Stage set for inaugural edition of Ras Al Khaimah Challenge

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Ras Al Khaimah will become the latest emirate in the UAE to play host to a DP World Tour event when some of the game’s biggest names gather on the stunning Peter Harradine-designed Al Hamra course this week to contest the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital.

The opening ceremony of the inaugural tournament, which took place at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, was graced by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, along with some of the top golfers as well as sponsors and organisers of the event.

Danny Willett, Bernd Wiesberger, Robert MacIntyre, Richard Bland and twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard are among those teeing it up alongside the shimmering Arabian Gulf in the northern emirate where a $2 million prize fund and 2,750 DP World Tour Ranking Points will be up for grabs.

Englishman Willett has a strong track record in the desert having claimed victory in the 2016 Dubai Desert Classic and the 2018 DP World Tour Championship.

“I have some great memories from my time in the UAE,” said the 2016 Masters Tournament champion and eight-time DP World Tour winner.

“It’s a place I’ve always enjoyed visiting and I’ve obviously won twice in Dubai, so it’s exciting that we have a new region to visit and a new golf course to play on this year.

“It’s nice here. First look yesterday, the score is going to be low. It’s generous in places, tightens up a little bit around the greens on a few holes. A lot of it will depend on the weather, if we get weather like this for the four days I think you’re going to see some pretty low scores out there.

“But it’s a new addition, an hour down the road from Dubai which makes for easy travel for the lads and it should be a good week.”