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NEWS
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10.08.10 |
GOLDEN TICKET FOR THE INVITATIONAL FETCHES £5000
A PLACE in next year’s eagerly anticipated The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah was offered up as the star prize in a charity auction during golf loving DJ Spoony’s own event at Stoke Park in the UK recently.
The wonderful prize, which was donated by tournament host Abdullah Al Naboodah, generated frantic bidding from the assembled guests at the Spoony Classic as everyone clamoured for their chance to join a star-studded field of European Tour players at the prestigious Pro-Am taking place at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi next January. The lucky winner was Ken Parker, a close friend of Spoony’s and one of the event sponsors, who submitted a winning bid of £5,000.
The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah will see some of the world’s best players join forces with 50 invited amateurs for a day of great golf and banter. Expected to be in the field are 2010 competitors: US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, European No.1 Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Ross Fisher and Steve Webster and many more.
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28.07.10 |
GRAY WINS GOLDEN TICKET FOR INVITATIONAL
ENGLISHMAN Steve Gray has bagged a Golden Ticket for the golfing trip of a lifetime to play with the stars of The European Tour in The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah next year after winning the UK Qualifier held at Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire on Wednesday July 28th.
The event proved to be a roaring success with a full field of competitors, including Radio Five Live’s DJ Spoony turning out to play for the sensational prize. The Heythrop Park Resort course was in wonderful condition and players could scarcely believe that the layout is less than 12 months old. The event was played in an 18-hole strokeplay format with full handicap allowance and there was some terrific golf on display. It was tight at the top of the leaderboard and when the scores were calculated three players – Pete Brady (5), Ed Kelly (5) and Steve Gray (12) – were tied on net 70 so a return trip down the par-5 18th was needed to find a winner.
With so much on the line, tensions were understandably running high and all three players made six but Steve took the spoils after receiving a shot on the stroke index 11 hole. Steve will now join the likes of Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher and Graeme McDowell at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi in the UAE next January to compete in the prestigious ‘invite only’ event.
Prizes at the Qualifier were provided by Titleist and handed out by Spoony, who gave a glowing account of his experience playing in The Invitational in 2010, while £600 was raised for the Make A Wish Foundation UK through an auction for a number of signed photographs of Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group sponsored players Graeme McDowell and Ross Fisher.
In last January’s Invitational World No.3 Westwood shared the individual Pro’s title with Darren Clarke, while former Irish jockey James Collins, who gained entry through the GOLDEN TICKET qualifier in Dubai, and Australian Tour player Richard Green came second in the Pro-Am behind the winners, Westwood and Host, Abdullah Al Naboodah.
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21.06.10 |
AMAZING RESULT FOR GMAC
The Invitational Pro-Am hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, wants to congratulate Graeme McDowell, one of the top golfers sponsored by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.
Graeme McDowell, or GMAC, (www.graememcdowell.com) as he is known in golf has had the biggest win of his career at Pebble Beach, California and has been crowned The 110th US Open Champion. The US Open, one of golf’s four major championships, is considered the toughest in the world and Graeme is the first European Golfer to win since Tony Jacklin in 1970 with a score of 284 (level par).
Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah has known Graeme for a number of years now and set up sponsorship for him at the beginning of 2009. Graeme always starts the year in the UAE, playing in the Omega Dubai Dessert Classic, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and in The Invitational Pro-Am hosted by Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, (www.theinvitational.com). Graeme will again be in Dubai later in the year competing in the Dubai World Championships.
“I am delighted for GMAC. He has worked so hard on his game and deserves this fantastic win, its only a few weeks since he won the Celtic Manor Wales Open so I knew he was in great form.” says Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah. He continues to say: “There is a buzz around the UAE and our office, everyone is talking about GMAC and people are very excited to hear about the result as we are one of his key sponsors. He is clearly on a roll, and we all hope he will go on from strength to strength. Well done Graeme, what an achievement”.
Graeme McDowell has already confirmed his participation in The Invitational 2011 along with 2009 Volvo Matchplay Champion Ross Fisher.
