Top MENA Golf stars ready for Desert Classic test

Top MENA Golf Tour professionals will test their skills against some of the world’s leading players when they compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, mindful that opportunities like these don’t come knocking every day. England’s Jake Shepherd and Peter Richardson and American Sean McNamara will join three of the world’s top four ranked players — Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer — in the field which also includes victorious US Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples, John Daly and defending champion Alvaro Quiros of Spain. The three won special invitations to the $2.5 million European Tour event, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, after finishing among top three on the MENA Golf Order of Merit. Exposure to this big event, starting at the Emirates Golf Club from February 9 to 12, could well mark a defining moment in their nascent professional career.“Playing in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic will be just awesome,” enthused England’s rising star Shepherd, who took the MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title with a total earnings of $17,749, well ahead of Richardson ($15,087) and McNamara ($13,271).“I thoroughly enjoyed playing on this MENA Tour which was quite professionally run. The money was good and so was the competition. The fact that it attracted entries from different parts of the world shows the tour is up there with the best,” said the 21-year-old prodigy.“With the top three professionals getting a chance to play in the Dubai Desert Classic, we couldn’t have asked for more. That’s a huge bonus,” said Shepherd.