.

We are here to help enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy and instil the

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power of a dream; provide their family with a rare opportunity for short term happiness, laughter and joy. Out of respect for the children we serve, MAWF does not approach a child or family.

They are ‘referred’ to us by medical professionals treating the child, or by parents or legal guardians. Help make a child’s wish come true!

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Hawker Beechcraft boast the most comprehensive variety of business aircraft available anywhere in the world. As a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for the corporate sector, governments and individuals worldwide – the current line-up is impressive, to say the least.

The Beechcraft King Air, has three options – the 350i, the B200GT, the C90GTx. It is the best-selling business aircraft of all time, setting the standard in cabin comfort, entertainment and flexibility while delivering unmatched fuel efficiency and the lowest operating cost per seat mile, making it one of the greenest aircraft available.

The Hawker 900 is the latest evolution in the best-selling midsize aircraft of all-time and the Hawker 400, the flagship of the Hawker line, is the most advanced and luxurious super-midsize business jet in the world.

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HOW’S THAT FOR STARTERS – No.1: Graeme McDowell raises his index finger to salute the cheers of the crowds at Celtic Manor after sinking the putt that sealed a famous victory for Europe over the USA and retained The Ryder Cup.

US

Open Champion Graeme McDowell will be among the star attractions at the 2011 Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

Spearheading an elite field of 52 European Tour professionals and 52 amateurs from the worlds of sport, entertainment and commerce McDowell enjoyed what he described as a “life changing” season last year, becoming the first European for 40 years to win the US Open and playing a starring role in Europe’s dramatic 14½-13½ victory over the USA in The Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.

He shared The European Tour Player of the Year Award with 2010 Race to Dubai winner and US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer and scooped the Golf Writers award on both sides of the Atlantic. If that wasn’t enough accolades he was then awarded an MBE in The Queen’s Honours List.

So it’s a mark of great prestige for the event that after two years under the sponsorship of the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group the Irishman is now an official Emirates Airline Invitational Ambassador.

‘Tremendous atmosphere’ “The Emirates Airline Invitational is one of the best Pro-Ams in world golf,” said McDowell, who finished in a share of 13th at the Dubai World Championship and took second place on The Race to Dubai after a total of three wins on last year’s European Tour. “The Invitational is an event all The European Tour players want to play and a tournament that every amateur would die for. Over the years The Invitational has grown in stature and prestige. It’s competitive but it’s also a lot of fun and the atmosphere on the golf course is always tremendous.

“The Emirates Airline Title Partnership is a great boost for The Invitational which takes the tournament to a new international level.

“We’re all pleased to support Abdullah and his event. He has done so much for golf in the region

and he’s widely respected in the world of golf. The Invitational raises an enormous amount of money for local charities and we’re all looking forward to playing at Yas Links.”

McDowell admits that if he gets even halfway to matching his 2010 achievements this season it will be a “great year.” The 31-year-old achieved a lifelong ambition when he held off Gregory Havret over the final round at Pebble Beach last year to claim his first Major by a single stroke.

He admits that it was the most nerve wracking experience of his life but he later reflected, “it felt like playing the back nine with my dad at Portrush,” compared to the pressure of his role as Europe’s ‘anchorman’ with the job of securing the vital point Colin Montgomerie’s men needed to win back The Ryder Cup, from his match against Hunter Mahan.

McDowell rates the stunning approach he played into the 16th and the follow-up 12-foot birdie putt, which effectively sealed the win when his opponent

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“I’ve certainly lived two of my golfing dreams, to win a Major championship and to hole the winning putt in The Ryder Cup. These are ultimate dreams,” – Graeme McDowell failed to get up and down on the next hole, as the two best shots of his life. “That’s one of the hardest nine holes I’ve ever played,” said McDowell, who also won The Celtic Manor Wales Open and the Andalucia Valderrama Masters on last season’s European Tour.

“I was really nervous over every shot. I felt like I had been struggling with my swing a little bit that week and I really had to grind it out. Sixteen was the greatest second shot and the greatest putt I’ve ever hit in my career. I can’t compare that to Pebble Beach.

“The Ryder Cup was another stratosphere compared to Pebble Beach. To be able to have done that with those other 11 world-class players, it was just an amazing feeling. The last few months PA G E

has definitely been a life-changing experience. I’ve certainly lived two of my golfing dreams, to win a Major championship and to hole the winning putt in The Ryder Cup. These are absolute ultimate golf dreams for me, and I feel incredibly lucky. I can’t get my head around it but I feel very fortunate and privileged that I’ve had the opportunity.

“Where life goes from here? Obviously, I want to continue to be the best player I can possibly be.

I’ve got a good team of people around me, my management company and my family, to help me plot the rest of my life. Things are good right now and I’ve certainly got to capitalise on these things and continue to give myself the opportunity to be the best person and the best player I can be. However 35

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Graeme McDowell holds the US Open trophy with Abdullah Al Naboodah at the Yas Links Club House and then tries a few practice shots on Kyle Phillips’ renowned links course. “I’ve never played Yas Links so it will be a new experience for me – If the wind blows it will make me feel more at home,” says GMAC.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Yas Links. It will be a unique experience to play a links course in the desert,” – Graeme McDowell I perform this year will be heavily scrutinised and that is understandable. This is a new season and I can’t compare it to 2010. I will always have the same attitude towards each event I play. I will work even harder on my game because I want to win more tournaments.

“The main difference to last year will be that I can now hand pick my schedule, and build myself towards the bigger events. I’m very aware of the pitfalls, complacency and expectation levels now that I’m a Major champion and in the top ten in the world. There are all kinds of mistakes that guys have made in the past. I’m not going to let myself slip into that area.”

After a well-earned break over Christmas and New Year McDowell is looking forward to dusting off the clubs and finding out what shape his game is in here at the Emirates Airline Invitational, an event he has enjoyed immensely during his previous two appearances at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Like most of his fellow competitors this will be the first time he’s played Yas Links but he’s looking forward to the unique test posed by Kyle Phillips’ stunning layout. Just like his fellow Tour competitors PA G E

in the Emirates Airline Invitational he’s well aware that the event has become the curtain-raiser to the new-look four-event Middle East Swing.

“I’ve never played Yas Links so it will be a new experience for me,” said McDowell, who learned to play on one of the game’s most renowned and toughest links courses, Royal Portrush, in Northern Ireland.

‘Magnificent course’ “Kyle Phillips has a great reputation as a golf course designer and his Kingsbarns Course at St. Andrews, which hosts the Alfred Dunhill along with the Old Course and Carnoustie, is a magnificent links course. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Yas Links. It will be a unique experience to play a links course in the desert. It’s going to be a bit warmer than the links courses I’m used to but if the wind blows then it might make me feel more at home!”

Wind or no wind, if McDowell can come close to reproducing the dazzling form he displayed during his phenomenal 2010 season he’s going to put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces at Yas Links in the Emirates Airline Invitational. l 37

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TNT SPREADING ITS WINGS

D

espite recent economic trends, 2010 has been a year of growth and expansion for TNT Express in the Middle East. Packed full of investment and new client wins, TNT has seen service development and revenue growth throughout the year living up to their tagline – Sure We Can. TNT Express has successfully taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the prevailing economic conditions, investing in a new dedicated facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone, expansion into Hall B at Dubai International Airport and significant additions to its fleet of road vehicles.

One of the most significant developments during 2010 was the handover of the purpose-built AED40 million warehousing facility which provides TNT with a better capability to cross dock freight from air and sea onto road, feeding their already strong Middle East Road Network (MERN).

Already one of the strongest road networks in the region, 30 new 40’ trailers have been added to the MERN fleet in order to maintain service quality and support clients by providing access to more Full

Trailer Loads (FTL). One of the brightest jewels in its regional crown, TNT has also been preparing to expand its MERN capabilities to provide more daydefinite services to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Further significant investment comes in the form of a dedicated 767 freight aircraft connecting Europe to Dubai with a daily 50 ton capacity, starting this month.

Service and customer satisfaction have also seen investment this year. TNT has increased its numbers of value added services to offer merge-in-transit and special handling (rapid pick and pack) as well as upgrading internet tools and call centre technology and training to improve customer satisfaction.

Bryan Moulds, TNT Express Managing Director for the Middle East noted that the downturn has helped drive value in TNT’s services and infrastructure investments, saying: “We were prepared for a hit this year but we are glad to say it never came. Instead we found that 2010 offered us a chance to increase operational capabilities and further our service expansion activities. Whether it was the new Jebel Ali facility or fleet numbers for

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Bryan Moulds, TNT Express Managing Director for the Middle East

MERN, the strength of our position at the end of last year meant that we were able to generate increased value in the investment we had planned for the coming year.” Moulds added: “Combine this with TNT’s global route developments, such as increased Europe-Middle East service frequency and the addition of the 747 on Singapore-EU-ME rotation,

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this year has been a very positive experience.

