The DP World Tour’s commitment to innovation in the game of golf will be apparent once again next month when a new special event – the Ras Al Khaimah Team Challenge – takes to the fairways.
The one-day exhibition event will be played on Tuesday February 8 at Al Hamra Golf Club, in between the two tournaments already scheduled at the UAE venue; the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital (February 3-6) and the Ras Al Khaimah Classic (February 10-13).
The event will be shown live in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports – who on Monday announced a two-year extension to their current agreement with the DP World Tour – and around the globe via the Tour’s expansive World Feed network. It will also feature across the Tour’s digital platforms.
The Ras Al Khaimah Team Challenge will feature 26 teams of two professionals per team in a stroke play event playing over nine holes in a classic Scramble format; ie: each team selecting the best drive and both players playing from there, then selecting the best second shot and both players playing from there until the hole is completed.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “As well as celebrating the tradition of 72 hole tournaments within golf’s current ecosystem, we are always looking to do something different to continue to broaden golf’s appeal to fans around the world, and the fun exhibition that is the Ras al Khaimah Team Challenge will do just that.
“Most people who play golf will have played the Scramble format with their friends at their local clubs at some point, and I’m sure they will be intrigued to tune in to see how our professionals cope with this different and unique challenge.”
Following last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, the DP World Tour this week moves to neighbouring Dubai for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the second consecutive $8 million Rolex Series event to start the 2022 calendar year.
