Three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington will tee it up in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club from January 23-26, 2025.

The Ras Al Khaimah Championship will be one of three events in the United Arab Emirates and five in the Middle East as part of the International Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

The Irishman has enjoyed a successful 2024, with three victories on the PGA TOUR Champions, as well as top tens in two Senior Majors and a tie for 22nd at The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The 2021 Ryder Cup Captain has made the cut in each of his last three appearances at Al Hamra Golf Club and, despite plying his trade predominantly on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit in America since turning 50 in 2021, still feels able to compete at the highest level.

“I enjoy playing in the Middle East and Al Hamra is a great golf course, so I’m really looking forward to competing in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship next year,” he said.

“I think the golf course suits me and it certainly gives me a chance to contend if I have my game with me that week as I look to become the oldest winner on the DP World Tour.

“We’re always well looked after in the UAE, but the welcome we receive at Al Hamra is particularly good and I can’t wait to get back there.”

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox celebrates his win at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in February – Getty Images

Harrington will be joined by New Zealander Ryan Fox and American Jimmy Walker in the northern emirate, with the Kiwi returning to Al Hamra for the first time in two years after triumphing on the Peter Harradine-designed course in the Ras Al Khaimah Classic in 2022.

“I’ve obviously got great memories of Ras Al Khaimah and I’m looking forward to going back next year,” he said. “I won a different tournament, but it still feels good going back to Al Hamra.

“I think it will be a tough test of golf. There are a lot of tee shots that are quite tricky, especially the back nine – ten, 12 and coming down the stretch 16, 17, 18 are narrow fairways. There’s always a bit of wind round there, it will be a good test.”

Jimmy Walker

2016 US PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker impressed on the DP World Tour earlier this year with a tied seventh finish at the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down, and the American is relishing the opportunity to tee it up in the UAE.

“Heading to the UAE is something I’m really excited about.” he said. “I’ve heard some great things, and it looks amazing. It’ll be really cool to go and play there and I’m also looking forward to experiencing what the region has to offer.”

Benoy Kurien, Group CEO of Al Hamra Group and owner of Al Hamra Golf Club, said: “We are delighted to welcome the DP World Tour back to Ras Al Khaimah for the 2025 edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. Following the tremendous success of previous editions, we’ve implemented a few key changes to the course this year, and we look forward to seeing how the players adapt and navigate these new challenges.

“The RAK Championship has become a key feature in Ras Al Khaimah’s annual event calendar and it provides an opportunity to show case the diverse range of leisure and lifestyle offerings of Ras Al Khaimah to both local and international visitors and viewers.”

The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah hosted the DP World Tour for the first time in 2022 with the inaugural staging of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, followed the week after by the Ras Al Khaimah Classic.

Following exciting victories that year for Danish Ryder Cup star Nicolai Højgaard and New Zealander Fox, and by Englishman Daniel Gavins when the Ras Al Khaimah Championship returned in 2023, the tournament continued its success last year when Dane Thorbjørn Olesen sealed his eighth DP World Tour title.

The spectacular coastal venue of Al Hamra Golf Club has previously welcomed three European Challenge Tour events, including the 2018 Challenge Tour Grand Final.

Main Image: Jared C. Tilton