“Considering the rapid expansion in South America where a broad-reaching road network has been created, similar to our own MERN and other client-led developments, TNT is certainly on its way to achieving its aim of becoming the industry leader in emerging markets around the world.”

4 1

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FISHER BACK IN BUSINESS Richard Bevan talks to the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group-sponsored Ryder Cup star about the highs and lows of his 2010 season and his determination to kick on this year.

Ross Fisher with his wife Jo and daughter Eve and the 3 Irish Open trophy after winning the Championship at Killarney last August.

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A

FTER a year of ups and downs in 2010 England’s Ross Fisher is relishing a return to action here at the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah as he warms up ahead of his challenge for top honours in 2011.

The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Groupsponsored player is one of The Invitational’s greatest fans, having played in the event for each of the past three years and he can’t think of a better curtainraiser to The European Tour’s hotly anticipated fourtournament Middle East Swing.

“The event keeps going from strength to strength and the field just keeps getting stronger each year,” said Fisher. “The day itself is fantastic. There’s always a fabulous atmosphere out on the course and there’s always a lot of banter flying around. It’s great fun but don’t be misled – all the players are competing as hard as they can and they all want to win.

“Abdullah and Tournament Director, James Bowring, do a wonderful job in organising the event everyone wants to play. To know that you’re part of The Invitational gives you a great feeling.

“I think it’s perfect that we’re playing at Yas Links this year as we don’t have far to travel to get to the first event of the Middle East Swing – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.”

Lifelong Ambition Fisher parted company with long-time caddie Adam Marrow last year, replacing him with veteran bagman Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey, and it was a change that yielded immediate success as the Englishman claimed the 3 Irish Open in their first outing together at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club. The 30-year-old also achieved a lifelong ambition when he made his Ryder Cup debut at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, where he formed an impressive partnership with three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington, the pair winning both of the matches they played together.

Fisher admits to being disappointed not to have made more of a dent in last year’s Race to Dubai, finishing 16th in the table in comparison to fourth in 2009 and sixth in 2008.

“I’ll take plenty of positives out of last season but there’s also plenty to work on for this season,” said Fisher, who has won a total of four European Tour titles. “Winning the 3 Irish Open in my first event with

Wobbly on the bag was a huge moment for me, especially with my management company, Horizon, being Irish. It’s an event with a great history and tradition and it was one that I always wanted to win, so to be able to keep a class act and home favourite like Paddy Harrington at bay to take the title was really special.

“I also got my first taste of The Ryder Cup and helping Europe regain the Cup was definitely the highlight of my career so far. Having experienced the drama of that tournament once I want to make sure that I’m there again in two years’ time at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

“I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to mount a serious challenge for The Race to Dubai. In 2009 I entered the Dubai World Championship as one of only four guys – along with Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer – who had a chance to top the money list.

“I really wanted to be in that position again and knew that I needed to win at least one more event in the closing stages of the season to give myself a chance. I had my chances, particularly in Shanghai where I was in a great position at the World Golf

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“I also got my first taste of The Ryder Cup and helping Europe regain the Cup was definitely the highlight of my career so far,” – Ross Fisher Championships-HSBC Champions after ten holes of the final round but as was the problem on quite a few occasions last year, my putting let me down over the closing holes and I dropped out of contention. So that’s something I’m working really hard to improve on this season.”

Relentless Fisher, who became a dad for the first time midway through the 2009 season and is still adjusting to juggling the demands of fatherhood with the relentless schedule of the modern-day touring golf professional, hopes that a more settled programme in 2011 will help bring about some more good results.

With the big money Middle East Swing ahead, the Emirates Airline Invitational provides the perfect platform to hone his skills and shake off the rust in preparation for another busy season. “I’m hoping to get into more of a routine this year as far as my PAG E

schedule goes as last year it was a bit ‘here there and everywhere,’” said Fisher. “I’m playing three of the four Middle East Swing events – Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai and, as always, I’m really looking forward to playing in the Middle East. I’m quite a big hitter so the long courses really suit my game and it would be great to get my season underway with a win as they’re all really big tournaments.

“The Emirates Airline Invitational is great way to kick-start my season. I love playing in the event.

The Al Naboodah Group are a major sponsor of mine so it’s nice to be able to give a small something back to show that I appreciate everything that Abdullah does for me. I don’t know much about Yas Links so it’s going to be exciting playing it for the first time.

“It’s been great to have a rest and spend some time with family and friends over Christmas and New Year but it’s time to get back to business now.” l 4 7

David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary

stAR sPottInG Celebrities are out in force alongside the stars of the european tour at the emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al naboodah.

David o’Leary DUBAI’S AL AHLI FC manager David O’Leary heads an all-star cast of celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment, joining the field for the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

O’Leary is gradually getting to grips with the challenge of improving the fortunes of Al Ahli and the former Arsenal Captain and Manager of Leeds United and Aston Villa has committed to the job long-term after signing a three-year contract last year and making his first signing the former FIFA World Player of the Year, Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro.

The Irishman is universally respected as a footballers’ footballer. Between 1975 and 1993 he made a club record 722 appearances for Arsenal and was Club Captain in 1982. In that time his coolheaded, constructive style helped Arsenal to win two League Championship titles, two FA Cup titles and two League Cup titles. He also had 68 caps for Ireland.

When he hung up his boots he made his mark as a manager. He had considerable success at Leeds and during his four-year

reign the club finished within the top six in the Premier League each season. He’s earned a reputation as a straight-talking, no-nonsense character who knows the game inside out.

A keen golfer, he’s had little time to play since arriving in Dubai last summer but is relishing the chance to tee it up with the stars of The European Tour, albeit with a certain amount of trepidation.

“By getting totally immersed in Al Ahli I’ve not been able to enjoy some of the great golf courses they have in the UAE,” says O’Leary. “The last time I swung a golf club was in England last July. I just haven’t had chance to play.

A friend brought me a set of golf clubs and they’re in my apartment waiting for me to use them. I’ve been spending a little time on the driving range before the Emirates Airline Invitational to see if I can still hit the ball!”

immersed in “By getting totally immersed in Al Ahli I’ve not been able to enjoy able to enjoy golf courses they some of the great golf courses they have in the UAe,” – David o’Leary David ’Leary David o PA G E

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February 4 - al ahli v Al Dhafra - UFL February 8 - al ahli v Al Dhafra - Presdients Cup March 24 - al ahli v Al Ittihad - UFL April 12 - al ahli v Al Arabi - Gulf Club Championship

www.alahliclub.ae

Ruud Gullit

Ruud Gullit shakes hands with Lee Westwood during the Fourball & Foursome Matches during The 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort.

Ruud Gullit Completing the line-up of former footballers and managers is Dutch legend Ruud Gullit. Gullit enjoyed a distinguished career as a player during the 1980s and 1990s. His club career took in spells with HFC Haarlem, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan, Sampdoria and Chelsea.

An extremely talented, athletic and versatile player who epitomised the Dutch ‘Total Football’ ethos, Gullit played as a striker, midfielder and defender at various stages of his career and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1987 and World Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989.

He captained a hugely talented Holland national side, which also included Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, to victory at Euro 88. After hanging up his boots Gullit followed the well beaten path into management, taking over at Chelsea as player-manager in 1996 when Glenn Hoddle left to manage England.

The highlight of his time in charge of Chelsea came when he became the first non-British manager to win a trophy in England with victory in the 1997 FA Cup. He went on to manage Newcastle United, Feyenoord and the Los Angeles Galaxy while also forging a successful and ongoing media career as a match analyst. Gullit took up golf in 1990 and has gone on to reduce his handicap to seven. He’s a regular competitor at Pro-Ams around the world and worked as part of a team promoting The Ryder Cup ahead of last year’s showdown at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.

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Jamie Redknapp

Spoony

Spoony

Jamie Redknapp

Spoony is golf mad and a regular on the celebrity golf circuit. He began playing 10 years ago and with a lot of hard work and practice has become a single figure handicapper. He’s good friends with Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter and DJ’d for the Englishman at his wedding in 2007 before caddying for him at the Masters Tournament a year later. He was even an ‘unofficial’ member of Sir Nick Faldo’s back room team at The Ryder Cup in Valhalla in 2008.

Spoony displayed his golfing credentials when, in 2009, he won the Fourball Alliance event at the Gary Player Invitational at Fancourt, alongside Emirates Invitational Host Abdullah Al Naboodah, Vincent Tshabalala and Thomas Aiken.

Spoony began his DJ career in pirate radio in England before moving over to the mainstream Kiss 100 as part of the famous Dreem Teem who after moving to Galaxy FM were credited with introducing ‘garage’ music to the UK mainstream. He later worked on BBC Radio 1 before moving to Five Live where the Liverpool FC fan currently presents the 606 football phonein show.

