"The Race to Dubai will bring a new dimension to the European Tour, we are excited about the start of The Race to Dubai and the superb quality of the field for the HSBC Champions in Shanghai."
This was George O'Grady speaking ahead of the launch of the first Race to Dubai in the Autumn of 2008. After 21 years of the tour ending its season at Valderrama in southern Spain the powers that be decided to go in a different direction, reflecting the increasingly global nature of the European Tour International Schedule by focussing on the city of Dubai in the UAE. The climate, the golf course conditions, the 5-star hotels and the ease of access from airports across the world made the emirate a natural successor to Valderrama. Staging the season-finale in Dubai also enabled the tour to extend its schedule without having to worry about the weather, and it wasn't just the tournament it was holding in the desert, Jumeirah Golf Estates was to become the home of the European Tour's International operations and centre of excellence.
The initial plan was unveiled by O'Grady 19 November, 2007 at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and it was for a remodelled season-long competition based on the money list leading to the Dubai World Championship, which was to be the richest tournament in world golf with a prize fund of $10m and the Race to Dubai bonus pool was to offer a further $10m. The Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship was a partnership between the European Tour and Leisurecorp, a division of Dubai World and the developers of Jumeirah Golf Estates, the host venue for the DWC. The PGA Tour had launched its FedEx Cup in November of 2006 and the European Tour needed to evolve to compete with the American tour's brash and big money series. So, in June of 2007 at the BMW International Open representatives from the Tour and Leisurecorp met to discuss the concept.
The relationship between the Tour and Leisurecorp would extend further than just Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Dubai World Championship. Several tournaments including the South African Open, Irish Open and European Open were given support by the Dubai based company. Leisurecorp were in essence replacing Volvo in this role as the tour looked to replace the Swedish car-maker as major partner to the order of merit.
It was vital for the tour to continue to keep its own stars and attract new ones with this exciting venture;
Robert Karlsson, 2008 Volvo Order of Merit champion
“The Race to Dubai is a tremendously exciting development for everyone involved with The European Tour and European golf as a whole and something which has made the whole world of golf sit up and take notice.”
Justin Rose, 2007 Volvo Order of Merit champion
“To be Number One, to follow in the footsteps of so many great players, is an awesome feeling and it was huge for me to receive the Harry Vardon Trophy. It’s like the Premiership – a season long challenge that tests all your skills and demands consistency.”
"2007 was a great year for me personally and for The European Tour, ending with the announcement of The Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship. It is a great concept and looks like The European Tour have found the right formula.”
Sergio Garcia, former world number two
"The Race to Dubai represents a real statement of intent by The European Tour and by Dubai. The Tour has clearly moved up a gear in the ability to attract the world’s best players and Dubai has reinforced its position as a centre of world golf.”
The globalization of the European Tour schedule began in the 1980's with trips to Tunisia and Morocco, and later Dubai but it was really a major new concept in tournament golf launched in 1995 which paved the way for the Race to Dubai to become reality. In the 1970's and 80's many of Europe's leading players would play on the Safari Tour across Africa to extend their seasons in January, February, November and December and the Sun City Million Dollar Challenge had long been attracting the likes of Seve, Langer, Norman, Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle and Olazabal to play in South Africa. So there was a natural relationship built up between the European and Southern African tours and in 1995 the two tours staged the first ever 72-hole co-sanctioned tournament between two major tours. Each tour received entries to 50% of the field and money counted for both order of merits. The Lexington South African PGA Championship was played at the Wanderers Golf Club near Johannesburg and was aptly won by a the player who would become the icon of co-sanctioned events throughout the world, Ernie Els. The now 4-time Major champion has gone on to win 12 co-sanctioned tournaments between the European Tour, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
The South Africans have benefited greatly from the co-sanctioning programme and golfers from the country have won 7 major titles since that South African PGA Championship was staged in February 1995. Stars like Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen have all triumphed in golf's greatest championships; and others like Tim Clark, Branden Grace, Thomas Aiken and Richard Sterne have made an impact on the worldwide golfing stage. Co-sanctioned tournaments increased rapidly on the schedule in the years to come and as of 2013 the following European Tour events are co-sanctioned between the tour and other tours around the world:
The relationship between the Tour and Leisurecorp would extend further than just Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Dubai World Championship. Several tournaments including the South African Open, Irish Open and European Open were given support by the Dubai based company. Leisurecorp were in essence replacing Volvo in this role as the tour looked to replace the Swedish car-maker as major partner to the order of merit.
It was vital for the tour to continue to keep its own stars and attract new ones with this exciting venture;
Robert Karlsson, 2008 Volvo Order of Merit champion
“The Race to Dubai is a tremendously exciting development for everyone involved with The European Tour and European golf as a whole and something which has made the whole world of golf sit up and take notice.”
Justin Rose, 2007 Volvo Order of Merit champion
“To be Number One, to follow in the footsteps of so many great players, is an awesome feeling and it was huge for me to receive the Harry Vardon Trophy. It’s like the Premiership – a season long challenge that tests all your skills and demands consistency.”
"2007 was a great year for me personally and for The European Tour, ending with the announcement of The Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship. It is a great concept and looks like The European Tour have found the right formula.”
Sergio Garcia, former world number two
"The Race to Dubai represents a real statement of intent by The European Tour and by Dubai. The Tour has clearly moved up a gear in the ability to attract the world’s best players and Dubai has reinforced its position as a centre of world golf.”
The globalization of the European Tour schedule began in the 1980's with trips to Tunisia and Morocco, and later Dubai but it was really a major new concept in tournament golf launched in 1995 which paved the way for the Race to Dubai to become reality. In the 1970's and 80's many of Europe's leading players would play on the Safari Tour across Africa to extend their seasons in January, February, November and December and the Sun City Million Dollar Challenge had long been attracting the likes of Seve, Langer, Norman, Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle and Olazabal to play in South Africa. So there was a natural relationship built up between the European and Southern African tours and in 1995 the two tours staged the first ever 72-hole co-sanctioned tournament between two major tours. Each tour received entries to 50% of the field and money counted for both order of merits. The Lexington South African PGA Championship was played at the Wanderers Golf Club near Johannesburg and was aptly won by a the player who would become the icon of co-sanctioned events throughout the world, Ernie Els. The now 4-time Major champion has gone on to win 12 co-sanctioned tournaments between the European Tour, Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
The South Africans have benefited greatly from the co-sanctioning programme and golfers from the country have won 7 major titles since that South African PGA Championship was staged in February 1995. Stars like Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen have all triumphed in golf's greatest championships; and others like Tim Clark, Branden Grace, Thomas Aiken and Richard Sterne have made an impact on the worldwide golfing stage. Co-sanctioned tournaments increased rapidly on the schedule in the years to come and as of 2013 the following European Tour events are co-sanctioned between the tour and other tours around the world:
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