William Johnson looks at the 'Greatest Show on Earth' as countdown begins for championship carrying the richest purse in golf history
DUBAI // They are calling it "The Greatest Show on Earth" and with good reason, for not only will the Dubai World Championship carry the richest purse in golfing history at $US10million (Dh37m) but the showdown will take place on a desert oasis designed by the former world No 1 Greg Norman and christened Earth.
Earth is one of four exciting new courses being constructed at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and it is now complete and lying fallow in readiness for the visit of 60 of the world's best golfers to compete for a record first prize of $2m in exactly a year from now.
To mark the date of Nov 19, Norman has spoken in detail about the demanding closing stretch measuring 56 yards short of one mile that he has constructed to test the mental and physical ability of those who come in contention for the bumper prize on the final afternoon in 12 months' time.
Norman inspected his creation and reflected: "The Earth course I conceived almost four years ago is rapidly taking shape and is looking more championship-worthy each day.
"I am delighted with the way the team at Jumeirah Golf Estates has realised the vision I had for Earth, which will provide the world's best with a true challenge and a fitting climax to The Race to Dubai."
David Spencer, the chief executive (golf) at Leisurecorp, the Dubai company who are investing $100m over five years in the European Tour which they have renamed The Race to Dubai, said: "Earth is a tribute to Greg's attention to detail and the enthusiasm and expertise of the internationally assembled construction team."
wjohnson@thenational.ae
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
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Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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