Dubai Prize Money Cut

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Prize money for the Dubai World Championship and the bonus pool will be reduced 25 percent because of the global economic downturn.

The winner's check for the Nov. 19-22 tournament in Dubai will be $1.25 million, and first prize for the season-long bonus pool, known as the Race To Dubai, has been reduced to $1.5 million. The total for each has been cut to $7.5 million from $10 million.

"The European Tour has offered to reduce the prize money to reflect the current worldwide economic position," European Tour chief executive George O'Grady said. "We will jointly examine prize money levels in future years in the light of this developing global situation."

When the tournament was launched two years ago it was hailed as the richest in golf, but the cuts mean it can no longer say that. This week's Tour Championship at Atlanta also has a purse of $7.5 million, with a winner's check of $1.35 million.