Joining David O’Leary in the field is fellow former footballer Jamie Redknapp. The Englishman enjoyed stints at Bournemouth, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton between 1989 and 2005.

A classy midfielder, it’s for his time at Liverpool between 1991 and 2002 that he is best remembered. Although his only honours during that time were the 1995 League Cup, the 2001 FA Community Shield and the 2001 UEFA Super Cup, Redknapp forged a reputation as one of the most gifted players in the English game and a well respected professional to boot.

His career was blighted by injuries which restricted his international caps to just 17 but his standing within the Liverpool team saw him become captain for the 1999-2000 season.

Married to former pop star Louise, Redknapp admits he’s a glutton for punishment when it comes to golf. “You can have a great round one day and think, ‘I’ve got this’, then the next day you have the worst round of your life. You never crack it.”

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Michael Vaughan

Allan Lamb

Michael Vaughan

Allan Lamb

Former Yorkshire and England cricketer Michael Vaughan once admitted that he realised it was time to retire when he began to daydream about golf while fielding in an important match against Worcestershire in the summer of 2009. “There I was at mid-off, and it just happened,” he said.

“It was a strange feeling. All that my mind was on was the golf on the telly. I just thought, ‘this is not right, you shouldn’t be thinking like this when you are a professional cricketer, and playing for a team such as Yorkshire.’ I woke up the next morning and thought: ‘That’s it, it’s time to move on and let the younger players have a go.’”

Vaughan forged a reputation as one of the best batsmen in the game – he was officially ranked No.1 in the world following the 2002/2003 Ashes when he scored 633 runs, including three centuries.

He was also known as an intelligent and wellliked England captain who led the side to their famous victory in the 2005 Ashes, 18 years after their last win in the contest. A golf nut, Vaughan enjoyed the experience of a lifetime when he caddied for Lee Westwood during the par 3 contest at last year’s Masters Tournament.

Another cricket legend joining the Emirates Invitational field is Allan Lamb. Born in South Africa to British parents he went on to play Test cricket for England after his home country were banned from the International game due to their apartheid regime.

Lamb, who captained England three times, was a world-class batsman, scoring 4,656 runs in Test cricket during the 1980s and 1990s and scoring14 centuries. He also scored 33,502 first class runs, with 89 centuries. He was a member of the last England side to retain the Ashes in Australia – prior to the current team’s achievement – in 1986/1987.

He played domestic cricket for both Western Province in South Africa and Northamptonshire in the UK before eventually retiring from the game in 1995 and going on to forge a successful career as television analyst. He’s also a successful motivational after dinner speaker.

Lamb is an enthusiastic golfer who plays in Pro-Ams and company golf days whenever he can. He plays off a handicap of 14.

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A Guide to viewing the action The Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah promises to be another spectacular tournament and to ensure the event is an enjoyable experience for both the world-class field and the many thousands of fans, we have produced a brief guide help you follow the action and get the best out of the day.

So please follow our guide to make your visit memorable:

CAMERAS

Please – No Flash/No Noise. You are permitted to take pictures from a safe distance so that the players will not hear your camera clicking. Please set your camera to silent and remember to take the flash off.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN USING MOBILE PHONES OR PAGERS

You are allowed to bring these items on to the golf course but they must be switched off at all times when watching the action as we don’t want you to disturb the players.

PLEASE OBEY THE MARSHALS

Please follow the instructions of the marshals as they are there to ensure the event runs smoothly and that you have the best available view of the action.

PLEASE KEEP STILL DURING PLAY

Please stay still when the players are about to hit the ball so you don’t disrupt their concentration – we want to see them at their best and we’re sure you do, too!

KEEP QUIET – AT THE RIGHT TIMES!

Please remain quiet when the players are about to hit the ball so as not to put them off – but feel free to clap and cheer at any other time when you’re impressed by the standard of play!

NO AUTOGRAPHS DURING THE ACTION

Please do not distract, speak to, or request autographs from the players during their round because they’ll be concentrating on trying to win the tournament. There will be plenty of opportunities for autographs during the course of the day.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE

You are advised to keep your distance for your won safety and avoid getting too close to the players.

IF YOU SEE A BALL ON THE COURSE – PLEASE DON’T TOUCH IT!

Never attempt to pick up any golf ball on the course – or try and move a golf ball on the course!

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL TO ALL PLAYERS

You may have a favourite player competing, but we please ask that you do not applaud or cheer a mistake made by one of their opponents!

If you follow our guide we’re sure that you will have a great time at the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah – enjoy the action!

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MIDDLE EASTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

W W W . W W G O L F. B I Z Official Media Partner Middle East

Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

GoLDen tICket QUALIFIeRs

A

MATEUR spots in the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah are always the hottest tickets in town and golfers have been battling it out to win one of these coveted ‘Golden Tickets’ in a series of regional qualifying tournaments run by the Middle East’s No.1 golf magazine, Worldwide Golf.

There were four Worldwide Golf Golden Ticket Qualifiers held at golf clubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah with the top players from each event earning a spot in the Grand Final held here at Yas Links Golf Club on January 12th.

The top adult and top junior from the Grand Final each received a Golden Ticket and will now tee it up alongside the stars of The European Tour for a day of golf they will never forget.

This year, for the first time, one international Golden Ticket was also up for grabs, complete with flights provided by the Emirates Airline Invitational. The Worldwide Golf International Golden Ticket Qualifier PA G E

was held at the stunning Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire, England, last July with 12-handicapper Steve Gray (pictured above with Tournament Director James Bowring) coming out on top in a three-man play-off to secure the golfing trip of a lifetime.

To pre-register your interest for the 2011 Golden Ticket Qualifiers please email: goldenticket@theinvitational.com

I n v i t a t i o n date

January 17th,

2011

place

Yas Links Go

lf Club

Playing alon gside leadin g european t emirates Ai rline Invitati our Profess ional at the onal Hosted

by Abdullah Al naboodah

57

European Tour Competitors European Tour pros confirmed for the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah are listed below with their final 2010 Race to Dubai ranking.

Graeme McDowell Lee Westwood

Ross Fisher

Peter Hanson

Rhys Davies

Richard Green

Fredrik Andersson Hed Danny Willett

Simon Khan

Stephen Gallacher Grégory Havret

Thongchai Jaidee Matteo Manassero David Horsey

Simon Dyson

Peter Lawrie

Raphaël Jacquelin Gareth Maybin

Damien McGrane Ignacio Garrido

Brett Rumford

Jamie Donaldson Richie Ramsay

Oliver Wilson

Henrik Stenson

John Parry

2 3 16 17 18 21 22 23 25 26 27 29 31 32 33 36 39 40 41 44 45 46 47 48 49 51 PA G E

Chris Wood Grégory Bourdy Thomas Aiken Johan Edfors Søren Hansen Bradley Dredge Richard Bland Pablo Martin Paul Lawrie Ross McGowan James Kingston Oliver Fisher Rafa Echenique Graeme Storm David Lynn Pablo Larrazabal Michael Hoey Mark Foster Steve Webster David Howell Thomas Levet Ricardo Gonzalez Paul McGinley Christian Cévaër Andrew Coltart Michael Campbell 58

53 55 58 59 60 63 65 66 69 77 79 81 82 83 84 88 90 91 92 96 110 115 123 130 143 244

Graeme McDowell Date of Birth: July 30, 1979 Birthplace: Portrush, Northern Ireland Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 8

2010 Race To Dubai ranking: 2

GRAEME McDowell was awarded the MBE this month to cap ‘an unbelievable year.’ He became the first European to win the US Open in 40 years with a composed victory at Pebble Beach last June. Playing in the final pairing, the Ulsterman carded a 74 to win by one stroke from Frenchman Grégory Havret and hold off the likes of Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who were all in the hunt. His Major win came two weeks after his triumph at The Celtic Manor Wales Open and it secured his second appearance in The Ryder Cup which was held on the same Twenty Ten course in Newport.

At Celtic Manor McDowell was Europe’s anchorman and hero as he secured the single point needed to regain the Cup by defeating Hunter Mahan 3&1 in the final singles match. McDowell then capped an incredible season by winning the Andalucia Valderrama Masters to finish second on The Race to Dubai.

Lee Westwood Date of Birth: April 24, 1973 Birthplace: Worksop, England Height: 6’ 1” Career victories: 33 LEE Westwood defends his title here at the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah after eight weeks as the World’s No.1 player following two wonderfully consistent years of golf saw him end Tiger Woods’ reign at the top of the game last October.

In 2009 The Englishman was crowned Europe’s leading player after winning The Race to Dubai with victories at the Portugal Masters and the Dubai World Championship.

