Organizers of the Dubai Desert Classic are "expecting record crowds of over 60,000 people this weekend, thanks to Tiger Woods' return to the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club," according to Ashley Hammond of GULF NEWS. That would be up around 30% from last year's attendance of approximately 45,000 people when Woods did not attend "through injury." Ticket sales "spiked" 50% year-on-year "at the point that Woods' participation was confirmed last month," and media applications are up 160% from 95 to 250. Hospitality sold out a week in advance of the tournament, which is the "earliest that has ever happened." Tournament organizer Golf in Dubai Vice-Chair & CEO Mohammad Juma Bu Amim said, "Tiger coming back is a good thing for golf in general and definitely good for Dubai, because regardless of how he plays he’s still the top sportsman in the world, and he still draws the crowd." The European Tour released figures for TV audiences from the U.S. and the U.K. that show the difference between '14, when Woods played in Europe, and '15 when he did not. Overall, it was a 93% decrease, with the "biggest difference being in live TV viewership" from the U.S. where figures fell 210% when Woods was not playing (GULF NEWS, 2/1).
