World-leading stars, including two of the world's top 10 are set to descend on Dubai for the 32nd staging of the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club from Jan. 28-31, 2021. One of golf's brightest young stars, Collin Morikawa, will make his tournament debut and headlines a stellar field that includes 2017 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic winner Sergio Garcia and European Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood. Also confirmed to play in the "Major of the Middle East" are Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton and defending champion Lucas Herbert. Morikawa, who is currently ranked seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking, will tee it up at the Majlis for the first time having burst into the limelight as a Major champion in his first full season as a professional at this year's US PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. The 23-year-old has three titles to his name on the PGA TOUR and is relishing the prospect of competing for a first overseas title in Dubai. "When you look back at some of the players who have won the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, you realize that it is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and I am looking forward to trying to adding my name to the roll of honor," said the Californian. "I have been told that the Majlis course is a fantastic setting and I cannot wait to get there and see it for myself." Spanish star Garcia returns to the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic for the 12th time in his career having won the title in 2017. "I love coming to Dubai and obviously having won here I have great memories to look back on. It is one of my favorite events," said Garcia, the leading scorer in Ryder Cup history, with 251⁄2 points from nine appearances. England's Fleetwood has become one of the most recognizable faces in the game with five European Tour wins to his name and two runner-up finishes in the Majors. "I always look forward to starting my season in the Middle East and Dubai with its history is a popular tournament in that swing. There are so many great winners of the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic and I would love to be one of them one day." Rose, who is making his first appearance at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic since 2009, and Hatton, who is currently ranked 10th in the Official World Golf Ranking, both teed it up alongside Fleetwood and Garcia in the 2018 Ryder Cup and will be in the field in Dubai looking to get their hands on the iconic Dallah trophy and earn some Ryder Cup qualification points. OMEGA President and CEO, Raynald Aeschlimann, said: "As title partner and passionate supporter of golf around the globe, we are delighted to announce this lineup of world-class players and we look forward to seeing how the competition unfolds in this spectacular setting, especially in a year when so many great sporting events have had to postpone or cancel." Attendance is for invited guests only but the action will be beamed to a worldwide audience on mainstream broadcast sports networks and highlights and exclusive content will be shared on the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic social media channels. — WAM
