Golf 2015: Desert Swing Is The Gem Of The Sunshine Tour
By Les Bailey
Sep 21, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Sergio Garcia reacts to a shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The European Tour opens it’s 2015 golf schedule in Johannesburg South Africa with the South African Open, but quickly moves to Abu Dhabi to start the Desert Swing. The Desert Swing is without a doubt, the Gem of The Sunshine Tour for golf fans in Europe, and around the world.
Abu Dhabi
The desert swing begins in Abu Dhabi with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on January 15th, and will include a host of European Tour stars. Rory McIlroy will be on hand, as well as the world number two, Henrik Stenson.
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Martin Kaymer is the all-time winner in Abu Dhabi, with his first Falcon Trophy coming in 2008, and back to back wins coming in 2010, and 2011.
Spaniard, Pablo Larrazabal beat Rory McIlroy, and Phil Mickelson last year by one stroke for his third, and last European Tour win. The last American to win this event, was Chris DiMarco in 2006. Rickie Fowler will be on-hand this year to represent the USA, and should finish well.
Jul 18, 2014; Wirral, GBR; Martin Kaymer tees off on the 5th hole during the second round at the 143rd Open Championship at The Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Henrik Stenson needs to only win in Abu Dhabi to complete the Desert Slam. He has won the in Dubai with two victories in the DP World Tour Championship, and won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2007. Stenson won in Qatar in 2006.
The Abu Dhabi Golf Course is managed by Troon Golf, and the par 72 championship layout plays to 7600 yards for the big boys. It was designed by Peter Harridine, and opened in 2000.
Qatar
Sergio Garcia won the 2014 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters last year, in a playoff with Fin, Mikko Ilonen. It was Garcia’s last of eleven wins on the European Tour, and his last win on any tour. Garcia has eight wins on the PGA Tour, with the last coming at the 2012 Wyndham Championship.
The field in Qatar is becoming increasingly strong as this year, 2013 US Open Champ, Justin Rose will join Henrik Stenson, and defending champ Garcia as the marquee players in a strong European Tour field.
The Doha Golf Course was designed by Peter Harradine, and opened in 1996. It is yet another par 72 layout in the desert, and plays to a length of 7600 yards.
With a $2.5 Million Dollar purse, the Qatar Masters features the smallest purse on the Desert Swing, with the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship offering $2.7 Million Dollars, and the Dubai Desert Classic coming in at $2.65 Million.
The Qatar Masters tees of on January 21st, and hands out a trophy on Sunday, January 24th.
Dubai
The Omega Dubai Desert Classic is the finale’ for the Desert Swing, and tees off on January 29th at the Emirates Golf Course in Dubai. Scot, Stephen Gallacher will be the two-time defending champion.
The 40 year-old from Dechmont, Scotland beat a young, Emiliano Grillo from Argentina last year for his third, and last European Tour victory. Gallacher beat South African, Richard Sterne in 2013 by three shots. The win in Dubai was the start of Gallacher’s quest to make the 2014 Ryder Cup team.
The Emirates Golf Course was deigned by Karl Litten, and as the oldest venue on the Desert Swing, it opened in 1988. Like the other venues, it is a par 72 layout that plays to 7316 yards for the pros.
The Omega Dubai Desert Classic tees off on Thursday, January 29th, and finishes up on February first. The tour leaves Africa for Malaysia, Thailand, and India before returning to Africa for the Joburg Open at the end of February.
The Desert Swing features massive skyline images from around the golf course that show-off the oil wealth in this part of Africa. You will undoubtedly need to get up early to watch these tournaments, as they are usually shown on the Golf Channel, starting early in the morning.
If you love golf, and the action on the European Tour, these events are well worth getting up early to see!