Dubai World Championships 2009

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A new deal has been signed for the European Tour to stage the richest gold tournament in the world, when Dubai hosts a £4.88million ($10million) season-ending tournament in the 2009 season. Only the top 60 on the Order of Merit (money list) will be invited to play in the Dubai World Championship, with the winner taking home over £800,000.

As a result, the European Tour has decided to rename the Order of Merit the ‘Race to Dubai’, and will share over $8million between the top remaining top 15 competitors. On top of that, the winner of the ‘Race’ will receive a $2million bonus, regardless of their position in the Dubai World Championships. Players will be ranked by their earnings from their events on the European Tour, added to those from the majors and World Golf Championships.

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady said: "It will bring a new dimension to the Tour. (It will create) great drama and theatre throughout the year as all the best players in the world are given the opportunity to compete in the world's richest tournament. Moreover, as the European Tour has become ever-more global in its outlook it has become increasingly important to us to have an international base in a strategically-placed location."

Some feel the European Tour have been pushed into the move after players are increasingly moving to America to take part in the PGA Tour. The American tour already has a season-ending ‘FedEx Cup’, with £4.8million in prize money.