The quartet, all rising stars on the DP World Tour, will compete at Al Hamra Golf Club from January 25-28 before heading to Royal Golf Club in Bahrain the following week during the International Swing on the new-look 2024 Race to Dubai.

The events follow back-to-back weeks in Dubai with the Dubai Invitational and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as the Middle East forms the focal point of the DP World Tour’s early 2024 schedule.

With defending champion Daniel Gavins having already confirmed his return to Ras Al Khaimah along with three-time Major Champion Pádraig Harrington and DP World Tour winners Rasmus Højgaard and Pablo Larrazábal, the field for the showdown at Al Hamra Golf Club is starting to take shape.

Padraig Harrington – Jared C. Tilton

Bradbury, who enjoyed a stand-out debut season in 2023, is looking forward to progressing further in 2024 after finishing 36th in his maiden year on the Race to Dubai.

“I enjoy playing golf in the Middle East so I’m excited to head back to Ras Al Khaimah and also visit Bahrain for the first time. They should be great events,” he said.

Fellow countryman Fitzpatrick earned his playing privileges for 2024 through a combination of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca and strong performances in limited starts on the DP World Tour, including a tie for 17th in The Open at Royal Liverpool, and is now able to play a full schedule on the Race to Dubai.

“There was quite a lot of pressure last year because I felt like I had to play well in the limited opportunities I got to play, so it’s quite nice now to be able to plan my schedule a bit more,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s always nice to go out to the Middle East so I’m looking forward to getting out there next month.”

Germany’s Paul, who won the 2021 Mallorca Golf Open, is also looking to build on a strong 2023 which included two runner-up finishes and five other top tens.

“I felt like I played some good golf last season, particularly in the first part of the year, so hopefully I can do that again next year. I can’t wait to see everybody in Ras Al Khaimah and Bahrain,” he said.

Two-time DP World Tour winner Smith is someone who knows Al Hamra Golf Club well, having won the Challenge Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah, 2016 Golf Challenge, and always enjoys returning to a place where he’s enjoyed previous success.

Jordan Smith – Challenge Tour / Getty Images

“That victory in 2016 effectively secured the number one spot on the Challenge Tour Rankings for me, so I’ll always enjoy going back to Al Hamra,” said Smith. “This event, in addition to Bahrain, will be a really fun part of the schedule and I’m looking forward to getting out there.”

Main Image: DP World Tour / Getty Images

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You can catch up will all our coverage by visiting the website HERE, or alternatively scroll through the ISSUU links below — from Jason Kokrak and Cam Smith to the Aramco Team Series — or download to your favourite device for later.

Issue No.1 – January 2022

Issue No.2 – April 2022

Issue No.3 – August 2022

Issue No.4 – October 2022

Issue No.5 – January 2023

Issue No.6 – April 2023

Issue No.7 – August 2023

Issue No.8 – October 2023

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The new-look DP World Tour schedule for 2023-24 consolidated the UAE’s place at the top table of world golf, with five events slated across the emirates, including a season-ending double-header.

Following the traditional early-campaign events in Australia and South Africa before the Christmas break, the Tour rolls into the UAE in January for three back-to-back tournaments — including a new arrival in the form of the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort (January 11-14), before heading to Emirates Golf Club and the 35th Hero Dubai Desert Classic (January 18-21). The Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club rounds out the triple-header (January 25-28).

Both the Dubai Invitational and RAK event offer prize money of $2.5 million, with the Rolex Series Desert Classic having $9 million up for grabs.

In another revamp to the calendar, Bahrain will be joining the DP World Tour. From February 1-4, the Royal Golf Club will host some of the world’s top players to the resort, south of Manama, with a purse of $2.5 million.

Thomas Pieters thrived at a stormy Yas Links in 2022 to claim the Abu Dhabi Championship. Getty Images

In one of the most significant changes, the Abu Dhabi Championship has been moved from its traditional January spot to form a season finale play-off along with the DP World Tour Championship.

Running in November, these two two final Rolex Series events of the season with have a pool of $19 million in prize money. The Abu Dhabi Championship will welcome the leading 70 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings to Yas Links, before the top 50 head back to Dubai for the showdown at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the DP World Tour’s Number One player will be crowned.

At the conclusion of the DP World Tour’s 2024 season, the leading 10 players will share a $6 million bonus pool. The top 10 DP World Tour members on the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings (not otherwise exempt) will earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2025 season.

“Our 2024 season will see our members come together to compete across a global schedule, with greater opportunities and rewards than ever before,” said Keith Pelley, the DP World Tour’s chief executive. “The many new and original enhancements we have introduced will guarantee drama and excitement for our fans, our broadcasters and all our stakeholders across the entire season and means, more than ever, that every week counts on the DP World Tour.”

