By Kent Gray
Mark your diary and dust-off your stopwatch – Bryson DeChambeau is returning to Dubai to defend the Dallah trophy.

The 26-year-old American headlines seven big names unveiled today for the 31st edition of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic from the Jan. 23-26. Also confirmed for the oldest European Tour stop outside mainland Europe are resurgent former world No.1 Lee Westwood, fellow Ryder Cuppers Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rafa Cabrera Bello, as well as Matt Wallace, already a four-time European Tour winner and last year’s runner-up. 

But it is DeChambeau who is again sure to generate the most interest leading up to the Desert Swing event on The Majlis course. The ‘Golf Scientist’ won the prized Dallah with a record 24-under-par (264) total, low final round (64) and record winning margin – seven shots over Wallace who was the best of the blown away rest – last January. It was the culmination of an extraordinary run after DeChambeau won four of his five PGA Tour titles in a five-month spell to earn a Ryder Cup debut in Paris last September courtesy of a captain’s pick from Jim Furyk. He finished a creditable 12th place in the just-completed 2018-19 FedEx Cup standings with one win, in his first event of the wraparound 2019 season, the Shriners Hospital for Children Open, confusingly in Nov. 2018.

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But it hasn’t all been hits and giggles for DeChambeau since his maiden European Tour win in January as he’s become an unwitting poster boy for slow play. There were even hints of what was to come at Emirates G.C. last January. Check it out in this ditty between the Californian and his caddie Tim Tucker following his Sunday 64:

Things came to a head at the first FedEx Cup playoff in August when DeChambeau was caught on camera taking an inordinate amount of time going through his complicated pre-shot science at the Northern Trust at Liberty National, including three minutes to play a 70 yard pitch shot and more than two minutes pondering an eight foot putt. It earned the game’s almost collective ire, spearheaded by world No.1 and pace-of-play crusader Brooks Koepka.

DeChambeau initially reacted to the global criticism with defiance but it seems peer pressure finally came to bare after an impromptu meeting with Koepka the following week. DeChambeau vowed to speed up but it seems he still has a way to go, ensuring his every move, indeed almost every shot, is now under a microscope. It will be no different on his return to the “Major of the Middle East”. 

Still, the world No.11 is nothing if not different in the often vanilla world of professional golf and most definitely refreshing in the media room.

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DeChambeau can’t wait to return either as he looks to build his international brand.

“I really enjoyed my time in Dubai and to cap the week with my first international win was amazing,” he said in a statement. “I have always spoken about how important it is for me to be regarded as a successful international player and to win around the world. The Omega Dubai Desert Classic was a great start and it will be an honour to return to this beautiful city and defend my title.”

Simon Corkill, the Desert Classic’s new Executive Tournament Director, is just as excited.

“We have been fortunate enough to welcome the biggest names in golf to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the past three decades and this year’s field promises to be no different,” Corkill said.

“Bryson’s victory earlier this year was as impressive as any we have seen here and to be able to announce his return alongside that of six such stalwarts of European golf, is further proof of the event’s international appeal. Couple this with our new and improved hospitality offering for 2020 and this promises to be another fantastic event for players and fans alike.”

The inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic was played in 1989 and won by England’s Mark James. Since then, the roll of honour has boasted some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years, including Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods.

Explore more news and info at the official Omega Dubai Desert Classic website here

For hospitality package info, click here