Top golf executive Tom Phillips has been named the new head of Middle East for the European Tour, tasked with developing the sport in the region.
The former CEO of the Faldo Series and the Hong Kong Golf Association will lead the European Tour’s tournament programme in the Middle East.
This includes the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the final event of the golf season, which has the largest prize fund in golf.
“The European Tour group has seven events in the Middle East in 2019 and some of the Tour’s most committed partners, all of which reflects the Middle East’s importance to world golf and the future of our sport,” explained Phillips.
He has worked in the golf and leisure industries for 25 years, developing the non-profit Faldo Series and serving as the CEO of the Hong Kong Golf Association.
“Having worked closely with the European Tour since 1999, I am excited to join the team and continue the excellent progress that has been made by the Tour and its key stakeholders in the Middle East,” he added.
Excited to join the @EuropeanTour‘s Middle East team in Dubai, starting 1 July: https://t.co/m7tMtV9T2q
— Tom Phillips (@tomphi11ips) May 30, 2019
Phillips will take up the role on 1 July and lead the European Tour’s Middle East office at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The United Arab Emirates is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, and the Middle East is becoming more influential in the golfing world.
In May DP World named top golfer Ian Poulter as its global ambassador to help develop golf in the region, while the Abu Dhabi Championship is now part of the prestigious Rolex Series of tournaments.
The European Tour’s chief operating officer, Keith Waters, said: “The Middle East is a very important region for the European Tour and Tom will add a wealth of experience in international golf strategy and business development to our operation.”