It was an historic season in more ways than one for Westwood as his two victories saw him become the second most prolific English winner in European Tour history with 20 titles, ten behind Sir Nick Faldo’s record haul of 30. Last year Westwood was again a pillar of consistency with runner-up finishes at The Masters and The Open Championship. He also won the St. Jude Classic on the US PGA Tour before topping the World Ranking. He capped a stunning year with an eight-shot victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa last month.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 3 59

Ross fisher Date of Birth: November 22, 1980 Birthplace: Ascot, England Height: 6’ 3” Career victories: 4

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 16

ENGLAND’S Ross Fisher held off a spirited charge from home favourite Padraig Harrington at the 3 Irish Open last year to win his fourth European Tour title and secure his debut appearance in The Ryder Cup. Fisher carded a final round 65 to win by two strokes to qualify for Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup Team. The Englishman had a debut to remember, scoring two points from four matches to help Europe regain the Cup. Fisher won the biggest title of his career in October 2009 with a superb victory at the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain, defeating American Anthony Kim 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final after playing 126 holes in four days. Fisher won his first title in 2007 at the KLM Open and a year later he lifted his second trophy at The European Open thanks to a superb seven-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia.

Peter Hanson Date of Birth: October 4, 1977 Birthplace: Svedala, Sweden Height: 6’ 3” Career victories: 3 PETER Hanson had an exceptional season on The European Tour last year with two wins, which secured his debut in The Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in October.

The Swede won the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca in May, which put him on the cusp of automatic qualification for The Ryder Cup, and knowing he needed to win again to secure his place at Celtic Manor he won the Czech Open in a play-off in late August.

Hanson scored one point in Wales – a crucial 2-up victory with Miguel Angel Jiménez over Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton in the fourballs in Session 3.

In 2008 Hanson became the first ‘home’ winner of the SAS Masters in ten years when he prevailed by one shot in Stockholm from compatriot Pelle Edberg and England’s Nick Dougherty, three years after winning his first European Tour title at the Open de España.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 17 60

Rhys davies Date of Birth: May 28, 1985 Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland Height: 6’ 1” Career victories: 1

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 18

WELSHMAN Rhys Davies enjoyed a sensational rookie campaign on The European Tour last year with one victory and an additional five top-ten finishes to end the season 18th on The Race to Dubai.

Davies won the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco after finishing on 25-under par for a two-stroke win over South African Louis Oosthuizen. Davies earned his European Tour card with two wins in a superb season on the Challenge Tour in 2009. He picked up his first title on home soil at the SWALEC Wales Challenge and then won the Fred Olsen Challenge de España to finish fourth on the final standings and qualify for The European Tour.

As a teenager Davies was forced to choose between golf and cricket after excelling at both – playing for Glamorgan and Wales in cricket and winning the 2003 British Boys Championship in golf.

richard green Date of Birth: February 19,1971 Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Height: 6’ 2” Career victories: 4 RICHARD Green won his third European Tour title at the Portugal Masters last November after overcoming a seven shot deficit with a superb 7-under par 65. Green stormed up the leaderboard to finish on 18-under par to win by two strokes and take home the cheque for €500,000.

His good form continued as he carded a sixth place finish at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and he went on to end the season in 21st place on The Race to Dubai.

Green won his first European Tour title in 1997 at the Dubai Desert Classic and became the first left-handed winner on The European Tour since 1974 (Bob Charles) in the process. On his native PGA Tour of Australasia, Green won the 2004 MasterCard Masters before it became a co-sanctioned European Tour event and won his second European title in 2007 at the BA-CA Golf Open in Austria.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 21 61

Fredrik andersson hed Date of Birth: January 20,1972 Birthplace: Halmstad, Sweden Height: 6’ 2” Career victories: 1

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 22

FREDRIK Andersson Hed claimed his first European Tour title on his 245th start at last year’s BMW Italian Open, winning by two strokes from England’s David Horsey on 16-under par 272 to take home the cheque for €216,660.

Two weeks later Andersson Hed was in contention again at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth but despite carding a final round 4-under par 67 had to settle for second place, one stroke behind winner Simon Khan. Andersson Hed had a total of six top ten finishes in addition to his victory, including a share of sixth place at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai in what was his first outing in a WGC event, and ended the year 22nd on The Race to Dubai.

As an amateur he won the 1989 Swedish Junior Championship and the 1990 European Young Masters and in 1992 he played in the Eisenhower Trophy.

danny willett Date of Birth: October 3, 1987 Birthplace: Sheffield, England Height: 5’ 11” DANNY Willett had a strong second season on The European Tour last year with seven top-ten finishes, including second place at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, sinking a 50-foot eagle putt from off the green on the 14th at St Andrews to take a share of the lead but eventually having to settle for the runner-up slot, three shots behind champion Martin Kaymer. Willett took home €386,695 – the biggest cheque of his career – which took him over the €1million mark for the season.

In 2009 Willett had an excellent first full season on The European Tour with eight top tens to finish 58th on The Race to Dubai. Prior to turning professional in 2008 with a +5 handicap, Willett had a superb amateur career. The Yorkshireman won the English Amateur Championship at Royal St Georges in 2007 and was ranked No.1 Amateur in the world.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 23 62

Simon Khan Date of Birth: June 16, 1972 Birthplace: Epping, England Height: 6’ 3” Career victories: 2 SIMON Khan produced one of the surprises of the season last year when a sensational final round 5-under par 66 gave him a one-stroke victory over Luke Donald and Fredrik Andersson Hed at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Khan began the day seven shots behind leader Chris Wood but posted a clubhouse target of 6-under par which was good enough for the biggest victory of his career and only his second European Tour title. The win earned him a five year exemption on The European Tour and a cheque for €750,000.

His first Tour win came at the 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open where he defeated Paul Casey in a play-off.

Khan had to go through Qualifying School to earn his playing card for the 2010 season and he did so in style, winning the six-round Final Stage at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Spain.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 25

Stephen Gallacher Date of Birth: November 1, 1974 Birthplace: Dechmont, Scotland Height: 6’ 2” Career victories: 1 STEPHEN Gallacher, who won the 2009 individual Professional event at The Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, had a solid season on The European Tour last year with four top ten finishes in a sudden burst of form from May to July. He was fourth at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, taking home a cheque for €225,000, then posted back-to-back top tens at the Madrid Masters and The Celtic Manor Wales Open. He capped his run of form with a fourth place finish at The Barclays Scottish Open, earning €153,287.He ended 2010 with €931,931 for 26th place on The Race to Dubai.

Gallacher won his maiden professional title exactly 35 years after his uncle, former Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher, won his first European Tour title. Stephen made the breakthrough in impressive fashion, winning the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on his home soil at St Andrews, defeating Graeme McDowell in a play-off.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 26 63

GrÉGORY HAVRET Date of Birth: November 25, 1976 Birthplace: La Rochelle, France Height: 6’ 2” Career victories: 3

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 27

GRéGORY Havret posted his best-ever finish in a Major last year, taking second place behind Graeme McDowell at the US Open Championship at Pebble Beach. The Frenchman finished one stroke adrift of McDowell and came home with a cheque for €674,382.

He ended the campaign in 27th place on The Race to Dubai with €928,672 in prize money.

Havret turned professional in 1999 and won his first European Tour title two years later at the Atlanet Italian Open. He then had a six-year drought before his second win when he defeated the then World No.3 Phil Mickelson in a play-off at The 2007 Barclays Scottish Open. A year later Havret won again on Scottish soil, this time at the 2008 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles by one stroke from England’s Graeme Storm.

THONGCHAI JAIDEE Date of Birth: November 8, 1969 Birthplace: Lop Buri, Thailand Height: 5’ 7” Career victories: 14 THONGCHAI Jaidee posted seven top-ten finishes on The European Tour last season, including an impressive fifth place finish at the World Golf ChampionshipsAccenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Jaidee was making his debut at Dove Valley but was defeated by eventual champion Ian Poulter in the quarter final. Jaidee was a regular winner on the Asian Tour before he won his first European Tour title at the co-sanctioned Carlsberg Malaysian Open in 2004 – becoming the first Thai golfer to win on The Tour – and successfully defended his title a year later.

In 2009 Jaidee won twice, at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open and the Ballantine’s Championship. He ended the season a career-best 19th on The Race to Dubai. Prior to turning professional in 1999 Jaidee spent ten years in the Royal Thai Army as a paratrooper.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 29 64

MATTEO MANASSERO Date of Birth: April 19, 1993 Birthplace: Verona, Italy Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 1

2010 Race to Dubai: 31

MATTEO Manassero had a season to remember on The European Tour last year, breaking numerous records with a series of impressive performances. He became the youngest ever winner on The European Tour in October when he won the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar at the age of 17 years and 188 days. His good form continued with a runner-up finish behind Ian Poulter at the UBS Hong Kong Open. He ended the season in 31st place on The Race to Dubai and was duly crowned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

Earlier in the year he became the youngest-ever player to make the cut at The Masters before turning professional a month later at the BMW Italian Open. In 2009 Manassero shared 13th place at The Open Championship at Turnberry to win the Silver Medal, one month after becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Amateur Championship.

