Dubai Desert Classic preview

The European Tour remains in the Middle East for the last of three straight tournaments to be contested in The Gulf. This week an elite field tees it up for the 20th Dubai Desert Classic.

Tiger Woods, Dubai Desert Classic 2008
Fergus Bisset
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Lowdown: 2009 will see the 20th running of the Dubai Desert Classic, it has become one of the most prestigious tournaments on the European Tour schedule. Last year Tiger Woods fired a blistering final round of 65 to sneak past Martin Kaymer and Ernie Els. The history of the Dubai Desert Classic dates back to 1986 when HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the construction of a golf course in the desert. The Emirates Club opened two years later and the next season Mark James was winner of the inaugural Karl Litten Desert Classic (the competition was originally named after the designer of the course.) Sergio Garcia is the highest ranked player in this year's field and Robert Karlsson is next. Both will be looking to secure a victory in the Gulf.

Preview: FBR Open

Venue: Emirates GC, Dubai Date: Jan 29 – Feb 1 Course stats: par 72, 7,301 yards Purse: €1,900,000  Winner: €323,514 Defending champion: Tiger Woods (-14)

TV coverage: Thursday 29 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 6am Friday 30 - Live on Sky Sports 1 6am Saturday 31 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 9am Sunday 1 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 8am

Player watch: Henrik Stenson – The winner in 2007, Stenson was also joint sixth last year. He’s likely to feature again in 2009. Ernie Els – The South African is a three-time champion in the event and holds the course record of 61. He was tied for third here last year. Louis Oosthuizen – He's been on superb form over the last two weeks, finishing runner-up in both Abu Dhabi and Qatar. He was also tied third here in 2008.

Key hole: 9th. At 463 yards it’s one of the longest par-4s on the course. Add the complication of the water waiting all down the left side and you have a real brute. Skills required: Course management. There are a number of water hazards and bunkers to contend with as well as desert areas. The winner will plot his way round the course making few mistakes.

Where next?

Preview: FBR Open Equipment: TaylorMade R9 driver and fairway woods; Cobra S9-1 driver and fairway woods Industry news: Titleist named Official Ball Supplier to Challenge Tour

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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