Here is the full 2023-24 DP World Tour schedule

Opening Swing
November 23-26 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship (Royal Queensland GC, Brisbane, Australia)
November 23-26 ​​​​​​Joburg Open (Houghton GC, Johannesburg, South Africa)
November 30-December 3 ISPS Handa Australian Open (The Australian GC & The Lakes GC, Sydney, Australia)
November 30-December 3 Investec South African Open Championship (Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate, Lanseria, Johannesburg, South Africa)
December 7-10 Alfred Dunhill Championship (Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa)
December 14-17 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (Heritage La Réserve GC, Heritage Bel Ombre, Mauritius)
International Swing
January 11-14 2024 Dubai Invitational (Dubai Creek Resort, Dubai, UAE)
January 18-21 Hero Dubai Desert Classic (Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE)
January 25-28 Ras Al Khaimah Championship (Al Hamra GC, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE)
February 1-4 Bahrain Championship (Royal GC, Kingdom of Bahrain)
February 22-25 Magical Kenya Open (Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya)
February 29-March 3 SDC Championship (TBC, South Africa)
March 7-10 Jonsson Workwear Open (TBC, South Africa)
Asian Swing
March 21-24 Singapore Classic (Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Singapore)
March 28-31 Asian Event TBA (TBC)
April 11-14 The Masters (Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia, USA)
April 18-21 Korea Championship (Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, Incheon, South Korea)
April 25-28 ISPS Handa Championship (Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba Course, Gotemba City, Japan)
May 2-5 Volvo China Open (Hidden Grace GC, Shenzhen, China)
May 16-19 PGA Championship (Valhalla GC, Louisville, Kentucky, USA)
European Swing
May 23-26 Soudal Open (Rinkven International GC, Antwerp, Belgium)
May 30-June 2 European Open (Green Eagle Golf Courses, Hamburg, Germany)
June 6-9 Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed (TBC, Sweden)
June 13-16 US Open (Pinehurst Resort & CC, Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA)
June 20-23 KLM Open (The International, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
June 27-30 Italian Open (TBC, Italy)
July 4-7 BMW International Open (Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany)
Closing Swing
July 11-14 Genesis Scottish Open (The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland)
July 11-14 Event TBA (TBC, USA)
July 18-21 The 152nd Open (Royal Troon GC, Ayrshire, Scotland)
July 18-21 Barracuda Championship (Tahoe Mt Club, Truckee, California, USA)
August 1-4 Olympic Men’s Golf Competition (Le Golf National, Paris, France)
August 15-18 D+D Real Czech Masters (Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic)
August 22-25 Danish Golf Championship (Lübker Golf Resort, Aarhus, Denmark)
The Back 9
August 29-September 1 Betfred British Masters (The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England)
September 5-8 Omega European Masters (Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland)
September 12-15 Horizon Irish Open (Royal County Down GC, Newcastle, Co Down, Northern Ireland)
September 19-22 BMW PGA Championship (Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England)
September 26-29 acciona Open de España presented by Madrid (Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
October 3-6 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns, Scotland)
October 10-13 Open de France (Le Golf National, Paris, France)
October 17-20 Andalucia Masters (Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, San Roque, Andalucia, Spain)
October 24-27 Event TBA (TBC)
DP World Tour Play-Offs
November 7-10 Abu Dhabi Championship (Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
November 14-17 DP World Tour Championship (Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course, Dubai, UAE)

The post New-look landscape across the UAE and beyond after DP World Tour calendar shake-up appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 31-year-old from England started the final round of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship two strokes back of South Africa’s Zander Lombard, but made six birdies on a seven-hole stretch at Al Hamra Golf Club in the UAE to jump to the lead. Gavins started the back nine two shots ahead and was up by three over Sweden’s Alexander Bjork while standing on the 18th tee.

While at that moment, it seemed like Gavins’ day, the truth was he had been dealing with a bad back that limited his practice early in the week. The 296th-ranked player in the world also had been fighting his driver, which made his choice of using it off the tee on the par-5 576-yard home hole a bit surprising. And it became an issue when he pumped his tee ball into the water right of the fairway.

Drama at the last! @DanielGavins finds the water AGAIN.#RakGolfChamps https://t.co/yoXm4ACX3s pic.twitter.com/8a9dQWT79u

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 5, 2023

Gavin re-teed and put his third shot in the fairway, looking to salvage the hole and add a second title to his 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational. But then with his fourth shot, a 3-wood from 286 yards, he once again hit a fade that wouldn’t stop fading.

Another in the penalty area, and now Gavins looked like he was a goner. He took another drop and played his sixth shot from 15 yards, leaving the ball 30 feet short of the hole. Then his attempt for double bogey did this:

WOW! ?

