FRED COUPLES is to defend his title in the Dubai Desert golf Classic on March 14th-17th, despite the clash with Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Invitational tournament on the US Tour.
Couple's will face 10 of Europe winning Ryder Cup side, including Seve Ballesteros who has not played since September. Only Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer will be missing.
The field will also include Spanish star Jose Maria Olazabal who has been resting since September because of the foot injury which forced him to with draw from the Ryder Cup.
Promoter Simon Horgan, of the Dubai World Trade Centre, has called for greater flexibility and cooperation between the European and American Tours.
"I think the major tours need to coordinate their schedules more carefully because golf is now a massive international business and needs to be managed on a more global basis," he said.
After winning the first two events on the European Tour, Ian Woosnam has earned almost three times as much as his closest rival. The Welshman's victories in Singapore and Australia have seen him win £193,000 while Scotsman Andrew Coltart, second on the earnings list, has £66,660.
