Career Changer

- Kent Gray

The second coming of the MENA Tour will begin at an event with no official status and zero prizemoney. At face value, it would appear the antithesis of everything new 26-year-old general manager Robbie Williams and his dedicated behind-the-scenes team have worked so tirelessly to achieve during a 14-month timeout to rebuild the crucial regional circuit.

But the ‘2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic Shootout’ is no ordinary season prelude and certainly doesn’t need a purse to be a priceless foot-up onto the “stairway to stardom” the MENA Tour are peddling as their new PR catch-cry.

The top three players from the 36-hole strokeplay qualifier, to be hosted at sparkling new Dubai Hills Golf Club on Jan. 20-21, will earn starts in the 30th edition of the aforementioned European Tour event the following week.