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10.06.10 |
GOLFERS in the region have been handed a golden opportunity to play a stroke play event at Heythrop Park Resort at Enstone, Chipping Norton, on July 28, and qualify for one of the most prestigious Pro-Ams in the game.
The winner of the 18-hole tournament at Heythrop Park Resort will have the pleasure of playing alongside some of the best players on The European Tour in The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at one of the most spectacular golf clubs in the United Arab Emirates in January 2011.
This exclusive opportunity is the only international qualifying event to win a money-can’t-buy invite to play The Invitational Pro-Am – it’s a strictly invitation-only tournament – and the winner and their partner will have a four-night trip to the United Arab Emirates, including flights, to enjoy the competition and the wonderful hospitality of the emirates.
Graeme McDowell, winner of last weekend’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor Resort, venue for this year’s Ryder Cup, is a regular competitor at The Invitational. “The Invitational is the most fun event of any Pro-Am I’ve ever played,” he says. “The field is as good as any European Tour event but although it’s competitive, the banter between the players and the spectators makes it something special.”
In last January’s event World No.3 Lee Westwood shared the individual Pro’s title with Darren Clarke, while former Irish jockey James Collins, who gained entry through the GOLDEN TICKET qualifier, and Australian Tour player Richard Green came second in the Pro-Am behind the winners, Lee Westwood and Host, Abdullah Al Naboodah.
Among the other leading players in the field were Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ross Fisher, Steve Webster and many more – all of whom are expected to play again next January.
The qualifying event is open to male and female golfers, aged 18 and above, who hold an official handicap certificate (maximum handicap 18 for men, 28 for ladies).
For more information, click here to download your entry form.
The closing date for entries is Wednesday, July 21st, 2010. The entry fee is £75, which includes green fees, range balls, prizes and buffet.
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05.06.10 |
YOUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THE INVITATIONAL
Please click here to preview the feature from the June Edition of Worldwide Golf Magazine. |
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09.05.10 |
QUALIFY TO PLAY IN THE BEST PRO-AM IN THE REGION AND COMPETE WITH THE BEST GOLFERS IN EUROPE
The dates for the Pre-Qualifiers have now been confirmed:
Abu Dhabi – Yas Links – Tuesday 26th October 2010 1pm AED495 adults – AED195 Juniors
Dubai – Arabian Ranches – Monday 15th November 2010 8am AED495 (Ladies Only)
Dubai – Faldo – Monday 22nd November 2010 5pm (Floodlit) AED495 adults – AED195 Juniors
Ras Al Khaimah – Thursday 9th December 2010 1pm AED450 adults – AED150 Juniors
ENTRY FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRE-REGISTER PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO goldenticket@theinvitational.com
AND WE WILL SEND YOU REGULAR UPDATES |
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25.04.10 |
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFIER
The fame of The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah is spreading. The most prestigious and popular European Tour Pro-Am in the middle east is going International with a UK qualifier taking place at the exclusive Heythrop Park Golf Club in Oxfordshire on Wednesday 28th July 2010.
This provides golfers in the UK with the only opportunity outside of the middle east to win a Golden Ticket and qualify for The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah on January 31st 2011 in the UAE.
For details of the facilities at Heythrop Park Golf Club visit www.heythropparkgolf.co.uk |
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26.01.10 |
IT was an ‘old pals act’ of the highest order that became the centrepiece of The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at the Creek Golf & Yacht Club last month. Lee Westwood, The 2009 Race to Dubai and Dubai World Championship winner, shared the Individual Professional prize with his best friend and ISM stablemate Darren Clarke.
European Tour Player of the Year Westwood was back to his brilliant best and Clarke showed signs of returning to the form that won him two World Golf Championships as the Englishman and Irishman both shot course record-breaking rounds of 8-under 63.
Westwood also partnered his good friend, the event’s host Abdullah Al Naboodah, to take first place in the Professional-Amateur team event section with a 9-under 62.
