Darren Clarke on course for Dubai desert classic
United Arab Emirates, Sports, 12/14/2001

European No.3 Darren Clarke will join fellow European Ryder Cup stars Thomas Bjorn and Colin Montgomerie when the world"s top players descend on Dubai for the 2002 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club from March 7-10.

Sponsored by Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL) and organised and promoted by the Dubai Desert Classic Executive Committee, the 13th Dubai Desert Classic is attracting a list of golfing heavyweights with the big man from Northern Ireland ? currently the highest world-ranked British player at number nine - the latest to confirm his participation over the Majlis Course.

Clarke, who has finished in the top three on the European Tour three times in the past four years, is one of the most popular and charismatic players on the circuit. Not only a media favourite, Clarke is also widely admired by the public. Last year, he was a big hit with Dubai"s up-and-coming youngsters when he took time out from the Desert Classic to co-host a golf clinic at the Emirates Golf Club with great friend Lee Westwood.

"We are delighted to have Darren Clarke sign up for yet another Dubai Desert Classic," said Mohammed Ali Alabbar, Vice Chairman of DUBAL and chairman of the Dubai Desert Classic Executive Committee. "When you stage an event like this, there are some players you just have to have in your line-up. Darren Clarke is one such player."

In 2000, Clarke became the first European to win one of the World Golf Championships when he claimed the World Match Play at Carlsbad, California beating David Duval before seeing off Tiger Woods 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final.

Clarke 2

It was a win which certainly raised the international profile of the 33-year-old Ulsterman who finished third in the 2001 Order Of Merit behind Retief Goosen of South Africa and Ireland"s Padraig Harrington and is currently ranked 11th in the world.

On his way to that third position, Clarke enjoyed ten top ten finishes this year including a tie for third place at the 130th British Open and the runners-up spot behind Colin Montgomerie at the Irish Open. He did enjoy better luck on home soil, however, when he became the first Irishman in 19 years to win a tournament in Ireland thanks to the eighth European Tour win of his career at the 2001 European Open at the K Club.

"It was an enjoyable season but I was still a little disappointed to have missed out on the top spot again," said Clarke. "But Retief Goosen had a fabulous year and played consistently well throughout the season so he fully deserved to be top. As for the Dubai Desert Classic, it is simply one of my favourite events and while I have not done particularly well in the past, I will be looking to change that in 2002."

A Ryder Cup player in both 1997 and 1999, Clarke will again represent Europe for a third time when the event is finally staged in September 2002.

Besides DUBAL as the main sponsor of the Dubai Desert Classic other sponsors include official carrier Emirates Airline, official caterer hotel and challenge match sponsor Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort, co-sponsors Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Pro-Am sponsors Emirates Hills by Emaar and official courtesy car BMW.

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