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Euro Tour could have its own 'Desert Swing'

Dubai - The European Senior Tour made its first foray in the UAE in 2000 when the UAE capital hosted the Abu Dhabi European Seniors Tour Championship.

Like the European Tour, the European Senior Tour could have its own 'Desert Swing.'
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in the UAE capital, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, one of the oldest tournaments in the Middle East, form the 'Desert Swing' on the European Tour.
And Andy Stubbs, the Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, that a 'Desert Swing' is a possibility.
"It is always a nice conversation that," Stubbs told the Khaleej Times in an exclusive chat at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on Wednesday morning.
Stubbs was speaking on the sidelines of Shurooq, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority partnering with the European Senior Tour to host the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club from 2017 to 2019.
"We have to put the reality behind it which is again finding the resource in relatively difficult economic times. But where we have a new facility and a unique event like this, it is very much something that becomes possible. With so many beautiful golf courses in the region, it will be nice if we can maybe extend another event here or there and create that 'Swing idea," he said.
The European Senior Tour made its first foray in the UAE in 2000 when the UAE capital hosted the Abu Dhabi European Seniors Tour Championship.
The Middle East also saw the Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship in Bahrain for two years in 2005 and 2006.
And now with UAE back in the fold with Sharjah set to host the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters from next year, Stubbs felt that has indeed opened the door.
"We have, on the Senior Tour, showcased many of the facilities in the first instance and been the precursor to an European Tour event. We saw that at the National Course in Abu Dhabi and so on and so forth. So, I just hope that we can have a "Swing' of some sort and see different formats, maybe a Matchplay event, maybe a team event, things like that in the region with the senior golfers," said Stubbs.
"We have had tournaments in Bahrain, we have had tournaments in Abu Dhabi. We will still like to try and do something with any other countries nearby that are developing golf. Reality will suggest that right now it is Sharjah in 2017, maybe this announcement here gives the opportunity for someone to step forward and say, 'well, that is a good time for us, too.' We have had conversations, we are having conversations, but sometimes they take a long time. This one took three years to come to fruition. We know it takes time," said the Stoke-born Stubbs.
"Let's just try and say that between now and 2019, we add atleast one or two more events onto that 'Swing,' that would be lovely," he added.
james@khaleejtimes.com