Clarke partnered George Horan, Deputy Managing Director of Premier Partners to The Invitational, Dubai Duty Free, to take third place with a 63, losing out on a one-shot countback for second place by Professional Richard Green and amateur James Collins, who qualified through the Golden Ticket he won at the Worldwide Golf Midweek Open played at Arabian Ranches earlier this month. |
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05.01.10 |
LUCKY LOCALS WIN GOLDEN GOLF TICKET
DUBAI golfers James Collins (hcp 15) and Amelia McKee (hcp 26) will get a dream chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world, including Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy after winning ‘Golden Tickets’ for the star-studded Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah taking place at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on January 25.
Worldwide Golf, the Middle East’s No. 1 golf publication and official media partner of The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, offered local golfers a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to play alongside the stars of The European Tour in the region’s most prestigious ‘invitation only’ pro-am.
One adult and one junior spot were up for grabs for the best net scores at the official qualifying event, the Worldwide Golf Midweek Open, held on January 5 at Arabian Ranches Golf Club. James Collins and ten year old Amelia McKee, seized the golden opportunity with respective scores of net 69 and net 65.
The qualifying event was played in an 18-hole individual strokeplay format with a maximum handicap allowance of 18 for men, 24 for ladies and 28 for juniors.
With such a tantalising prize on offer, competition in the Midweek Open was even more fierce than usual and some fine scores were returned but it was James and Amelia who proved the pick of the bunch. The pair will now become VIPs for the day, partnering a Tour professional in a world-class field at Dubai Creek later this month.
Mike Gallemore, Editor-in-Chief at Worldwide Golf said: “We’ve always been committed to the grass roots game in the Middle East and the Midweek Open Series was started to offer players in the region the opportunity to experience tournament golf at an affordable price. It’s absolutely wonderful to now be able to give two of those local golfers the chance to play side by side with the best players in the world.” |
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18.12.09 |
Garcia joins Westwood and McIlroy in a star-studded cast for The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah.
Sergio Garcia is the latest big name to join the all-star cast at The Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club on January 25th. The popular Spaniard, currently ranked 11th in the World, makes his debut in the most prestigious Invitational Pro-Am in the region. |
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25.11.09 |
| Team Al Naboodah make a late charge to victory at the 2009 Gary Player Invitational at The Links at Fancourt Golf Club in George, South Africa. The team led by Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah of celebrity DJ Spoony, Senior Professional Vincent Tshabalala and European Tour Professional Thomas Aiken claimed a nail-biting victory in the fourball alliance competition of this premier charity tournament. The competition was eventually decided on a count out on 22-under. “It would be fantastic to return and I will do my best to be here. This was one of the best tournaments I’ve ever played in. My family and I are very passionate about charities around the world. When I met Gary a year ago, we spoke about giving back through golf. I have a lot of respect for what he does. We just enjoyed ourselves out there and it’s a bonus to walk away with a win.” |
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01.11.09 |
| Al Naboodah star player Ross Fisher completed a memorable marathon effort by beating American Ryder Cup player Anthony Kim to win the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain. The 28 year old, with high hopes of making his own Ryder Cup debut in Wales next October, won the final four and three after playing an amazing 126 holes in four days. Ross commented “The only thing that's been missing this year was a win. I feel I've been very consistent and to be the leading guy in the Majors (in terms of shots taken) shows my golf has been very good." |
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24.10.09 |
1999 Dubai Desert Classic Champion, David Howell will return to Dubai to play in The Invitational for the second time.
After a steady climb to the top of his profession, David peaked in November 2005 when he out-scored playing partner Tiger Woods on the final day to win the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai. He went on to capture the 2006 BMW Championship and become the first English winner of the famous championship since Nick Faldo’s record breaking fourth title in 1989. |
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19.10.09 |
| 2009 Alfred Dunhill Links Champion, Simon Dyson has confirmed his entry to play in the 2010 Al Naboodah Invitational. Dyson, currently 8th in the Race to Dubai standings, played in the Pro-Am in 2008 finishing tied 4th and in 2009 tied 2nd so he will be eager to improve on his impressive record and take home the top cheque for his personal charity. |
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