Golf in Dubai looks set to pull off a major coup by signing new Masters champion Danny Willett as one of its ambassadors.
Talks began before the 28-year-old claimed the biggest success of his career with a nerveless display at Augusta National.
And Willett’s manager, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, expects a deal to be finalised soon, with an agreement that will see the world No. 9 also take part in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the next three years.
Willett will return in 2017 as the defending champion after securing a one-shot victory over fellow Englishman Andy Sullivan and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello at the Emirates Golf Club in February.
“It should be done soon,” said Chandler, founder and managing director of International Sports Management (ISM).
“I had already discussed, before he won the Masters, about him being a Golf in Dubai ambassador.
“Just at the moment, we are talking about a three-year deal to play the Dubai Desert Classic with it. It will start from next year.”
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of ‘Golf in Dubai’, confirmed that they have been in talks regarding Willett even before his Masters win.
Life is good for Danny Willett. ? pic.twitter.com/X77vz2BALC
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) 2016年4月13日
Buamaim said: “We pride ourselves on the fact that we unearth future talents at an early stage, like we did with Matthew Fitzpatrick. We look forward to continuing our discussion with Chubby Chandler regarding Danny.”
Golf in Dubai’s current ambassadors are a mix of experienced and established stars, as well as promising talent.
They include European Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn, two-time Dubai Desert Classic winner Stephen Gallacher, Indian hero Jeev Milkha Singh and former US Amateur champion Fitzpatrick.
Willett himself said he would be delighted to help raise the profile of Dubai as a golfing destination through an ambassadorial role.
“It’s tremendous,” he told Sport360 exclusively. “Dubai is a fantastic place to play golf and a fantastic place to play sport.
“It has got some of the best sporting events in the world now and it’s a fantastic brand to be associated with. To try to support the Middle East in their rise of golf would be brilliant.”
Having accepted membership of the PGA Tour, Willett is set to cut back on some of his European Tour events in 2017. But Chandler revealed that UAE fans could still see the Sheffield-born golfer in action three times next year as he also looks to compete at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and then in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
“I would imagine he would play Abu Dhabi, have a week off and miss the Qatar Masters, and then play Dubai,” he added.
“The one thing that will happen now, after the Masters, is his time will become more precious at golf tournaments. He won’t be able to play quite as much.”
The Yorkshireman has also agreed to join the PGA Tour, where he now has a five-year exemption for winning the Masters. His next event will be the Players Championship in Sawgrass on May 12.
