HotelPlanner Tour Faces Seven-Week Break as UAE Golf Events Postponed Due to Middle East Conflict
The HotelPlanner Tour is facing a significant seven-week hiatus after two upcoming events in the United Arab Emirates were postponed and rescheduled for later in the year. Originally planned for next month, the RAKBANK UAE Challenge and the Abu Dhabi Challenge have been moved due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, prioritizing the safety of all participants.
The RAKBANK UAE Challenge will now take place from September 24-27, followed by the Abu Dhabi Challenge from October 1-4. These tournaments are now slated to occur immediately after the Open de Portugal and directly precede a series of back-to-back events in China.
This rescheduling means players will have nearly seven weeks off the HotelPlanner Tour circuit before competition resumes with the Italian Challenge Open, scheduled for May 7-10.
A statement from the HotelPlanner Tour affirmed that this adjustment to the schedule is aimed at ensuring player safety while maintaining a robust calendar, with 29 tournaments still planned for the Road to Mallorca season. The tour also stated it would continue to closely monitor the evolving situation.
Earlier, the HotelPlanner Tour had planned to co-sanction the Indorama Ventures Open Golf Championship in India. However, significant travel disruptions affecting both staff and players, also attributed to the Middle East conflict, led the Professional Golf Tour of India to withdraw the HotelPlanner Tour's sanction from that event. The tournament proceeded under the sole sanction of the Professional Golf Tour of India.
Meanwhile, three Irish golfers – Mark Power, Conor Purcell, and Gary Hurley – are currently competing in the DP World PGTI Open this week at Classic Golf & Country Club, located southwest of New Delhi.
The venues for the rescheduled UAE events remain unchanged. The RAKBANK UAE Challenge will still be held at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, and the Abu Dhabi Challenge will take place at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
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