Luckiest Ball on Earth Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Win a spot in the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am with the Luckiest Ball on Earth series

Matt Smith — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:10:11 +0000

By Matt Smith
The Luckiest Ball on Earth series returns to the UAE this week, with amateurs across the country vying for an opportunity to play alongside some of the game’s biggest names at the studded DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am.

First launched in 2011, the Luckiest Ball on Earth competition allows the UAE’s amateur golfers a chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa at the fifth and final Rolex Series event of the season at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which takes place between November 17-20.

Qualifying tournaments will be held at 19 golf clubs across the UAE from September 3 until October 22, with the leading players from each event booking their spot at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Fire course for the Grand Final on November 5.

The competition is open to all golfers who hold an Official Club Handicap recognised by the Emirates Golf Federation (maximum 28 for men and juniors and 36 for ladies).

“We are thrilled to offer this once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to local golfers across the United Arab Emirates,” said Tom Phillips, the DP World Tour’s Head of Middle East.

“We encourage golfers of all ages to get involved in this unique initiative that gives amateurs the chance to rub shoulders with their golfing idols at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

“We would also like to send our thanks to the 19 clubs involved and the Emirates Golf Federation who sanction this wonderful local golf initiative.”

After being crowned the leading man, woman, and junior at last year’s Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final, UAE golfers, Emanuele Galeppini, Teffy Bercero and Rory McGettigan were paired with this year’s Horizon Irish Open champion Adrian Meronk at the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am.

This year’s DP World Tour Championship will feature one of the most exclusive fields in world golf with the top 50 players on the DP World Tour Rankings taking part at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Collin Morikawa did the Dubai double last year, triumphing at the season-ending tournament while also becoming the first American to lift the Harry Vardon Trophy — given to the leading player on the DP World Tour Rankings.

Golfers can contact their local club for more details on how to enter the Luckiest Ball on Earth series.

Here are the dates for each club
September 3: Arabian Ranches Golf Club
September 16: Al Dhanna Golf Club
September 18: Montgomerie Golf Club
September 18: Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
September 24: Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
September 25: JA The Resort Golf Course
October 1: Yas Acres Golf and Country Club
October 1: Yas Links Golf Club
October 1/2: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
October 2: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
October 8: Trump International Golf Club, Dubai
October 9: The Els Club
October 9: Jumeirah Golf Estates
October 15: Tower Links Golf Club
October 15: Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club
October 15: Al Hamra Golf Club
October 16: Dubai Hills Golf Club
October 22: Abu Dhabi Golf Club
October 22: Emirates Golf Club

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The Luckiest Ball on Earth is back

Golf Digest Middle East — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:24:58 +0000

Fancy a spot in the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am alongside some of the European Tour’s biggest names?

Your chance via the annual Luckiest Ball on Earth series began on Friday with Abu Dhabi’s Al Ghazal Golf Club hosting the first of 20 qualifying events across the UAE over the next month.

The winners of each will advance to the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final at Jumeirah Golf Estates on October 29 where more than AED 300,000 in prizes, including premium hospitality tickets and merchandise for the DP World Tour Championship, will be on the line.

Ultimately, the overall male, female, and junior winner will earn starts in the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am on November 16th.

Here’s the list of qualifying events which are open to all golfers with an Official Club Handicap recognised by the EGF (maximum 28 for men and juniors and 36 for ladies).

The DP World Tour Championship sees the top 50 players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai competing for a prize fund of US$9 million. This year’s tournament will take place from November 18-21 on the Earth Course at JGE.

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Roll up, roll up for the Luckiest Ball on Earth

Kent Gray — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 04:08:55 +0000

Last year’s Luckiest Ball on Earth champion Ghazi Aurangzeb (far left) was partnered with Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera in last year’s DPWTC Pro-Am.

By Kent Gray
What do Marcus Fraser, Thorbjorn Olesen, Danny Willett, James Morrison, Bradley Dredge and Mike Lorenzo-Vera all have in common?

Spoiler alert: It’s not wins on the European Tour. Lorenzo-Vera is the odd man out there, the Frenchman’s sole victory under the auspices of the world’s most global tour coming at the 2007 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, a Challenge Tour event.

No, the link between the six players with 17 European Tour wins between them – sorry Mike, we’re sure you’ll join the list soon now you’re under the tutelage of Dubai’s Justin Parsons – is with one of the Middle East’s leading amateur events.

All six have led Pro-Am teams including winners of the DP World Tour Championship’s Luckiest Ball on Earth competition which returns for its seventh season on Saturday.

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club gets the ball rolling on Saturday with separate men’s and women’s qualifiers, beginning a stretch of 21 qualifying events at as many clubs ahead of Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 4.

The male and female champions will then join the ‘Luckiest Ball on Earth’ team, alongside a junior winner (also a new initiative in 2018 along with separate women’s qualifiers), in the DPWTC Pro-Am on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

“We can’t wait for the biggest Luckiest Ball on Earth competition to date to kick-off,” said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International, Dubai Office.

“We encourage golfers across the UAE to get involved in this one of a kind initiative which allows amateur golfers to have a chance to play alongside their golfing idols at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. With women and juniors having separate events for the first time, we are expecting to see our biggest turnout yet, which can only be good news for the game in the region.”

If you haven’t already registered, here’s the list of qualifying tournaments:

The DP World Tour Championship sees the top 60 players on the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai competing for a prize fund of US$8 million, plus a bonus pool of $5 million split between the top-10 finishers on the Race to Dubai points list following the conclusion of the JGE decider.

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Ladies feeling lucky for first time as DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am spots go on the line again

Kent Gray — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 08:16:40 +0000

Ghazi Aurangzeb, last year’s Luckiest Ball on Earth champion, with European Tour Dubai office boss Nick Tarrartt.