After finding the water twice, @DanielGavins makes a 26ft putt for the clubhouse lead! #RakGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/8VeJh7CuSd

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 5, 2023

If you’re wondering why Gavins wasn’t more excited when the putt fell, we’ll let him explain.

“That’s what I thought I’d done [blown it]. I put two in the water and I thought that’s what kind of makes the end of the tournament really. And I made the putt and went to the back of the green and saw I was actually winning still. That was a big shock.”

The double gave Gavins a three-under 69 for the day and a 17-under 271 total, but he had to wait to watch Lombard finish the last hole, having opened the door for an eagle three from the overnight leader to force a playoff. Lombard hit the green in two but missed a 24-foot putt, making a birdie that gave him a share of second but ultimately allowing Gavins to walk away with his memorable win.

"I just want to thank my family, they've supported me throughout my career."

Family first @DanielGavins ?#RakGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/wP5OMKqaHh

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 5, 2023

The post WATCH: DP World Tour pro make a crazy double-bogey putt to win title he thought he’d blown appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 31-year-old held a two-shot lead as he headed to the 18th tee but found the water twice at the last to seriously dent his chances of winning the title.

But with nearest challenger Alexander Björk finishing his round with a bogey up ahead, Gavins had a double-bogey putt from around 30 feet at the 18th to set the new target at 17-under.

And he duly holed it to limit the damage to two dropped shots, but there were still twists and turns to come as third-round leader Zander Lombard gave himself an eagle chance on the last to potentially force a play-off.

But South African Lombard narrowly missed his putt from 24 feet to hand Gavins a second title to add to the ISPS Handa World Invitational crown he won in 2021.

Gavins closed with a roller-coaster 69 that contained eight birdies — including five in a row from the second hole — as well as three bogeys and a closing double bogey, to win by one shot.

Björk and Lombard were in a tie for second on 16-under, with Adrian Meronk and Thorbjørn Olesen another stroke further back.

“I feel speechless, to be honest,” GAvins said. “I just want to quickly thank my mum and dad — I forgot to thank them last time when I won.

“They’ve been great for me and they’ve supported me throughout my career, so massive thanks to those two, and especially my girlfriend as well.”

The post Daniel Gavins secures dramatic Ras Al Khaimah Championship victory appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The South African began day three trailing the halfway co-leaders by four shots but carded nine birdies in a sparkling 63 on Saturday to hit the front on 16-under.

The 28-year-old made a fast start at Al Hamra Golf Club on day three, picking up six shots on the front nine, with the highlight coming at the par-five eighth as he chipped in for a birdie at the second time of asking.

And he kept his foot on the gas on the trickier back nine, with birdies at the 12th, 17th and 18th taking Lombard to the top of the leaderboard.

Rasmus Højgaard was Lombard’s nearest challenger on 15-under after managing to save par at the last despite finding the water there.

The 21-year-old Dane, who made five birdies and one bogey in his third-round 68, is aiming to emulate his twin Nicolai, who won this event last year, and in doing so make the Højgaards the first brothers to win the same tournament on the DP World Tour.

England’s Daniel Gavins posted a spotless third-round 68 to sit in solo third on 14 under, one ahead of Frenchman Matthieu Pavon in fourth.

Defending champion Nicolai Højgaard was in a tie for fifth on 12 under alongside Alexander Björk.

Lombard flew out of the blocks, making birdies at the first, third and fourth to climb to 10-under.

He gave himself another good chance at the fifth but had to settle for a par there before bouncing back with a nine-foot birdie at the sixth.

After sending his tee-shot to around 20 feet at the par-three seventh, Lombard rolled in the birdie putt before making a mess of his chip shot from the rough near the eighth green.

He only managed to nudge his ball forward by a few yards but made no mistake with his second effort, chipping in for a bonus birdie.

Lombard’s next birdie arrived at the 12th, as he rolled in from long range, before a brilliant par save from 10 feet on the 14th kept his card clean.

After going close at the 16th, Lombard chipped in again on the 17th from over the back of the green to take the outright lead on 15-under.

And he sent his approach at the last to around seven feet to give himself a good eagle chance there but had to settle for a closing birdie.

Lombard was thrilled with his day’s work, saying: “It feels good. I did a lot of things really good. Just kept it steady, kept it solid and managed to hole a few putts and get some good momentum going.

“Nine-under par, you don’t shoot that every day but I felt solid straight out the blocks — I started birdie-par-birdie — and I just kept the mistakes off the card and that’s the key to a good round.”

Speaking about the prospect of entering the DP World Tour winner’s circle for the first time more than 10 years after making his debut, he said: “I’ve knocked on a lot of doors so it would be good to get over the line, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

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The DP World Tour Qualifying School graduate made the most of favourable scoring conditions at Al Hamra Golf Club on Thursday, firing nine birdies before dropping his only shot of the day at the 18th after an errant tee-shot.

