25 Years of Golf in Dubai; Son of Golf Great Ballesteros Honors Legacy
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over here, Stephen.</s>O'DONOGHUE: Welcome back to LIVING GOLF at the Emirates Golf Club here in Dubai. So Henrik was contending, but it was Stephen Gallacher who became the real story on a thrilling final day. The first man ever to successfully defend this Desert Classic title. These days, the European Tour event in the Middle East has become entirely normal. Twenty-five years ago, however, it was revolutionary.</s>O'DONOGHUE (voice-over): As the past champions gathered for a celebration photo shoot, the status of this tournament was clear. Seven winners of major championships. A host of former and current world No. 1's. Players from every part of the world, bar Asia, so far. Back in 1989, both Dubai and the European Tour were looking to grow.</s>MOHAMED JUMA BUAMAIM, CEO, GOLF IN DUBAI: It started with building a golf course. A lot of companies started to come in to this part of the world. Those people played golf, so they needed a place to play. And that's why the Emirates Golf Club came into being. And of course, as soon as that happened, what was the next step? Is to promote this city through golf. Mark James, I think, he would vouch for this as that, when he came here, this was the only green spot. You know, everything around it was just desert.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mark James has this to win the first Desert Classic.</s>MARK JAMES, FIRST WINNER OF DESERT CLASSIC: Oh, we were hugely excited to try and get a full tour in the Middle East. And you know, everyone made the effort to come, and we heard it was going to be good, and it was.</s>O'DONOGHUE: A year later, the European Tour's schedule had 38 events, 37 in Europe and this one here. Very quickly, the tournaments managed to secure some of the best players from around the world. Although on the European Tour, it became a truly international event.</s>DAVID HOWELL, WINNER OF THE DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC, 1999: It's always had a really top-quality field. And it has got, you know, a really strong list of champions. Obviously, I'm delighted to have been able to join that list. And -- but many major winners. And really, it's been -- it's been one of our biggest and strongest events for the past five of the 25 years.</s>FRED COUPLES, WINNER OF THE DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC, 1995: Well, I remember, you know, getting an invite here and being, like everyone else, very excited to come. And now when I come back -- and the golf course is phenomenal. It was great back then, too. But now when I come back, it's kind of like how many more buildings have they put up? And how many more hotels and resorts and all that? It's very interesting.</s>GEORGE O'GRADY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR: It took a bit of believing, because desert courses hadn't been contemplated at that stage. But we realized the vision, the vision of Sheik Mohamed in Dubai and all his colleagues. I don't think we could believe it would become quite this great. But we were very fortunate.</s>O'DONOGHUE: And as Dubai grew, so did the European Tour. A tournament in Bangkok followed two years later, then further pushes into Asia, along with co-sanctioned events in South Africa and Australia.</s>O'GRADY: We don't sit here and moan, "Why isn't it always in our backyard?" You have to sometimes go out and find business, take your business to the world. And Dubai's given us the confidence to do that.</s>O'DONOGHUE: And nine years after Dubai came Qatar. And then Abu Dhabi. The form (ph) was now become the Desert Swing. Since 2009, the European Order of Merit has even been renamed the Race to Dubai, with the season reaching its climax here. This year, there would be at least 24 European Tour events outside Europe, not counting the majors. With American PGA tours now in Latin America and from next month's China, that single golf course in the desert proved to be an outpost of the future.</s>O'DONOGHUE: So it is the 25th anniversary of the Dubai Desert Classic. There are 20 former champions in the field. And one is missing? The late, great Severiano Ballesteros. But he is ably represented by his young son, Javier, who's over here practicing. And let's go meet him. Javier.</s>BALLESTEROS: Good to meet you.</s>O'DONOGHUE: Very nice to meet you. How's everything going?</s>BALLESTEROS: Fine. Very happy to be here. Nice place and nice tour (ph). Nice players. Everything.</s>O'DONOGHUE: What was it like to get requested to play and invited?</s>BALLESTEROS: Just amazing. They told me about six, seven months ago. And at first, I couldn't believe it. To be here and to represent my dad and I'm very proud of him.</s>O'DONOGHUE: So how's things been with the family? Because it was obviously so sad when Seve passed away in 2010.</s>BALLESTEROS: It's -- you know, it's been difficult times, but sometimes these things happen. And it happens to many families. You have to try to continue. Obviously, I think of my dad every day.</s>O'DONOGHUE: You look like him. When we see you completing your swing, it looks like Seve. Is there a bit of pressure on you to emulate him or do you feel that pressure?</s>BALLESTEROS: I know it's normal that they compare him to me. I don't feel the pressure, because I just try to play my golf. And I know who my dad was, but I have to be myself and play my best. I wish I -- I would like to be like him, but I think that's very difficult.</s>O'DONOGHUE: So do you think a professional career is in the future?</s>BALLESTEROS: Yes, of course. I will definitely give it a try.</s>O'DONOGHUE: Will you?</s>BALLESTEROS: Don't know when exactly, but for sure.</s>O'DONOGHUE: So you're taking the sensible route by completing your studies. Is it law that you're studying?</s>BALLESTEROS: Yes. I'm studying law. I have, like, one year and a half, something, to finish. Should have finished this year, but last year I played more golf than studied. But then I will finish.</s>O'DONOGHUE: But fantastic to have you here representing your dad. And so welcome to Dubai and the best of luck.</s>BALLESTEROS: Thank you very much. Thank you.</s>O'DONOGHUE (voice-over): Still to come, Martin Kaymer.