Golf’s Dubai Prize Money Cut By 25%

The global recession has made another hit to professional sport, as the European Tour confirmed a 25% reduction in the prize money awarded at the season-ending Dubai World Championship, as well as the overall bonus pool offered to the Race to Dubai’s top 15 winners.

The overall winner will now get £773,000 as opposed to £928,000 for winning the tournament in November.

Additionally, a reduction from £6.1m to £4.6m will be made for the competition’s bonus pool, which is offered to the season’s top money-winners.

If a player wins both the tournament and the Race to Dubai, they will take home £1.7m (instead of £2.2m) – a similar reduction of 25%.

The decision follows discussions in the United Arab Emirates between Tour chief executive George O’Grady and event sponsors Nakheel.

According to media reports, the reduction is being chalked up to the economic crisis.