DAVID HORSEY Date of Birth: April 14, 1985 Birthplace: Stockport, England Height: 5’ 10” Career victories: 1 DAVID Horsey won his first European Tour title in fine style at the BMW International Open last season after overhauling a five stroke deficit to win by one stroke from compatriot Ross Fisher, earning a cheque for €333,330.

He posted an additional three top-ten finishes, including runner-up at the BMW Italian Open to finish 32nd on The Race to Dubai.

Horsey enjoyed a successful amateur career, which earned him a place in the 2007 Walker Cup and after turning professional he had a season to remember in 2008 on the Challenge Tour, winning twice, at the Telenet Trophy and the AGF-Allianz EurOpen de Lyon. He graduated to The European Tour as the No.1 ranked player.

In his rookie European Tour season of 2009 Horsey posted three top tens, including runner-up at the Maybank Malaysian Open.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 32 65

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SIMON DYSON Date of Birth: December 21, 1977 Birthplace: York, England Height: 6’ Career victories: 7

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 33

SIMON Dyson shared second place at the UBS Hong Kong Open for his fifth top-ten finish and his best result of last season as he ended the campaign 33rd on The Race to Dubai with €873,818 in earnings. He finished fifth in his defence of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October and had back-to-back top tens in August at the Czech Open and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and was tenth at the Madrid Masters in May. Dyson had the best season of his career on The European Tour in 2009 with victories at the KLM Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship plus a share of second place at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open to end the year eighth on The Race to Dubai with €1,807,753.

Dyson made his breakthrough on The European Tour in 2006 with two victories, six years after winning three times in a season on the Asian Tour.

PETER LAWRIE Date of Birth: March 22, 1974 Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland Height: 6’ Career victories: 1 PETER Lawrie was a model of consistency on The European Tour in 2010 with eight top ten finishes as he finished 36th on The Race to Dubai with earnings of €845,718. He was runner-up at the Czech Open 2010 after losing to Sweden’s Peter Hanson in a play-off, finished third at the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar and then came sixth at the Portugal Masters.

The Irishman won his first European Tour title in 2008 after he defeated home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a playoff at the Open de España.

In 2009 Lawrie carded four top-ten finishes, including runner-up at the KLM Open, and a share of third place in his defence of the Open de España.

He ended the season 43rd on The Race to Dubai after finishing 42nd at the Dubai World Championship presented

by DP World.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 36 67

RAPHAÉL JACQUELIN Date of Birth: May 8, 1974 Birthplace: Lyon, France Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 2

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 39

FRENCHMAN Raphaël Jacquelin had a steady 2010 season on The European Tour, coming close to capturing a third title with top three finishes at The Barclays Scottish Open, the Open de España and the SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC. He ended the season 39th on The Race to Dubai with earnings of €789,148. Jacquelin has been a Member of The European Tour since 1997 but didn’t win his first title until the 2005 Open de Madrid.

Two years later he added his second title at the BMW Asian Open and was given the now-customary Champagne dousing from his French colleagues on Tour. Jacquelin was a keen footballer as a youngster but a knee injury at the age of 13 forced him to turn his attention elsewhere. He took up tennis but then concentrated on golf and turned professional in 1995.

GARETH MAYBIN Date of Birth: September 14, 1980 Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland Height: 5’ 9” GARETH Maybin matched his best ever finish on The European Tour last year with runner-up finishes behind Marcus Fraser at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea and Graeme McDowell at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters which catapulted him to a 40th place finish on The Race to Dubai.

In 2009 it was his second place finish at the South African Open Championship which propelled him up The Race to Dubai as he carded six top tens to end his rookie campaign 53rd on the end of season ranking.

Maybin graduated to The European Tour from the Challenge Tour in 2008 after winning his first title as a professional at the Qingdao Golf Open. In November 2007 Maybin represented Ireland at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup with Michael Hoey, finishing 24th. Before turning professional in 2005 Maybin studied Sports Management for three years in the USA. PA G E

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 40 68

DAMIEN McGRANE Date of Birth: April 13, 1971 Birthplace: Meath, Ireland Height: 5’ 8” Career victories: 5

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 41

IRELAND’s Damien McGrane posted six top ten finishes on The European Tour last year, including a share of second place behind Graeme McDowell at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, to end the season 41st on The Race to Dubai with prize money of €782,719.

McGrane turned professional in 1991 and joined The European Tour in 2003 via Qualifying School. He won his first title five years later with a nine-stroke victory over Michael Lorenzo-Vera, Simon Griffiths and Oliver Wilson at the Volvo China Open. The result helped him to a careerhigh 30th on the Order of Merit.

In 2009 McGrane posted four top ten finishes including third place at the Madeira Islands Open in Portugal which helped him end the season in 60th place on The Race to Dubai. McGrane took up the game at the age of 14 at Portmarnock Golf Club.

IGNACIO GARRIDO Date of Birth: March 27, 1972 Birthplace: Madrid, Spain Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 2 IGNACIO Garrido finished runner-up behind Matteo Manassero at the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar last year and earned €222,220 in the process, helping him to finish 44th on The Race to Dubai. The Spaniard posted three additional top tens in 2010, including third place at the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco.

Garrido won his first European Tour title in 1997 at the Volvo German Open which earned him a maiden berth in The European Ryder Cup Team at Valderrama, following in the footsteps of his father, Antonio, who played in the first Ryder Cup open to Continental Europeans in 1979.

In 2003 Garrido won the biggest title of his career with a play-off victory over South African Trevor Immelman at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Garrido turned professional in 1993 with a handicap of +4 and graduated to The European Tour the following year.

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2010 Dubai World Championship: 44 69

BRETT RUMFORD Date of Birth: July 27, 1977 Birthplace: Perth, Australia Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 3 AUSTRALIA’S Brett Rumford posted two runnerup finishes and an additional four top tens on The European Tour last year on his way to finishing 45th on The Race to Dubai with earnings of €753,673.

Rumford started his campaign strongly with a third place finish at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters before finishing runner-up behind compatriot Marcus Fraser at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

He carded back-to-back top tens at the Nordea Scandinavian Masters and the 3 Irish Open before being defeated by a birdie on the last hole by Edoardo Molinari at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Rumford won his first European Tour title in 2003 at the Aa St Omer Open in France and followed it a year later with victory on the links of Baltray at the Nissan Irish Open.

2010 Race to Dubai Ranking: 45

JAMIE DONALDSON Date of Birth: October 19, 1975 Birthplace: Pontypridd, Wales Height: 5’ 11” WELSHMAN Jamie Donaldson posted nine top ten finishes on The European Tour last year, including third place at the Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles and fourth place at the Volvo China Open on his way to finishing a career-best 46th on The Race to Dubai.

In 2009 Donaldson produced his joint best performance on The European Tour with a runner-up finish behind Ricardo Gonzalez at the SAS Masters.

He ended his campaign sharing 23rd place at the Dubai World Championship for 59th place on The Race to Dubai. He turned professional in 2000 and won twice the following year on the Challenge Tour to graduate to The European Tour. He lost his card in 2006 but after another good season on the Challenge Tour in 2007 – which included victory at the Abierto Telefonica de Guatemala – he regained his 2008 European Tour card.

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2010 Race to Dubai raking: 46 70

RICHIE ramsay Date of Birth: June 15, 1983 Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland Height: 5’ 9” Career victories: 1 RICHIE Ramsay won his first European Tour title at the beginning of last season with a play-off victory over India’s Shiv Kapur at the South African Open Championship.

The pair finished on 13-under par 275 at Pearl Valley Golf Club but it was the Scot who prevailed with a birdie on the first extra hole.

Ramsay finished ninth at the 3 Irish Open and third at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai – where he picked up a cheque for €267,005 – on his way to ending the season in 47th place on The Race to Dubai.

Ramsay first made the headlines in 2006 when he became the first Scot since Findlay Douglas in 1898 to win the US Amateur Championship, one year after playing in the Walker Cup team against the United States.

Prior to turning professional in 2007 Ramsay was ranked as the top amateur in the world.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 47

OLIVER WILSON Date of Birth: September 14, 1980 Birthplace: Mansfield, England Height: 5’ 11”

ENGLISHMAN Oliver Wilson recorded six top ten finishes on The European Tour last season but is still in search of his first professional win. He came fifth at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in January and then reached the quarter finals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February on his way to ending the season with €738,598 in earnings and in 48th place on The Race to Dubai.