By Kent Gray
First it was the juniors, now the good golfing ladies of the United Arab Emirates have struck it lucky. And not before time either.

For the first time since its launch in 2011, the ‘Luckiest Ball on Earth’ amateur golf series will offer separate qualifiers for women this September-October. It means the leading lady, man and junior will now play alongside one of the European Tour’s top 60 players in the Pro-Am before the European Tour’s season-deciding DP World Tour Championship on Earth at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Nov. 15-18.

The qualifying dates have been confirmed with 21 clubs across the region participating in the Emirates Golf Federation-sanctioned series. Here they are:

The winners from each qualifier will advance to the Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final to be held on the Fire course at JGE on November 4. From there the three winners will be joined by a European Tour star in the ‘Luckiest Ball on Earth’ team for the Tuesday, Nov. 13 Pro-Am ahead of the 10th anniversary edition of the $8 million DP World Tour Championship.

“The Luckiest Ball on Earth initiative gets bigger and better each year and we are thrilled to be welcoming separate events for juniors and women in 2018,” said Nick Tarratt, Director European Tour International, Dubai Office.

“This is the eighth edition of the Luckiest Ball on Earth and we have seen a rise in participants each year with over 1,000 keen amateurs competing in a bid to play with some of their heroes on the European Tour in 2017.”

Arabian Ranches Golf Club member Kevin Barrett won the inaugural Luckiest Ball on Earth competition and played alongside Italian Ryder Cupper icon Edoardo Molinari in the Pro-Am before Italy’s Ornella Parigi (Saadiyat Beach Golf Club) became the first female winner in 2012 and lined up with Australia’s Marcus Fraser.

In 2013, former Dubai Creek Lady Captain Maureen Platt earned a place alongside Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen while in 2014 Dipesh Makwana teamed up with Race to Dubai runner-up Danny Willett. In 2015, Jairaj Gorsia (Meydan Golf) was partnered with England’s James Morrison while another Saadiyat member took home the 2016 spoils with Blanca Rivollier going on to play with Bradley Dredge.

Ghazi Aurangzeb last minute decision to enter the competition last year paid off after he had the chance to partner France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera at JGE.

“I entered the competition on a whim and now I’m the champion,” said Aurangzeb. “I think it’s such a great series and in terms of being an amateur golfer I think this is as good as it gets.”

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Could you earn a play date with Rahmbo?

Kent Gray — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:43:40 +0000

Need inspiration to keep grinding away at your game on the range this summer? May we suggest a quick scroll through the official Race to Dubai standings.

Why? Well it’s nearly time for the 7^th edition of the Luckiest Ball on Earth series where the eventual champion earns a spot in the Rolex-sponsored Pro Am ahead of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE) from November 16-19.

Only the top-60 players earn a start in the European Tour’s $8 million season-ending event on Earth at JGE, ensuring the winner of the UAE amateur competition a play date with a recognised star on November 14. Perhaps even Spanish star Jon Rahm who is set to play the DP World Tour Championship for the first time after winning last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The 2017 series will see 22 qualifying events held at 21 golf clubs with the winner of each qualifying for the Luckiest Ball on Earth grand final at JGE on October 22. Two members of the UAE National team will be granted special invites to the final leaving 24 players chasing the “Luckiest Ball”.

Here’s the schedule:

2017 Luckiest Ball on Earth Qualifying Events – Venues and Dates:
VENUE EMIRATE                              DATE
Dubai Creek Golf Club & Yacht Club Dubai                                   Sept 2
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Abu Dhabi Sept 8
Abu Dhabi Golf Club Abu Dhabi Sept 8
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Sharjah Sept 8
Al Ghazal Golf Club                             Abu Dhabi Sept 15
Jumeirah Golf Estates Dubai Sept 15
Al Dhafra Golf Club Abu Dhabi Sept 15
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club Abu Dhabi Sept 22
The Track Meydan Dubai Sept 23
Tower Links Golf Club Ras Al Khaimah                   Sept 23
Emirates Golf Club – Ladies Dubai                                    Sept 25
Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Dubai Sept 28
Emirates Golf Club – Men Dubai Sept 29
Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club Sharjah Sept 29
The Address Montgomerie Dubai Dubai Oct 6
Al Hamra Golf Club Ras Al Khaimah                   Oct 6
Al Zorah Golf Club Ajman Oct 6
Arabian Ranches Golf Club Dubai   Oct 6
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & GC Al Ain Oct 6
Trump International Dubai Oct 6
Yas Links Abu Dhabi                             Oct 6
The Els Club Dubai Oct 7
Grand Final
Jumeirah Golf Estates Dubai Oct 22

Arabian Ranches Golf Club member Kevin Barrett (Northern Ireland) captured the inaugural Luckiest Ball on Earth competition in 2011. His reward was a tee-time with Ryder Cupper Edoardo Molinari.

Blanca Rivollier enjoyed a dream day at last year’s Rolex-sponsored DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am alongside Welshman Bradley Dredge

Italian Ornella Parigi (Saadiyat Beach GC) became the first female winner in 2012 and lined up with Australia’s Marcus Fraser. In 2013, former Dubai Creek Lady Captain Maureen Platt earned a place alongside Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen while in 2014 Dipesh Makwana came out on top against almost 1000 hopefuls to be teamed up with Race to Dubai runner-up Danny Willett. In 2015, Jairaj Gorsia (Meydan Golf) drew England’s James Morrison. Last year’s winner was another Saadiyat Beach Golf Club member, Blanca Rivollier, who played with Bradley Dredge (pictured).

You must be at least 18 and hold an official cub handicap recognised by the EGF (maximum 28 for men and 36 for ladies) to be eligible.

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