Reigning Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood is among the latest names to be confirmed for this month’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The Englishman, who last month sealed a third Order of Merit crown, will be joined at the January 28-31 event by recent DP World Tour Championship winner Matthew Fitzpatrick and compatriots Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.
Former champion Rafa Cabrera Bello, and the runners-up from the past two year, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Matt Wallace, were also announced on Thursday.
Westwood, who boasts 25 victories on the circuit, has gone close to winning the Dallah Trophy many times before, finishing second in 1999, 2010 and 2012.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and if you look at my results here historically, you could say the course suits me,” the current European No 1 said in a statement.
“I first played this event in 1994 and the changes and growth of Dubai since then has been quite staggering. There are a lot of good holes: the 8th is spectacular, teeing off towards the skyscrapers, and the 18th especially is a great finishing hole. This is a title I’d love to win having come close in the past.”
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, will be intent on adding the Desert Classic to his two successes in Dubai: he landed a first DP World Tour Championship in 2016. Runner-up in last year’s Race to Dubai, the six-time European Tour winner will be making his seventh successive appearance at the Emirates Golf Club event. He finished tied-5th in 2017.
“This is one of the iconic venues on the European Tour and it’s an event I look forward to every year when I begin my season in the Middle East,” Fitzpatrick said. “I have enjoyed my off-season having celebrated the win last month and I’m excited to get going again ahead of what should be a very busy year with the Ryder Cup on the horizon in September.”
Unlike Fitzpatrick, Casey has not competed at the Desert Classic in some time, with his most recent appearance coming in 2014. The world No 24 has never previously missed a cut around the Majlis in seven attempts, with his tied-fourth in 2009 representing his best finish.
2020 Omega Desert Classic
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Lucas Herbert was crowned the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion after winning a play-off against Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Lucas Herbert is presented with the Omega Dubai Desert Classic trophy. EPA -
Lucas Herbert after his victory. Getty -
Lucas Herbert celebrates his victory at the second play-off hole. Getty -
Lucas Herbert waves to the crowd. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Lucas Herbert emerged victorious on the second hole in sudden death, birdieing the par-5 18th. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Lucas Herbert of Australia after his putt on the 18th green, for a score that put him in a play-off. Getty -
Lucas Herbert tees off in the play-off on the 18th hole. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Ashun Wu of China tees off on the par four eighth hole during the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Getty -
Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa plays his second shot on the second hole. Getty -
Eddie Pepperell of England and Bryson DeChambeau of the United States look on from the second hole. Getty -
Victor Perez tees off on the first hole on the fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Ian Poulter plays a shot on the 10th hole on the fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Miguel Angel Jimenez plays a shot out of the bunker on the 10th hole on the fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Martin Kaymer plays a shot out of the bunker on the 11th hole on the fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Gavin Green tees off on the sixth hole on the fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Nicolas Colsaerts plan a shot on the sixth hole on the fourth and final day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Young golf fans struggle to hold onto their umbrellas in the windy wet conditions on the 16th hole. Chris Whiteoak / The National
“I’m looking forward to returning,” said Casey, a 14-time winner on the tour. “I love playing in Dubai; it's one of those events that jumps out as one of the most prestigious on the European Tour and it’s one I’ve always enjoyed competing in.
“I know the course well and I’m happy to be starting my 2021 European Tour campaign in the region again.”
Keen to begin a Ryder Cup year on a positive note, cup veteran Poulter has contested the Desert Classic in the past four years, and 10 times overall.
“I love coming to Dubai as it’s the perfect environment to start the season,” he said. “I’ve played well here over the last few years with two top-10s and I’m keen to try and improve on that and take home some silverware this time. The Majlis is a course that I feel comfortable on and I can’t wait to get started in a few weeks’ time.”
A host of stellar names have already been confirmed for the event, including Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Lucas Herbert, the defending champion.
