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Finchem praise for Dubai event

21/11/2007

The commissioner of the European Tour's rival organisation has claimed the new $10 million (£4.85 million) Dubai tournament is 'great for golf'.

PGA Tour boss Tim Finchem says the Dubai World Championships, plans for which were unveiled on Monday, will take the pressure off the American-based tour.

Critics have panned the standard of golf on the PGA, saying the inflated pay packets and easy courses are ruining the sport in North America.

But Finchem says the new deal struck by European organisers proves that golf across the globe is moving in the same direction by offering more prize money to the world's best players.

"This is great for professional golf globally," he said.

"It will hopefully reduce the clamour that because purses on the PGA Tour are high somehow the quality of golf is suffering."

He continued: "World-class athletes should be compensated at the same level as team sports - I've said that for 12 years. This deal shows golf is keeping up [with those team sports]."

In addition to the inflated prize money being offered to golfers on the European Tour, which it is hoped will stop the best players all gravitating towards the PGA, the Order of Merit will now be renamed the 'Race to Dubai'.

The top player on the tour at the end of the year will win a $2 million (£980,000) purse with other six-figure sums being awarded to players down as far as 15th in the order.