European Tour Halves Race To Dubai Bonus Pool

The 2012 European Tour’s Race to Dubai will have a reduced bonus pool of £2.4 million ($3.7million), sale exactly half of the 2011 figure of £4.8 million ($7.4million).

The so called “refined” bonus pool will also see five more golfers earn a share of the spoils – fifteen players will benefit this year as opposed to ten in 2011.

The announcement came on the brink of the commencement of the race yesterday with the Africa Open at East London Golf Club.

There had been speculation about the very future of the event until a new deal was struck in December which will see the tournament, which started in 2009, continue through until 2014 under a new name and title sponsor – The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

European tour CEO Keith Waters, has said: “We are delighted to have everything in place for the new three-year phase of The Race to Dubai…in DP World and Nakheel we have two incredibly strong partners fully dedicated to the future success of The Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.”

The deal would have seen World Number One Luke Donald secure £642,000 ($995,000) as opposed to £951,000 ($1.5million) for topping the 2011 money list.

The prize fund for the season closing DP World Tour Championship in Dubai (November 22-25), however, has been increased to £5.1 million ($7.9 million) from £4.7 million ($7.3 milloin). This year’s victor will reveice £844,000 ($1.3 million)– more than £51,000 ($79,000) than the 2011 figure.