The UAE’S most prestigious golfing event is back as the 24th edition of the Dubai Golf Trophy takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek  Golf & Yacht Club on October 1 and 2.

The Dubai Golf Trophy will see the top 16 UAE professionals go up against the elite amateurs in a two-day Ryder Cup-style format. Originally launched by Dubai Golf, the event is rotated across five Dubai Golf courses — Faldo and Majlis at Emirates Golf Club, Earth and Fire at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and the Championship Course at Dubai Creek, for a fiercely competitive showcase of tournament golf.

Each team consists of 12 automatic qualifiers from the season-long UAE PGA tournaments and qualifying Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) events across the UAE. In addition, the team captains welcome four ‘wildcard’ picks, and two ladies on both sides. Jack Woods will lead the Professional team and David Guinee will captain the Amateur team.

A highlight of the golfing season, the 2023 event will see the Professionals defend their 2022 win against the Amateurs, their first since 2016 after a 16.5-15.5 victory during the final day at Emirates Golf Club. A continued feature within the 2023 Dubai Golf Trophy will also include the Ladies Challenge Match of the same format between two Professionals and two Amateur ladies.

The Pros celebrate winning the Dubai Golf Trophy last year. Supplied

Woods said: “I is a real honour to captain the Professional team in the Dubai Golf Trophy. The event is the pinnacle of our season and with the event moved back to October this year, the build-up has been even better than normal. After finally ending the Amateurs winning streak last year, we know they will be desperate to regain the trophy and we will have to be at our best to retain the win. As always, it will be an amazing couple of days no matter the outcome.”

Amateur skipper Guinee added: “We had a tough year last year, losing out by one point, and we will be aiming to win it back this year. We have a great mix of experience and youth in the team this year and I believe we can give the Pros a great challenge. It is always the best weekend of our tournament season and I anticipate this year will be no different. But, hopefully, with a different outcome to last year.”

Chris May, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Golf, said: “The Dubai Golf Trophy was founded on the principle of raising the profile of golf in the region and bringing both amateur and professional golfers from clubs all over the UAE together in a competitive and enjoyable format. The tournament provides a focus for players to aim for throughout the qualifying events counting towards EGF and UAE PGA Order of Merits during the season and culminating in a season-ending spectacle on two of the finest courses in the region – especially exciting this tournament as we host the event during the 2023 Ryder Cup weekend. Best of luck to both teams!”

The two-day event will be played on Earth Course on October 1 for morning foursomes and afternoon fourball matches and will conclude with the singles matches on Monday October 2 on the Championship Course at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Teams

Professionals
Non-playing Captain: Jack Woods
Louis Gaughan
Stuart Smith
Sujjan Singh
Graham Forbes
Matt Rice
Tom Ogilvie
Jules Lompech
David Gray
Michael Major
Sam Mclaren
Steven Munro
Purna Sharma
Phil Waine
Mike Bolt
Matt Brookes
Tom Hansen
Olivia Jackson
Lea Pouillard

Amateur Team
Captain: David Guinee
Sam Mullane
Jay Mullane
Steven Kelbrick
Dominic Morton
Rami Samawi
Viktor Kofod-Olsen
Thomas Nesbitt
Dan Byrne
Johnathan Selvaraj
Jake Wiltshire
Dan Kirkwood
Sam Mullane
Craig Vance
Max Burrow
Simon Dunn
Jamie Camero
Aoife Kelly

Main image: Matt Smith/Motivate Media Group