By IANS
Dubai : World No.4 Ernie Els will be eyeing a record fourth Dubai Desert Classic title when he joins defending champion Henrik Stenson and world No.1 Tiger Woods in a star-studded line-up for the European Tour event which gets under way at the Emirates Golf Club here from Jan 29.
South African Els last year came close to winning the title, but felt out of sorts with his tee shots coming down the stretch, eventually finishing runner-up to Stenson.
However, this year he will be hoping to go one better when he returns to the Majlis course, considered to be his happy hunting ground where he still holds the course record of a stunning 61 which he posted in 1994.
“I always enjoy spending time in Dubai and now I have even more reason to keep going there and I am looking forward to my first proper game at The Dunes,” said Els.
“The tournament is a huge attraction of Dubai. The emirate has come a very long way since I’ve been coming here since 1993,” said Els, who will also be featuring at the inaugural EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters to be held at the Delhi Golf Club from Feb 5-10.
“With three wins to his name, Els has become synonymous with the Dubai Desert Classic and he is also one of our global ambassadors, something which we are all proud of,” said Mohamed Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai, the promoters and organisers of the Dubai Desert Classic.