Course: Emirates GC, Dubai

Prizemoney: €1.86 million (€315,000 to the winner)

Length: 7.301 yards. Par: 72. Field: 132

Time difference: Dubai is four hours ahead of Ireland

Course overview: A score of 11-under par was good enough to win in 2010 and 2011, but usually the Emirates course is a low-scoring one, where 20-under and better has been known to be required for victory. The back-nine is the scoring half, with three par-fives (10th, 13th and 18th) and two shortish par-threes (11th and 15th). Tiger Woods came home in 31 (six under par) when winning in 2008. Trees and shrubs will punish the wayward, while water comes into play in 10 of the holes. The greens, however, are flat and mostly straightforward.

Last year's winner: Rafael Cabrero-Bello.

Weather forecast: Misty opening morning giving way to sun on day one. Wind to increase over next three days

On TV: Sky Sports 1 from 6am