By Kent Gray
Josh Hill will have to share the amateur spotlight when he makes his much-anticipated Omega Dubai Desert Classic debut next month.

Junior Presidents Cupper Jayden Schaper (pictured above) has accepted an invite to the $3.25 million European Tour event from Jan. from 23-26. The 18-year-old South African will fight for amateur honours against Hill after the Dubai-based England age-group international qualified for Emirates Golf Club by winning the MENA Tour’s amateur Journey to Jordan title.

Schaper is playing for the Internationals in the Junior Presidents Cup at the Royal Melbourne after a rise to prominence highlight by victory in the AJGA Junior Players Championship in September. That followed on from an unprecedented ‘grand slam’ of amateur Nomads titles in South Africa where his recent win at the U-19 level saw him complete the U-13, 15, 17 and 19 sweep.

“My game has really come on this year and to receive this invite is another fantastic achievement,” said Schaper.

“To test my game against some of the best players on the European Tour will be an incredible experience, especially at an event as iconic as this one. South Africans have a good history there and, while I might not be targeting a win, it would be great to see where my game is at and what I need to improve on. I really am already counting down the days.”

Hill is also excited about what will be an exciting start to 2020 after a stellar year on the MENA Tour. 

“I can’t wait to make my European Tour debut and it will be even more special to do it at home in Dubai,” said Hill who won the Al Ain Open to become the youngest winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event.

“I’ve been coming to watch this tournament for years, so to be wandering inside the ropes will be a completely different experience. To have this opportunity so early in my career is amazing and it will be so cool seeing the best players up close. I just hope I’ll be able to give them a good game.”

Josh Hill

Hill and Schaper will rub shoulders with some of the game’s biggest names including defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and former winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett.

“The OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic has established itself as an incredible platform for identifying talent,” said Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director. “Some of the biggest and best players have announced themselves right here in Dubai, whether that be Rory McIlroy winning his first European Tour event at Emirates Golf Club in 2009, Haotong Li overcoming the Northern Irishman to take the title two years ago, or Bryson DeChambeau proving his international credentials back in February. To give both Josh and Jayden this opportunity is both a privilege and our responsibility to provide the next best players with the opportunities they need. We look forward to welcoming them.”

The inaugural OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic was won by England’s Mark James and has gone on to establish a roll of honour boasting some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years – including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods.