Nov 16, 2019: Major Champions Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett, plus European Tour winners Rafa Cabrera Bello and Erik van Rooyen will line up in the final Hero Challenge of 2019 at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai on Tuesday November 19.
The six European Tour stars will go head-to-head in the innovative shootout under the lights, which will take place ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the eighth Rolex Series event of 2019.
The exciting night-golf spectacle will provide a fitting finale for the 2019 Hero Challenge series, which began at Liverpool’s Princes Docks when local star Tommy Fleetwood triumphed, prior to hosting the Betfred British Masters. In the next stop, Matthew Fitzpatrick secured his maiden Hero Challenge victory ahead of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.
Swede Stenson claimed the Hero Challenge title last year in Dubai after overcoming Lee Westwood in an enthralling finale. The two-time Race to Dubai Champion is looking forward to returning to the glamorous venue on Palm Jumeirah, while Reed, the 2018 Masters Tournament Champion, will also be bidding for more Hero Challenge glory following his triumph in Scotland two years ago.
They will be joined by Willett, the 2018 DP World Tour Champion, who will be looking for a good start to the week before beginning his title defence at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Englishman goes into this year’s event following his second Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship in September.
Open Champion Lowry, who captured the Claret Jug in jubilant scenes at Royal Portrush this July, will make his first Hero Challenge appearance since the inaugural edition of the contest at The Grove back in 2016. Cabrera Bello will also return to action in the fast and fun contest following his previous Hero Challenge outing at Edinburgh Castle in 2018.
Van Rooyen, who currently sits eighth in the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex, lines up alongside his fellow European Tour stars for the first time and will look to join the illustrious list of former Hero Challenge winners.
Stenson, the 2016 Open Champion, said: ‘’The Hero Challenge is a great way to start the final week of the season and I’m looking forward to getting involved again and attempting to defend my title. Atlantis, The Palm is a spectacular place and it was amazing to play golf at such an iconic landmark. It was a lot of fun 12 months ago and I expect it to be even more competitive this time.’’
Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said: “The Hero Challenge is one of the most unique and exciting events that we have been associated with globally. I am glad to see the Hero Challenge gain immense popularity over the past few years, attracting new fans to the sport. I wish all the players best of luck at the Hero Challenge and also the DP World Tour Championship.”
The season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, returns to Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 21-24, 2019 with the top 50 players on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai competing for the $3 million first prize – the richest prize in tournament golf.
The eighth and final Rolex Series tournament of 2019 has a world-class field, including all six stars of the Hero Challenge as well as current leader of the Race to Dubai leader Bernd Wiesberger, 2018 Open Champion and Race to Dubai Champion Francesco Molinari and World Number Two Rory McIlroy.
European Tour Release
