Fleetwood to join all-star cast at Dubai Desert Classic
Tommy Fleetwood was crowned European Tour number one at the final event of the 2017 season – the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. File / Reuters
The quartet join an already all-star cast, including defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, former winners Rafa Cabrera Bello and Henrik Stenson, in addition to multiple European Tour victors Matt Fitzpatrick, Ian Poulter, Matt Wallace and Lee Westwood.
Fleetwood will arrive in Dubai looking to improve on a tie for sixth last year and, potentially, follow in the footsteps of Willett (2016) and Garcia (2017) who, just a few months on from their respective victories over the Majlis Course, went on to claim maiden Major titles at The Masters.
No stranger to success in Dubai, Fleetwood was crowned European Tour Number One at the final event of the 2017 season – the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates. He will therefore be one of the favourites to lift the iconic Dallah Trophy when the world-class field assembles next year.
“I am delighted to be playing in the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic,” said Fleetwood, currently ranked 15th on the Official World Golf Ranking. “I love playing in Dubai and this event is among my favourite weeks of the year. We always get looked after so well and the whole week is a fantastic experience. I hope in 2020 I can add my name to the amazing calibre of previous champions.”
Fleetwood will be joined by compatriot Willett, hot off a resurgence that has seen the Englishman claim two of the European Tour’s biggest titles over the past 12 months.
Not only did he take top spot at the DP World Tour Championship last year to announce a dramatic return to form, he has since gone on to claim a dominant BMW PGA Championship victory at Wentworth Club in the UK last month.
Having so impressively re-established himself as one of the most talented players in the game, Willett will no doubt arrive in confident mood when he tees it up in Dubai looking for a third career title in the city.
“My victory at this event has a very special place in my heart,” said the 32-year-old Willett. “Not only was it a fantastic springboard to what followed at Augusta a few months later, it was a title I had always wanted to win. Having watched so many star names do battle over the past 30 years, it was an honour to add my name to a list of such iconic champions. I can’t wait to get back to Emirates Golf Club in search of a second title.”
Willett will be joined by 16-time European Tour winner Garcia, who succeeded the Englishman as both Dubai Desert Classic and Masters Tournament champion two years ago.
The Spaniard fired four rounds in the 60s en route to a three-shot victory over Sweden’s Stenson two years ago, using it as a springboard to Major success.
