2009 will be the breakthrough year for golf in a region of the world that 20 years ago barely knew its existence. Even those with only a passing interest in golf will struggle to get through 2009 without coming across headlines about “Golf in the Gulf” and “Straight Down the Middle East”.

The European Tour, something of a misnomer given the breadth of international players participating and the number of countries visited – including Australia, South Africa, China and India – is changing the name of the season-long Order of Merit points title and calling it the Race to Dubai.