DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Twenty of the 21 previous winners of the Dubai Desert Classic have gathered at Emirates Golf Club – the lone exception is the late Seve Ballesteros who will be represented in the event by his son Javier – for the event’s 25th anniversary and will tee off on Tuesday for the Champions Challenge.
Tiger Woods will pair with Fred Couples, who won the event in 1995, along with last year’s winner Stephen Gallacher in the day’s final pairing, which tees off at noon (3 a.m. ET). It is the first time the world No. 1 has played with Couples since the first two rounds at last year’s Memorial Tournament.
Ernie Els, Mark O’Meara and Colin Montgomerie will play in the penultimate group (11:50 a.m. local); preceded by Rory McIlroy, Eamonn Darcy and Richard Green at 11:30 a.m.
Javier Ballesteros will play with fellow Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal.