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DUBAI: Tiger Wood’s breathtaking win in the Dubai Desert Classic
last week has further sealed the emirate’s position at the hub of
world golf’s rapidly-changing landscape.
The planet’s best-known sportsman has firmly
linked the pull of his global celebrity with the stunning
entrepreneurism that has made Dubai such a magnet for the rich,
famous and ambitious.
Woods chose Dubai for the site of his first
venture into golf course design and he has already said that he will
be back next year to defend his Classic title.
The world No.1, though a golfing traditionalist
at heart, happily admits that he is a convert to the brash
expansionism that is the mark of this desert oasis.
“What they are doing is frankly phenomenal,”
he said.
“I haven’t seen anything like this and I
don’t think really anyone, anywhere around the world has seen this
type of growth and golf is one component of it.
“I certainly think golf is a big draw here.”
Woods of course is not alone among top players
in jumping onto the Dubai bandwagon.
Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els have already
lent their names and design expertise to golf course development and
Greg Norman, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia have joined their talents
in drafting the stunning four-course Jumeirah Golf Estates layout
themed around Fire, Water, Earth and Air which is still under
construction.
-- AFP
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