The 20-year-old Japanese leads the way on eight-under, two shots ahead of Dane Rasmus Højgaard, Italian Edoardo Molinari and England’s Matthew Baldwin.

Ryan Fox was another stroke further back on five-under along with Callum Shinkwin, Alexander Björk, Kazuki Higa, Oliver Bekker and Oliver Hundebøll.

“It was so unreal,” Hisatsune said. “I was just hitting shots, holing putts. Every time I made it. It was so amazing.

“It’s the first time I’ve had six birdies in a row.

“It’s my first event of the year and I was a little nervous at the start. I had to keep making shots, making pars. On the last hole I was so nervous, but it was just a bogey so OK for me.”

The post Ryo Hisatsune leads by two in RAK after early birdie blitz appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

With the Saudi International headed to its new home on the Asian Tour and the likes of the Oman Open and Qatar Masters falling victim to the pandemic, two big holes emerged on the early part of the old European Tour’s 2022 schedule.

Enter Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah. Thanks to some quick thinking and even quicker organisation, Al Hamra was able to step in at the last minute and host two back-to-back events in February, meaning a record four DP World Tour tournaments in a row were held in the emirates — and the so-called ‘UAE Swing’ replaced the Middle East Swing.

Following the success of the two competitions — the Ras Al Khaimah Championship and Ras Al Khaimah Classic — Al Hamra has been rewarded with a minimum of three years on the DP World Tour calendar to host the RAK Championship.

The final of four UAE events on the early part of the DP World Tour schedule, the RAK Championship is back to bring the curtain down following the Hero Cup at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, and back-to-back Rolex Series events, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Dubai Desert Classic, at Yas Links and Emirates Golf Club respectively.

During the inaugural edition of the RAK Championship, Dane Nicolai Højgaard emerged victorious to claim his second DP World Tour title, thrilling the crowds with an erratic final day of wayward shots and fantastic recoveries before emerging with a four-stroke victory over England’s Jordan Smith, and fans can expect another thriller this time around.

“This is another significant milestone for Ras Al Khaimah as we welcome the world’s best golfers over the next three years,” said Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “Following the success of the inaugural edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour, we are excited to be welcoming back some of the biggest names in golf for a second edition.

“As one of the fastest growing destinations in the region we are proud to be able to showcase Ras Al Khaimah as a leading nature, adventure and sporting destination in the region.”

Benoy Kurien, Group CEO of Al Hamra, added: “It was a privilege for Al Hamra Golf Club to host the very first DP World Tour event in the Emirate in 2022, and we’re thrilled that some of the world’s finest golfers will return next year for the second edition.”

After a rigorous time in the UAE, some of the top stars will be expected to skip the RAK event and, while the field is yet to be announced, the competition can offer some of the Tour’s lesser lights an opportunity to shine — while also targeting exemption and a nice earner, with $300,000 going to the winner in the $2 million event.

That’s well worth a trip to the picturesque Al Hamra Golf Club for players and fans alike.

The post Here to stay? Ras Al Khaimah Championship is back appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

As part of the mission to develop the sport of golf within the UAE, the Emirates Golf Federation, and the Emirates Schools Establishment, have partnered to include golf as part of the physical education curriculum in UAE National Schools.

During this visit to the DP World Tour event, the students will be given a tour of the facility, receive a clinic from and take in the action on the course.

Following the tournament, six RAK schools will start the Future Falcons National Junior Development Programme at Al Hamra Golf Club on Tuesday, February 7.

The Future Falcons National Junior Development Programme is a long-term commitment to support the growth of golf in the UAE. The programme was created in 2016 as a recreational and mass participation platform evolving to become a sustainable long-term structure and framework for the game. 

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The Irishman will compete alongside defending champion Nicolai Højgaard, his twin brother Rasmus, and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who finished second in the 2022 Race to Dubai Rankings.

Harrington has made a roaring start to life on the seniors tour, claiming the US Senior Open last year  to add to his adding to his US PGA Championship and two Open Championship trophies. He returns for his second appearance at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

“I’m looking forward to playing the Ras Al Khaimah Championship next month,” said Harrington. “I enjoyed last year’s tournament and relish the opportunity to visit Ras Al Khaimah and play at Al Hamra Golf Club once again.

“I ended last season well over in the US with a win at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, and it will be great to get my 2023 season up and running in the Middle East.”

“The field for the Ras Al Khaimah Championship is getting better by the day and we can’t wait to see Padraig Harrington in action next month,” said Tom Phillips, Head of the Middle East for the DP World Tour.

“The former Ryder Cup captain is an icon of the game and is playing some fantastic golf lately having won four times last year on the PGA Tour Champions.”

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