Wilson has had nine runner-up finishes in his career on The European Tour, including four in the 2008 season and two in 2009.

His performances in 2008 saw him become the first European to qualify for The Ryder Cup Team without a professional win and in 2009 he finished seventh on The Race to Dubai with second place finishes at the HSBC Champions and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 48 71

HENRIK STENSON Date of Birth: April 5, 1976 Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden Height: 6’ 1” Career victories: 8 HENRIK Stenson finished in a share of third place at The Open Championship at St Andrews last season to equal his best-ever finish in a Major Championship.

He won the US PGA Tour’s Players Championship in 2009 at TPC Sawgrass with a stunning final round of 6-under par 66 to win by four shots from Ian Poulter.

In 2007 he shot to worldwide acclaim by winning the Dubai Desert Classic and then the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, defeating the 2006 US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final to win his first WGC title. Stenson turned professional in 1998 and won his first European Tour title in 2001 at the Benson and Hedges International Open. He won The Heritage in 2004 before winning twice in 2006 and twice again in 2007.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 49

JOHN PARRY Date of Birth: November 17, 1986 Birthplace: Harrogate, England Height: 5’ 7” Career victories: 1 JOHN Parry won his maiden European Tour title last year with a two-stroke victory over Johan Edfors at the Vivendi Cup in September. Parry earned €204,160 for his win in Paris and his good form continued at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where he finished third behind winner Martin Kaymer and his 2007 Walker Cup teammate Danny Willett.

Parry joins three of his Walker Cup teammates as European Tour winners – Welshman Rhys Davies, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and compatriot David Horsey. Parry made his breakthrough on the Challenge Tour in 2009 with victory at the ALLIANZ Golf Open Grand Toulouse, shooting a 9-under par 63 final round to win by two strokes from Portugal’s José-Filipe Lima.

Parry ended the season 14th on the Challenge Tour ranking to earn his full European Tour card.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 51 72

CHRIS WOOD Date of Birth: November 26, 1987 Birthplace: Bristol, England Height: 6’ 5”

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 53

ENGLAND’S Chris Wood posted five top tens on The European Tour last year, including third place finishes at both the BMW Italian Open and the 3 Irish Open.

Wood also came sixth at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and was fifth at the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca and ended the season 53rd on The Race to Dubai with earnings of €694,465.

In 2009 Wood was named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year after a superb debut season, the highlight of which was a third place finish at The Open Championship at Turnberry, one year after he won the Silver Medal as the best placed amateur for his fifth place finish at Royal Birkdale. He also had five top tens in 2009.

Wood turned professional in 2008 after his heroics at The Open and he earned his card for the 2009 season by finishing fifth at Qualifying School in November.

GRÉGORY BOURDY Date of Birth: April 25, 1982 Birthplace: Bordeaux, France Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 3 GRÉGORY Bourdy’s best result on The European Tour last year came on home soil in July when he posted a sixth place finish at the Alstom Open de France. An additional three top tens helped him end the season 55th on The Race to Dubai with earnings of €639,564.

The Frenchman won one European Tour title per season for three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009, starting with the Mallorca Classic. A year later he won the Estoril Open de Portugal and in 2009 he won the UBS Hong Kong Open to seal his place in the top 60 on The Race to Dubai and claim a spot in the inaugural Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.

Bourdy was introduced to the game of golf at the age of four by his golf-loving family. He won the Scottish Youth Amateur Open Championship in 2002 before turning professional a year later.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 55 73

Thomas aiken Date of Birth: July 16, 1983 Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa Height: 5’ 10” Career victories: 7

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 58

THOMAS Aiken came second at the Africa Open in January last year and added a second top ten in March at the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco before ending the season with a 13th place finish at the Dubai World Championship for 58th place on the final Race to Dubai ranking. He has seven titles to his name on his native Sunshine Tour and in 2009 he had his best year on The European Tour, finishing 46th on The Race to Dubai.

Aiken had a run of five top ten finishes in seven outings in the early stages of the season, including a tie for seventh place at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship in Florida, and he ended the season with prize money earnings of €660,332.

He made his breakthrough on the Sunshine Tour in 2004 with three victories and followed it with two more in 2005 and additional victories in 2006 and 2008.

johan edfors Date of Birth: October 10, 1975 Birthplace: Varberg, Sweden Height: 6’ 1” Career victories: 3 JOHAN Edfors came agonisingly close to winning his fourth European Tour title at the Vivendi Cup in Paris last year but had to settle for second place behind rookie Englishman John Parry. Edfors posted four top tens in 2010 including his runner-up finish in Paris and a fourth place finish at the Volvo China Open on his way to finishing 59th on The Race to Dubai.

Edfors shot to notoriety on The European Tour in 2006 with three victories in a sensational season. The Swede won the TCL Classic, The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and The British Masters at The Belfry as he ended the season in a career-best tenth place on the Order of Merit.

Edfors turned professional in 1997 and won his first Challenge Tour titles in 2003 on his way to finishing top of the ranking to earn his European Tour card.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 59 74

søren hansen Date of Birth: March 21, 1974 Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark Height: 6’ Career victories: 2

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 60

SØREN Hansen started his 2010 European Tour season with three consecutive top-ten finishes – eighth place at the South African Open Championship followed by sixth at the Joburg Open and then eighth at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. He finished third at the Maybank Malaysian Open and went on to end the season 60th on The Race to Dubai.

In 2008 Hansen became only the second Dane after Thomas Björn to play in The Ryder Cup after qualifying for Sir Nick Faldo’s Team at Valhalla Golf Club in the United States by accumulating 12 top 15 finishes.

Hansen joined The European Tour in 1999 after graduating from the Challenge Tour and won his first European Tour title in 2002 at the Irish Open. He had a five-year wait for his next victory which came at the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany.

bradley dredge Date of Birth: July 6, 1973 Birthplace: Tredegar, Wales Height: 6’ Career Victories: 2 BRADLEY Dredge posted three top-ten finishes on The European Tour last year including third place at the BMW International Open on his way to finishing 63rd on The Race to Dubai. He won his first European Tour title at the 2003 Madeira Island Open with an eight-stroke victory over Andrew Marshall, Brian Davis and Fredrik Andersson Hed. In 2006 Dredge secured his second Tour title at the Omega European Masters and narrowly missed out on back-to-back victories when he finished runner-up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The high point of Dredge’s career came in 2005 when he teamed up with Stephen Dodd to win the World Cup in Portugal for Wales, defeating the English duo of Luke Donald and David Howell and Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson by two strokes.

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2010 Race to Dubai Ranking: 63 75

Richard bland Birthplace: Burton-on-Trent, England Date of Birth: February 3, 1973 Height: 6’ 1”

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 65

RICHARD Bland had his best season on The European Tour last year with two top ten finishes on his way to finishing 65th on The Race to Dubai with earnings of €451,271. The Englishman posted a third place finish at the Avantha Masters in India before finishing in fifth place at the 3 Irish Open at Killarney thanks to a final round 65. Bland turned professional in 1996 and won his first Challenge Tour title in 2001 at the Challenge Tour Grand Final which helped him earn his card for The European Tour.

The following year he had his best-ever finish on The European Tour with a share of second place at the Irish Open to end the season 73rd on the Order of Merit.

Bland has qualified on three occasions for The European Tour through his Challenge Tour ranking in 2001, 2004 and 2008.

pablo martin Date of Birth: April 20, 1986 Birthplace: Malaga, Spain Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 3 PABLO Martin successfully defended his title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa last month to take an early lead in the 2011 Race to Dubai. Martin carded rounds of 69, 70, 68 and 70 to win by two shots from Charl Schwartzel, Anthony Michael and Thorbjorn Olesen at Leopard Creek Golf Club and take home a cheque for €158,500.

Martin created history in 2007 by becoming the first amateur to win a European Tour event when he won the Estoril Open de Portugal. He turned professional three months later and won his first title as a pro at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December 2009, the first event of The 2010 Race to Dubai season.

As an amateur Martin won the 2001 British Boys Championship at just 15 years of age and later played American college golf at Oklahoma State University.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 66 76

paul lawrie Date of Birth: January 1, 1969 Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland Height: 5’ 11” Career victories: 5

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 77

PAUL Lawrie wrote himself into the history books at the 128th Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999 by coming from ten shots behind the leader with a final round of 67 to book his place in the four-hole play-off.

He then birdied the final two holes to beat Frenchman Jean Van De Velde and former Open Champion Justin Leonard to claim the Auld Claret Jug. Having also won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, he finished a career-high sixth place on the Order of Merit.

