Golf-European Tour’s Dubai prize funds slashed (Reuters)
September 21, 2009
By Norman Dabell
CROWLAND, England, Sept 21 (Reuters) – The European Tour’s‘Race to Dubai’ (money-list) bonus pool and Dubai WorldChampionship prize fund have both been cut by 25 per cent dueto the global meltdown, the tour announced on Monday.
This means a reduction of both pots to $7.5 million each.
European Tour chief executive George O’Grady revealed theexpected drop in prize money following a three-day visit toDubai for talks with sponsors Nakheel Leisure.
“The European Tour has offered to reduce the prize money toreflect the current worldwide economic position,” O’Grady saidin a statement.
An original five-year deal worth $20 million dollars a yearhas now been trimmed for 2009. The deal for the next four yearsare intact but O’Grady added: “We will jointly examine prizemoney levels in future years in the light of this developingglobal situation.”
Speaking for Nakheel Leisure, which took over fromLeisurecorp as backers earlier this year, managing directorHamza Mustafa said: “Nakheel is committed to the Race to Dubaiand the Dubai World Championship.
“The prize funds for both competitions are significantamounts that are worthy of the season-ending tournament andworld-class field that will be competing, yet reflective of anew economic climate.”
The Race to Dubai finale will see the top 60 players on theEuropean Tour compete in the Dubai World Championship fromNovember 19-22. The top 15 players will then share the bonuspool.
German Martin Kaymer, who is hoping to resume playing nextweek following a karting accident in which he broke two toes,heads the Race to Dubai list.
This week’s Vivendi (Seve) Trophy does not count towardsthe Race to Dubai, which continues next week at the AlfredDunhill Links Championship in Scotland. (Editing by N.Ananthanarayanan. To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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