Worldwide Golf

AS The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah gathers pace the strength of the international field continues to grow in stature. The recent announcement that European No.1 Lee Westwood, who headlines a world-class cast at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club on January 25^th, had won the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year Award, followed a series of excellent results from other leading players competing in the most prestigious Pro-Am in the Middle East.

Westwood returns to Dubai on the back of one of the most consistent seasons of his career, which he capped with a stunning display to win the Dubai World Championship in November. The Englishman topped The Race to Dubai with two wins and 11 additional top-ten finishes to collect €2,750,000 and take his season’s earnings to a record €4,237,762.

He was rightfully named The European Tour’s Golfer of The Year for the third time in his career, having ended Colin Montgomerie’s seven-year reign at head of European Golf by winning the Order of Merit in 2000 after finishing runner-up in 1999 and third in 1997 and 1998.

Westwood is joined in the field by fellow Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell (pictured) who recently shot back into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking with a superb second place finish at the Chevron World Challenge in California. The Irishman put in a superb performance as he finished one shot behind winner Jim Furyk but ahead of a field that included the likes of Padriag Harrington, Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker.

In South Africa, Ross Fisher, who is sponsored by the Al Naboodah Group, also put in a near-tournament winning performance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge finishing in a share of third place, one shot off making the play-off between Robert Allenby and Henrrik Stenson with the Australian finally winning at the third extra hole.

Fisher, who took home the biggest pay cheque of his career with a dominating display at the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain in October, is currently ranked 18^th in the World and will join fellow form-players Westwood and McDowell at The Invitational

Another player in top form is tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah himself. Abdullah teamed up with UK radio presenter DJ Spoony, Vincent Tshabalala and Thomas Aiken to win the fourball alliance competition at the Gary Player Invitational at The Links at Fancourt in November.

Although the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola is a fun charity tournament it is also a competitive event as Masters Champion Angel Cabrera and British Senior Masters Champion Tony Johnstone proved in defeating John Bland and Tjaart van der Walt by three shots.

Other players confirmed for The Invitational include Rory McIlroy, Jeev Milkha Singh, Darren Clark, Simon Dyson, Johan Edfors, Charl Schwartzel and Richard Green.

Al Naboodah Director of Golf, James Bowring, commented: “It’s great that we’ve got so many leading players competing who are right on the top of their game. The sponsors and the spectators are going to be treated to a wonderful day of world-class golf played in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. It’s going to be a special day for them to be able to play a part in enjoying this unique tournament.”

The list of confirmed players for The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah is as follows:

Lee Westwood   Rory McIlroy  Ross Fisher   Simon Dyson  
 Charl Schwartzel   Robert Rock   Graeme McDowell  
 Johan Edfors   Jeev Milkha-Singh   Peter Lawrie  
 Chris Wood   Steve Webster   Gareth Maybin  
 Graeme Storm   James Kingston   Thomas Aiken  
 Bradley Dredge   Jamie Donaldson   Darren Clarke  
 Paul Lawrie   Rafael Enchinique   Ricardo Gonzalez  
 Daniel Vancsik   David Lynn   David Howell  
 Shane Lowry   Paul Broadhurst   Stephen Gallacher  
 Steven Jeppesen   Pablo Larazzabal   Richard Green  
 Simon Khan   Gregory Havret   Jean Francois Luquin 

For more information on The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club on January 25, please visit: www.alnaboodahinvitational.com