Lawrie also made The 1999 Ryder Cup Team and enjoyed a great tournament at Brookline, USA, scoring three-and-a-half points in Europe’s dramatic one point defeat by the USA. Lawrie had to wait until 2001 for his next Tour victory, which also came on Scottish soil at the inaugural Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

ross mcGOWAN Date of Birth: April 23, 1982 Birthplace: Basildon, England Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 1 ROSS McGowan made his breakthrough on The European Tour in 2009 with a string of impressive performances, including his first win, at the Madrid Masters. A third round 60 paved the way for his success, although his round will not appear in the record books because preferred lies were in play in soggy Spain.

McGowan finished on 25 under par to win by three from Finland’s Mikko Ilonen. In addition to his win McGowan had four top tens, including a runner-up finish at the inaugural Dubai World Championship behind runaway champion Lee Westwood and he went on to end the season 12th on The Race to Dubai.

McGowan turned professional at the end of 2006 after winning the English Amateur Championship, defeating Oliver Fisher in the final. Last year McGowan’s best result was eighth place at the Volvo China Open.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 77 77

james kingston Date of Birth: November 30, 1965 Birthplace: Rustenburg, South Africa Height: 6’ Career victories: 15 JAMES Kingston won his first European Tour title on European soil in 2009 with a play-off victory over Denmark’s Anders Hansen at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany. Kingston’s first-ever European Tour title was a one-stroke victory over Oliver Wilson at the 2007 South African Airways Open. Kingston had come close to winning the 2003 Commercialbank Qatar Masters but was defeated in a play-off by fellow South African Darren Fichardt.

Kingston won his first tournament in 1992 at the Lombard Tyres TVL Classic in his homeland and has since added nine titles on the Sunshine Tour. He’s also won four titles on the Asian Tour: the Thailand Open and the Maekyung Daks Open in Korea in 1998 and 1999 respectively, plus the London Myanmar Open and the Ericsson Classic, Chinese Taipei in 2000.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 79

oliver fisher Date of Birth: September 13, 1988 Birthplace: London, England Height: 6’ 1” OLIVER Fisher excelled as a youngster, winning the Faldo Series in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and he wrote himself into the history books by becoming, at the age of 16, the youngest ever golfer to play in the Walker Cup when he represented Great Britain and Ireland at the Chicago Golf Club in 2005.

Fisher then became the youngest Briton to win a place on The European Tour at the 2006 Qualifying School, where he played as an amateur before taking the fifth available card and promptly turning professional.

Fisher came close to his first European Tour title in 2008 at the Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano but was defeated by Thomas Levet. Last year Fisher had four top-tens in finishing 81st on The Race to Dubai, including runner-up at the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal and fourth at the Ballantine’s Championship.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 81 78

rafa echenique Date of Birth: October 28, 1980 Birthplace: San Luis, Argentina Height: 5’ 8” Career Victories: 4

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 81

RAFA Echinique was set to win his first European Tour title last summer at the Nordea Scandinavian Masters in Sweden but was pipped at the post by home favourite Richard S. Johnson who birdied the final hole to seal a one-stroke win.

Echenique won The European Tour’s Shot of the Year in 2009 with a stunning albatross on the final hole of the BMW International Open. He holed his second shot from 243-yards with a 3-iron which almost won him the tournament. He came home in a European Tour recordequalling 27 shots but Nick Dougherty held on for a oneshot win. Echenique ended the season a career-high 78th on The Race to Dubai. In 2006 Echenique won the Telia Challenge Waxholm on the Challenge Tour to graduate to The European Tour for 2007. He has four victories to his name on his native Argentinian Tour.

graeme storm Date of Birth: March 13, 1978 Birthplace: Hartlepool, England Height: 5’ 10 Career victories: 1 GRAEME Storm secured his maiden European Tour title at the 2007 Open de France Alstom and went on to finish the season a career-best 16th on the Order of Merit.

Storm came from five strokes off the lead to win by one from Denmark’s Søren Hansen after firing a brilliant final round 5-under-par 66.

Storm carded three top-ten finishes in addition to his win in France to break the €1 million mark for the first time in his career, ending the campaign with €1,209,673.

In 2009 he had three top-ten, finishes including a share of third place at the Open de Andalucia de Golf, which helped him finish the season 49th on The Race to Dubai with €649,875 in prize money. As an amateur Storm was a member of the victorious 1999 Walker Cup Team and won the 1999 Amateur Championship which earned him a place in The Masters Tournament the following year.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 83 79

david lynn Date of Birth: October 20, 1973 Birthplace: Billinge, England Height: 6’ 3” Career Victories: 1

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 84

DAVID Lynn finished inside The European Tour’s top 90 for the 11th consecutive year last season with his best result coming at the Austrian Golf Open presented by Botarin where he was defeated by Jose Manuel Lara in a play-off.

Lynn won the KLM Open in the Netherlands which helped him finish his season a career-high 26th on the Order of Merit. In 2008 he celebrated his tenth year on The European Tour with five top-ten finishes on his way to finishing 35th on the Order of Merit.

The Englishman first earned his Tour card through the Challenge Tour in 1997 but lost it a year later after missing eight cuts by just one shot. However, he bounced back with an excellent performance at Qualifying School in 1999 and has regained his card every year since then.

Pablo Larrazábal Date of Birth: May 15, 1983 Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain Height: 5’ 10” Career Victories: 1 PABLO Larrazábal shot into the limelight in 2008 when he won the Open de France Alstom in Paris, just one week after earning his place in the field by winning a 36-hole qualifying tournament.

The Spaniard won by four strokes from Colin Montgomerie and went on to end the campaign with two additional top-ten finishes for 18th place on the Order of Merit. Larrazábal was crowned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year after his debut season which culminated in him representing his country at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup where he teamed up with Miguel Angel Jiménez and finished second behind Sweden.

Larrazábal earned his European Tour card after graduating through Qualifying School in November 2007, finishing tenth on the final rankings. Last year he posted three top-ten finishes, including third place at the BMW International Open in Germany.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 88 80

Michael Hoey Date of Birth: February 13,1979 Birthplace: Ballymoney, Northern Ireland Height: 6’ Career Victories: 1

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 90

MICHAEL Hoey made his breakthrough on The European Tour in 2009 with a play-off victory over Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño at the Estoril Open de Portugal. The Ulsterman prevailed on the third extra hole to take home a cheque for €208,330 and he went on to end the season 93rd on The Race to Dubai.Hoey had won three times on the Challenge Tour before becoming a European Tour winner. In 2005 he won the BA-CA Golf Open in Austria and earned his Tour card for the 2006 season through his Challenge Tour ranking, but struggled to make an impact and returned to the Challenge Tour in 2007.

He successfully navigated Q-School in 2008 and has kept his card ever since. Last year he posted two top tens to finish 90th on The Race to Dubai.

Hoey turned professional in 2002, one year after helping Great Britain and Ireland win The Walker Cup.

mark foster Date of Birth: August 1, 1975 Birthplace: Worksop, England Height: 6’ 2” Career Victories: 1 MARK Foster had a solid campaign on The European Tour last year with top-ten finishes at the Open de France Alstom and the Open de España. He was third in Spain and sixth in France and ended the year 91st on The Race to Dubai with €321,033 in prize money.

The Englishman won his first European Tour title in 2003 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, eventually coming out on top in a six-man play-off.

He won back-to-back English Amateur titles and was a member of the victorious 1995 Walker Cup Team at Royal Porthcawl alongside Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Stephen Gallacher. He turned professional shortly after and won twice on the 2001 Challenge Tour – at the Stanbic Zambia Open and the Charles Church European Challenge Tour Championship – to top the ranking. He has kept his European Tour card ever since.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 91 81

steve webster Date of Birth: January 17, 1975 Birthplace: Nuneaton, England Height: 5’ 8” Career victories: 2 STEVE Webster posted three top-ten finishes on The European Tour last year including eighth place at the Estoril Open de Portugal. Webster, a two-time winner on The European Tour, finished 47th on the inaugural Race to Dubai in 2009 after four top-ten finishes, including three ties for the runner-up spot. He took second place behind Thongchai Jaidee at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open in March, finished one shot behind winner Christian Cévaër at The European Open and collected his third runner-up spot at the Moravia Silesia Open presented

by ALO Diamonds. Webster made the breakthrough on The European Tour in 2005 with victory at the Telecom Italia Open after five runner-up finishes between 1998 and 2004. Two years later Webster picked up the biggest cheque of his career with victory at the Portugal Masters after defeating Swede Robert Karlsson by two strokes.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 92

david howell Date of Birth: June 23, 1975 Birthplace: Swindon, England Height: 6’ 1” Career victories: 5 DAVID Howell joined The European Tour in 1996 and won his first title at the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 before adding a second title six years later at the BMW International Open in 2005.

He enjoyed the best season of his career in 2006 with two wins and five top-ten finishes on The European Tour, ending the year in a career-high third place on the Order of Merit with €2,321,166. He won the HSBC Champions by three strokes from Tiger Woods and took the BMW Championship before ending the year with his second consecutive winning appearance in The Ryder Cup at The K Club in Ireland.

