'Road to Dubai' prize money cut by 25 percent, European Tour confirms

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (PA) -- The European Tour has confirmed that prize money in the season-ending Dubai World Championship is being cut by 25 percent because of the economic downturn.

There will be the same reduction -- from $10 million to $7.5 million -- in the "Race to Dubai" bonus pool on offer to the season's top 15 money-winners.

If a player manages to win both the tournament and the "Race to Dubai" money list, they will now walk away with $2.76 million rather than $3.58 million.

What might upset some of the 60-strong field on Nov. 19-22, however, is that there is now more on offer from finishing at the top of the bonus pool than there is for claiming victory at the event.

One will receive $1.5 million and the other $1.25 million.

The reduction follows talks in the United Arab Emirates last week between Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady and event sponsors Nakheel.

"The European Tour has offered to reduce the prize money to reflect the current worldwide economic position and we will jointly examine prize money levels in future years in the light of this developing global situation," O'Grady said.

"We have been assured that our agreement is proceeding substantially as planned," he added. The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates looks superb and work is being completed on the public areas, car parks and access roads."

Hamza Mustafa, managing director of Nakheel Leisure, said: "Nakheel is committed to The Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship.

"The prize funds for both competitions are significant amounts that are worthy of the season-ending tournament and world-class field that will be competing, yet reflective of a new economic climate."

At its launch two years ago, the event was hailed as the biggest in golf history, but while the sums are still huge it cannot claim to be the richest.

This week's Tour Championship in America -- the final leg of the FedExCup playoff series -- has a bonus pool of $30 million, with $10 million going to the points winner and $1.35 million to the tournament champion.

Europe's players were told during the summer of the probable prize fund reduction.

"Not disappointed, not surprised," said Lee Westwood, still in with a chance of ending the year as No. 1. "I think it's a reality check for everybody that in times like this when there's a credit crunch and people are struggling financially that nobody is immune.

"It's still a massive prize when you think about it. I think we're lucky to be playing for that kind of money."

O'Grady said before last week's talks that the sponsors "will honor their contract with us if we so wish.

"But we will take a view on what's appropriate and in our long-term interest we may consider offering to drop the purse," he added. "We can't be immune from what is happening in the region. People are not getting paid in Dubai and we may have to share the pain."

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