Dubai Classic goes ahead without Woods
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2003 Dubai Desert Classic | Preview | 04 Mar 2003
The Dubai Classic gets underway on Thursday amid the uncertainties in the Middle East and the distinct possibility of war breaking out at any tick of the clock at the other end of the Gulf.
This same uncertainty has lead Tiger Woods to pull out of the tournament as he is understandably concerned about being a high profile American in that part of the world at present. Ernie Els, who was also unsure about his participation has confirmed that he will be defending his 2002 Dubai Classic crown, which he won by four strokes from Swedes Niclas Fasth (2nd) and Carl Pettersson (3rd). If Els had decided to skip the event he may chosen to defend his Genuity (now Ford) Championship victory.
The event is played on the Emirates Golf Club Course in Dubai, which was designed back in the late eighties by American Karl Litten who was also for the design work on one of the two courses at The Capricorn Resort in Queensland.
Likely leading players at this stage are Els, Paul Lawrie, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn and Trevor Immelman.
Australasians entered include previous winner Richard Green, Jarrod Moseley, Terry Price, Peter Fowler and Stephen Scahill.
