Dubai’s elite golf tournament kicked off with a celebrity-packed Pro-Am that opened to public spectators for the first time, featuring champions from F1, football and tennis.
DUBAI – The DP World Tour Championship launched in spectacular fashion Tuesday as sporting icons from around the world converged on Jumeirah Golf Estates for an unprecedented Pro-Am event that marked the first time fans could witness the tournament’s traditional curtain-raiser.
The star-studded field featured four-time F1 champion Alain Prost, Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit, and French tennis ace Henri Leconte, who all rubbed shoulders with professional golfers in a celebration of cross-sport camaraderie.
“I’ve got back into golf in the last few years since DP World first invited me in 2022,” said Prost, who played alongside tour pro Laurie Canter. “The atmosphere here is always wonderful.”
Gullit, making his Pro-Am debut at the course he previously only visited as a spectator, joked about the challenging layout: “Are there enough bunkers here? My goodness!” The former AC Milan star, playing off a five handicap, added: “I made a couple of birdies, so I’m happy with that.”
The celebrity lineup extended to include cricket’s Liam Livingstone, tennis player Alexei Popyrin, and padel star Paquito Navarro, creating a unique gathering of champions from diverse sports backgrounds ahead of the tournament’s main competition.
