What pro golfers think of Dubai
Today, Dubai is part of the fabric of the golf world, home to some of the finest courses and host of three iconic tournaments in the DP World Tour Championship, Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters and the Dubai Desert Classic. But don’t take our word for it, this is what the pros think of the Dubai golf scene...
Tiger Woods
Golf’s greatest icon has played in the Desert Classic more than any other event on the European Tour outside The Open, and has won it twice.
“It's always great to be in Dubai,” said Woods. “It’s been fun to watch Dubai grow. The Majlis course has stayed pretty much the same since I first played it, but the skyline has changed quite a bit. I first played there in 2000 and I believe there was two towers where we teed off and that was kind of the driving window and there was a Hard Rock Cafe and that was it. It's changed a little bit since then, it looks like a New York skyline now. It's pretty impressive what has been done in such a short span of time. I’ve had some fun battles too. The fans are always great, they're respectful, extremely courteous and they're excited about seeing good golf.”
Rory McIlroy
The Northern Irishman made his debut as a 16-year-old amateur in the 2006 Desert Classic and has won the title three times.
“I enjoy it [Dubai] so much I lived there for a while,” said McIlroy. “It's a place I love and all of the facilities out there are tremendous. It's a great way of life. It's a great trip for a holiday and it's a perfect base. Dubai is also obviously it's a great place to connect if you're coming from the UK and want to go to the Far East anywhere or even Australia. I played in Dubai twice as an amateur and that was a great experience. I love the golf course, it’s always in great shape.”
Michelle Wie West
American Wie West played in four Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters and was runner-up in 2009.
“Oh, it's so much fun going back here,” she said of Dubai. “I always feel like I've seen a lot of Dubai over the years, but there's always something new to look for, always something new to try. It's such an interesting place; it's so mesmerising, so I'm always really happy to be there.”
Ernie Els
South African Els has been playing in Dubai for three decades and has won the Desert Classic on three occasions.
“I've been going to Dubai since 1993. I am very proud of the course I’ve built in the city too, The Els Club. We got a nice piece of land; it was the first time I've seen a piece of land like it in the desert, with beautiful dunes. It is part of a 17-year project with rugby, cricket, field hockey, you name it, any sport, basketball, baseball, any sport they can accommodate. They are creating some serious sport in the region, with facilities to educate people through sport, and my little project was building a golf course.”
Jon Rahm
Spaniard Rahm won the DP World Tour Championship three times in six years.
“Tournaments in Dubai are dates that I always look forward to. I've always had a lot of fun in the city. I've been treated really well, and the golf has always luckily been very great, as well. It's always something I look forward to. You see how many of the top players come to Dubai for these events – that says a lot about the tournaments. It's something we all absolutely enjoy. It's a great city to be at and you know, it's easy to get to Dubai.”
Henrik Stenson
Stenson has won the Desert Classic once and been runner-up as well as winning back-to-back DP World Tour Championship titles.
“For many years the Dubai Desert Classic was my ‘home’ event. I lived three minutes away. I played maybe 10 rounds a year on the course so I got more practise on the tournament course and it's good to have a bit of local knowledge. And I seemed to pick up a few more friends and supporters from living in Dubai. I really enjoy the course because you never get fed up playing it and it is also a tough test.”
Viktor Hovland
Norwegian Hovland won the 2022 Desert Classic.
“I love golf in Dubai. The golf courses are really good. The weather is nice. Food is good. I just really enjoy going to Dubai. Obviously, I would like to win again.”
Laura Davies
The seven-time Order of Merit winner has been a regular competitor in the Dubai Ladies Classic/Masters.
“I love playing in Dubai. I missed the first LET event there, unfortunately, and everyone said how much fun they had, so I went with high expectations for the second version of it and fell in love with the place. I love the golf course, the way the tournament is run, it's top class. I love going back to Dubai any time.”
Thomas Bjørn
Ryder Cup golfer Bjorn famously edged out Tiger Woods in the 2001 Desert Classic.
“Dubai is one of my favourite weeks of the year for lots of reasons. I have a home there and I've had some great results here. I just enjoy the whole week and playing on a beautiful golf course. The weather is good. It has long been the place where we feel the European season really kicks off and kicks off in a very good place. I lived with my family there for more than 25 years. It is one of the safest places on the whole planet to be. There is always so much going on in Dubai.”
Padraig Harrington
Three-time Major winner Harrington shared second with Woods behind Bjorn in 2001.
“Everybody loves coming to Dubai. That’s why it has very often attracted the strongest field for a regular European Tour event in many seasons. The course is always in great condition and it's a very, very tough course. I’ve seen the fairways being narrow than the US Open.”
Greg Norman
Double Major winner was also twice a runner-up in the Dubai Desert Classic.
“I believe I first went to Dubai in 1989 or 1990, I was one of the first players to go over and support the Desert Classic. To see the growth of the tournament to where it is today is phenomenal. I think it's just a mirror image of what's going on in Dubai generally. There has been a tremendous growth and I think it's great for the whole world in general; you see things happening there that maybe you don't see anywhere else in the world.”
Tom Watson
Eight-time Major champion Watson played the 2010 Desert Classic.
“The weather in Dubai felt good for the old bones, really good. It would too hot for me in July there, but not when the Desert Classic is held, it’s perfect then. The Majlis is very similar to the courses we have in Palm Springs in America, with the exception that it has a little bit more elevation to it. There's some uphill and downhill shots there, and I like that about the golf course.”