After the highs of 2006 Howell was plagued by injuries to his shoulder and lower back but came back strongly in 2008, finishing 45th on the Order of Merit with two topten finishes, including runner-up at the Estoril Open de Portugal.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 96 82

Thomas levet Date of Birth: September 5, 1968 Birthplace: Paris, France Height: 5’ 9” Career Victories: 5 THOMAS Levet won his fifth European Tour title in 2009 with a two-stroke victory over Fabrizio Zanotti at the Open de España. It was Levet’s second win in Spain in successive seasons, following his victory in the 2008 Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano after a play-off with Oliver Fisher.

Levet had to miss most of the 2006 season and the early stages of 2007 due to bouts of vertigo. Once back to full fitness the Frenchman showed his class to post four top-ten finishes towards the end of the 2007 season. Levet enjoyed a career-best season in 2004. He won The Barclays Scottish Open and had seven top-ten finishes to take a career-high fifth place on the Order of Merit. His season’s earnings were €1,747,337 and he also became only the second Frenchman to play in The Ryder Cup, at Oakland Hills.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 96

ricardo gonzalez Date of Birth: October 24, 1969 Birthplace: Corrientes, Argentina Height: 6’ Career victories: 4 ARGENTINIAN Ricardo Gonzalez won his fourth European Tour title at the SAS Masters in 2009 birdieing five of the last six holes to beat Jamie Donaldson by two strokes. He holed out for birdie from a bunker on the 17th and then struck a 9-iron approach on 18 through some trees to within five feet of the pin for birdie – a shot which later earned him The European Tour Shot of the Month for July.

Gonzalez won his maiden European Tour title at the 2001 Omega European Masters with a commanding wire-to-wire victory. His second title came at the 2003 Open de Madrid and he won his third Tour event a year later – again in Spain – at the Open de Sevilla.

He began his golfing career as a caddie in Corrientes and qualified for the 1999 European Tour season after winning the Tusker Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 115 83

paul mcginley Date of Birth: December 16, 1966 Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland Height: 5’ 7” Career victories: 9 PAUL McGinley turned professional in 1991 after a successful amateur career and earned his European Tour card at Qualifying School for the 1992 season. The Irishman has won four times on The European Tour, his first victory coming in the 1996 Hohe Brücke Open. His second title followed a year later at the Oki Pro-Am at La Moraleja in Madrid. McGinley had a great season in 2001. He finished eighth on the Order of Merit after securing victory at the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open and as a result he qualified for the 2002 Ryder Cup Team at the Belfry, where he famously holed the winning putt.

After another victorious appearance at The Ryder Cup in 2004, McGinley won the Volvo Masters in 2005 to finish a career-high third on the Order of Merit and one year later was a member of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup Team, in Ireland, for the third consecutive time.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 123

Christian Cévaër Date of Birth: April 10, 1970 Birthplace: New Caledonia Height: 5’ 11” Career Victories: 2 FRENCHMAN Christian Cévaër won his second European Tour title at the 2009 European Open, outlasting the field to finish on 7-under-par, one ahead of Steve Webster, Alvaro Quiros and Gary Orr to take home a cheque for €341,220.

Cévaër won his first European Tour title in 2004 at the Open de España, marking his comeback from a year blighted by injury. He played on a medical exemption in 2003 after fracturing his right elbow and damaged ligaments and tendons in a skiing accident in 2002 but eventually recovered to find top form and finish 41st on the Order of Merit.

Cévaër was born on the Pacific island of New Caledonia and at the age of 17 was crowned the world junior champion. He took up a scholarship at Stanford University in California – the same as Tiger Woods – and turned professional in 1993.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 130 84

Andrew Coltart Date of Birth: May 12, 1970 Birthplace: Dumfries, Scotland Height: 6’ 1” Career victories: 4 SCOTLAND’S Andrew Coltart turned professional in 1991 and was a mainstay on The European Tour between 1993 and 2007, winning two titles and making one appearance in The Ryder Cup. Coltart earned his Tour card at Qualifying School in 1993 and in his rookie year the following season he finished 42nd on the Order of Merit.

A year later he posted a runner-up finish at the Open Catalonia on his way to 28th on the Order of Merit. In 1996 he carded two runner-up finishes and as a result he posted his highest finish on the Order of Merit – seventh place. Two years later Coltart won his maiden title at the inaugural Qatar Masters with a two-shot victory over Andrew Sherborne and Patrik Sjoland at Doha Golf Club.

Coltart made his Ryder Cup debut in 1999 after earning a wild card pick from Captain Mark James before winning his second title in 2001 at the Great Northern Open.

2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 143

Michael Campbell Date of Birth: February 23, 1969 Birthplace: Hawera, New Zealand Height: 5’ 10” Career victories: 12 MICHAEL Campbell announced his arrival on the world stage by becoming the first Maori to win a Major championship with victory at the US Open at Pinehurst No.2 in 2005.

The New Zealander then won the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, beating Paul McGinley 2 and 1 in the final, to win £1million in prize money and end the best season of his career in second place on the Order of Merit. Campbell’s achievements in 2005 were further recognised when he was voted The European Tour Golfer of the Year.

Campbell has played on The European Tour since 1995 and ended his rookie season fifth on the Order of Merit thanks to two runner-up finishes. He has represented his country in the World Cup four times and is a two-time Presidents Cup player. Last month Campbell finished in a share of 12th place at the Australian Open.

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2010 Race to Dubai ranking: 244 85

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YAS LINKS GOLF CLUB Kyle Phillips’ masterpiece is the ideal venue for the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah. The Middle East’s first true links golf course ranks alongside Kyle’s world-class creations at Kingsbarns, St Andrews, and at Dundonald on the Ayrshire coast near Troon. It’s a unique golfing experience in the region which will present a real challenge for the cream of The European Tour and a tough test for the amateurs and celebrities. The luxurious Andalucia-styled clubhouse complements the golf course and provides every facility imaginable.

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DESIGNED for Sport THE REGION’S NO.1 SPORT&FITNESS MAGAZINE

Sport&Fitness Middle East In association with

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Official Media Partner Middle East

MIDDLE EAST SWING

$10 million is on the line over four events. It’s the start the pros need to get their season off to a flyer.

ABU DHABI BAHRAIN QATAR DUBAI Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood head the star-studded field to get the Middle East Swing underway at the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.

Emirates Airline announce their title sponsorship of The Invitational at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, on January 17

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Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

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CARNOUSTIE GOLF LINKS, 22-25 JULY 2010

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THE 7,450-yard par-72 Yas Links layout is one of renowned golf course architect Kyle Phillips’ proudest creations. Using famous seaside tracks such as St Andrews, Royal Birkdale and Ballybunion as inspiration the designer has succeeded in creating a first for the Middle East – a genuine links course in the desert.

“When I first came out to Abu Dhabi in February, 2007, to look at the site I was immediately captivated by the challenge of turning a 3,200 metre long strip of

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flat, sandy shoreline devoid of vegetation into an authentic traditional-style links course,” said Phillips. “We had to work out where we could find the material to build the landforms necessary to create a true, traditional-style links course. We also needed to define the coastline while at the same time protecting the mangrove plantation.

“Both problems were solved by dredging the mangrove plantation and using the sand for the landforms. Now

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“Any good golf course has to have a big finish and I believe the closing holes, 16-17-18, are three of the best closing holes of any course I know. Each hole presents its own challenge with the final par-5 hole inviting golfers to take on the green in two. When the wind is downwind it’s achievable. When it’s facing you it’s more of a lottery,” – Kyle Phillips

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we have a clearly visible coastline and a channel that enables golfers to sail all the way from Abu Dhabi Marina and moor their boat at the golf club.

“The view from the edge of the golf course along the coastline, with the blue waters of the Gulf and the mangrove plantation in the background is spectacular.

“I can’t wait to hear what the golfers think of the Yas Links experience – I’m sure they will find it different to any other course they have played in the region.”

Chris White, General Manager of Aldar Golf, Yas Links, is relishing the prospect

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of what promises to be a proud moment in the club’s short history. “The vision of Aldar properties in the planning and development of Yas Links was to create a unique and unseen golf course in the region that would add value to Yas Island as the region’s leading leisure destination,” he said.

“For Yas Links to be chosen as the venue to stage one of the most popular and prestigious Pro-Ams in the game, the Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, is testament to the unique design and quality of Yas Links. It’s going to be a wonderful occasion.”

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“The nice thing about links golf is that players can choose their own route to the pin. The big hitters can take on the challenges of clearing water or bunkers while the high handicappers can take a more canny line. Links golf is more interesting and more fun than target golf.” – Kyle Phillips

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