Retief Goosen starts off the 2012 Race to Dubai season with his opening drive at Africa Open
Grizzled South African golfer, Retief Goosen landed another accolade to his already feathery cap when he tee-ed off for the latest Race to Dubai season-starter, Africa Open at East London Golf Club, South Africa.
The two-time major winner is one of the key players at the star-studded event beginning today, January 5, and is all set to attract hordes of spectators through the weekend.
“It is a great honour to be hitting the first tee shot of the season and getting The 2012 Race to Dubai underway, especially as the Africa Open is in my home country and is a tournament I have won in the past,” said the 2001 and 2004 US Open Champion.
He continued, “The Race to Dubai itself is a superb concept and is going from strength to strength every year. You only need to look at the calibre of players who have won it so far – Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald – to see that, and I am sure this year’s Race will be equally as exciting.”
The Race to Dubai rankings table, which is the sponsored title of the European Tour money list, has now stepped into its fourth year and will include no fewer than 46 events worldwide.
The events will be taking place for the next 11 months and will be held on all five continents and 25 countries.
Goosen also spoke of the honour he felt of holding the number one European player title in 2001 and 2002.
He added that it would be a great triumph for him to earn back the accolade, to mark the decade long celebrations of the accolade he won in 2002.
The 46 events on the Race to Dubai calendar will culminate at DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE, from November 22-25, 2012, with a prize share of US$8,000,000.
Top-ten players on the Race to Dubai rankings at the end of the year will share the bonus pool of US$3,750,000 while the winner of the Race to Dubai Money List will bag the coveted Harry Vardon Trophy for the same.
Englishman Luke Donald is the current leader of the Race to Dubai money list, after he succeeded Martin Kaymer of Germany who surged to the top of the list in 2010.
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