By Rahul Banerji
European Tour rookie of the year Shubhankar Sharma, who was also Asia no. 1 early last year, will tee up at the Dubai Desert Classic, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with Gaganjeet Bhullar, who returns to Dubai after a gap of five years.
This time Bhullar does after a breakthrough win on the European Tour at the Fiji International last year. He will also be looking to improve on a solid tied 27th-place finish in Abu Dhabi, a Rolex Series event on the European Tour, last week, V. Krishnaswamy says from Dubai.
Also in the mix is former Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia.
Bhullar’s previous appearance in Dubai was in 2014, when he missed the cut. “The game is good and I am looking forward to it. Last week was alright and let’s see how it goes this week,” said Bhullar. “It was nice to win my maiden European Tour event in Fiji last year. I need to build on it now.”
At Abu Dhabi, Bhullar had rounds of 70-70-69-72 for a solid 7-under 281 aggregate.
‘Playing long’
Added Sharma, who played his first Dubai Desert Classic last year. “The course is playing much longer this time. Last year it was dry and the ball was running a lot.
“Last year the cut was four-under but I don’t think it will be as much this time. Anyway I am feeling confident. I worked on the game and physical fitness also as the season can get long towards the end.”
Chawrasia had played here no less than six times and made the cut three times. “But somehow I have not been able to play my best,” he said. “I have missed the cut the last two times, but am feeling more confident. Hopefully I will be able to get putting right as it has been my strength.”
The second leg of the European Tour’s desert swing tees has a star-studded field. Some of the world’s top ranked golfers from the PGA and European tours will compete at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Classy field
Bryson DeChambeau enters the field for the first time as a pro – he was T-18 as an amateur in 2016 – and others include 2017 winner Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and European Tour no. 1 in 2017, Tommy Fleetwood.
Irishman Shane Lowry, who launched his 2019 season with a wire-to-wire victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and defending champion Li Haotong will also fancy their chances, as will Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who won the event in 2007.
The field also includes Asian Tour members like Shaun Norris, who won once in Japan and was also second on Japan Tour’s Order of Merit, Kurt Kitayama, who had a breakthrough win in Mauritius, and David Lipsky, who won the Alfred Dunhill Championships in South Africa.
Gavin Green, Phachara Khwongwatmai, Thongchai Jaidee, Scott Hend and Wang Jeunghun are the other members of the Asian Tour, and Ernie Els, captain of the Internationals for the 2019 Presidents Cup, is an honorary member of the Tour.
Some tournament facts, courtesy europeantour.com
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. England’s Mark James won the maiden edition in 1989 at Emirates Golf Club, which has hosted the event on all but two occasions – in 1999 and 2000 when the action switched to Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
The tournament has been won by 24 different players from 13 different countries and the roll of honour includes ten Major champions: Seve Ballesteros (1992), Els (1994, 2002, 2005), Fred Couples (1995), José María Olazábal (1998), Mark O’Meara (2004), Tiger Woods (2006, 2008), Henrik Stenson (2007), Rory McIlroy (2009, 2015), Danny Willett (2016) and Garcia (2017),
Li Haotong clinched his second European Tour title on the Majlis Course last year, and is aiming to become only the second player to defend his title after Scotsman Stephen Gallacher, who won in 2013 and 2014.
Making history
Li held off the challenge of four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy to win by one stroke last year, setting a record winning score of 23 under par in the process and becoming the first Asian player to lift the striking Dallah trophy – which means coffee pot in Arabic.
A star-studded field will grace the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club this year, including seven Major winners.
Winning the event has proved to be something of an omen for those heading to Augusta National in recent years. In 2016 Danny Willett lifted the trophy three months prior to his maiden major triumph at the Masters and the following year Garcia matched the feat.
Four-time Major champion Ernie Els holds the record for the most wins in this event with three (1994, 2002, 2005). The South African, who will tee it up once again this year, set a Majlis Course record with an 11 under par 61 in 1994 – a record which still stands.
Also read: Callaway becomes official partner to European Tour
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