Having first touched down in Dubai back in 1999, initially for a five-year stint, Chris’ first week of work was in fact at the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic just down the road at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club – the event then just 10 years old previously held at Emirates Golf Club. 25 years on, he is still here!

“That was such a great first experience to see just how big the tournament was even back then” said May.

“I have been at every Desert Classic since the nineties and the real years of growth were when Tiger Woods first came out to play in 2001 — the crowds were like I have never seen before and the event sold out for the first time.”

“We were very lucky to see Tiger play here in his prime and also win here twice in 2006 and 2008, all while doing some amazing things on the golf course.”

“There have been many, many other special occasions here such as Rory McIlroy’s first professional win in 2009 — it is all the more special when you look at what he has achieved now and now he returns to Emirates Golf Club as a three-time winner of the event.”

“I recall Rory even coming across here as a kid with some friends — he is a great example to the kids of today — and he was out at 6.30am on the par-3 course playing over and over, showing such dedication from an early age and he is a great example to many, many people and it is great to see him back here.”

In the development of the tournament over the past three decades, May along with his team at Dubai Golf and the support of the DP World Tour, have seen it elevated into a Rolex Series event three years ago. And in 2022 with the new sponsor, Hero, it has again further transformed the strength of the field, the upgraded prize money to $9 million USD and of course the general aura around the whole tournament.

“The Classic is a great event in its own right as a tournament, but it has become so much more,” May explained. “It is a social event, a meeting point and a major occasion on the UAE calendar, not just for the local community but also for the global golfing world, which comes here each year — travelling thousands of miles from the US, Asia, Europe, and Australia just to play 18 holes in the Pro-Am, for example. That tells you it is special.”

“It is a privilege to be involved in this event in any form. It is pretty special. We sometimes get spoilt in this part of the world with the number of golf and sporting events and opportunities, but when you hear from people who are experiencing it for the first time and they say: ‘Wow. What an event,’ with the condition of the course and the way they are looked after with the Arabian welcome and the hospitality is second to none.”

Along with the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links, the DP World Tour now has three Rolex Series events here in the United Arab Emirates. Showcasing to the world the highest quality golf courses that are on offer in the country.

“We work across the board with (tournament organisers Falcon & Associates) and the DP World Tour year on year, looking to improve all the time and benchmarking ourselves against the best tournaments globally — and in other sports too, not just golf.”

“With the Dubai Desert Classic in particular, since its elevation to the Rolex Series, we have seen vast improvements, not just from the player perspective, but also for the media, the stakeholders and, of course, the spectators.”

“Our responsibility first is the golf course and making sure that is in the best possible condition. The team work really hard year-round to get the course to peak for this event, but also to have world-class standards for the other 51 weeks of the year. Along with the weather and the accessibility to play the same courses as the best players in the world, that is what makes the UAE so popular year-round for visitors from around the world, and this week is the pinnacle of all the effort that goes in.”

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