Dubai Desert Classic prizes rise to €1.6m

Sports Digest/GOLF: Prize-money for next year's Dubai Desert Classic has been increased to a record €1.6 million.

The European Tour event, which this year attracted a strong field - including Tiger Woods and twice winner Ernie Els - will be played at the Emirates Golf Club's Majlis Course from March 3rd to 6th, 2005.

"In recent years, the prize-money fund has increased by more than 35 per cent which underlines our commitment to the sport in this part of the world," said M A Al Ghurair, managing director of the tournament's main sponsors.

"The Dubai Desert Classic will continue to attract the big names such as Ernie Els and we will be announcing many more of the stars who are lined up for 2005 over the coming weeks."

South Africa's world number three Els, the winner in 1994 and 2002, has already confirmed he will chase a third Desert Classic crown next March.

American Mark O'Meara is the defending champion after winning this year's title by a shot from Ireland's Paul McGinley.

MOTOR SPORT: Formula One legend Jackie Stewart believes Ford have made a mistake by selling the Jaguar team and leaving the sport.

Stewart, who ended a 40-year ambassadorial role with the American car manufacturer last month, labelled the company's decision "an oversight".

"One of the great things about Ford is that the company was a global thinker," the Scot said. "I believe not having a presence in Formula One will have long-term implications for the company.

"Even if it is not the case in America, grand prix racing still draws the biggest (global) TV audience."

The 65-year-old admitted to feeling "total shock" when he discovered that Ford would not fund Jaguar or engine manufacturers Cosworth Racing beyond 2004.

Ford powered Stewart's eponymous Formula One team, which he later sold to the company, between 1997 and 1999.

It was re-christened Jaguar in 2000 with Irish driver Eddie Irvine hired from Ferrari to propel the team to the front of the grid. However, the big cat failed to roar.

Instead, Ford departed the sport with its tail between its legs, leaving the team under the control of new owners Red Bull

CYCLING: David O'Loughlin got off to a good start in the colours of his new Navigators Insurance professional team when he came out best in the Rás An Turcaí pre-season contest in Carraroe, Co Galway on Tuesday.

The local Connemara rider raced into the finish ahead of Belgian contestant Kurt Bogaerts at the end of the 60-kilometre event, with Western Lakes' Padraig Marrey finishing third and the Ag2R Prevoyance professional Mark Scanlon winning a four-up sprint for fourth.

Belgian junior Kristoff Goddert (HO2 Beveren) and Páidí O'Brien (Maxima) completed the top six.

A break by three limit group (leisure, women and underage) riders - Vinnie Kelly, Vinnie Cronin (both Treasury Holdings Carrick Wheelers road club) and Ashling Daly (Tullamore) - was finally reeled in by the competitive scratch group at the start of the final lap and the hammer went down amongst the strongmen in the race.

Inside the final five kilometres O'Loughlin and Bogaerts struck for home, opening up a good lead over the rest. The Mayo rider then got clear on the final run-in to the finish, reaching the line several seconds clear of his breakaway companion.

Meanwhile, Scanlon was controlling things in the chasing group, with only Marrey able to get clear. He stayed away and took his third podium finish in four years, while Scanlon had little problem in taking the gallop for fourth.

ATHLETICS: Kelly Holmes' triumphs this year have been recognised by prestigious magazine Athletics International.

The 34-year-old Briton topped the annual 800 metres and 1,500m world merit rankings lists compiled by the publication.

Holmes won Olympic gold over both distances and yesterday started training in South Africa for a return to competition next year.

Her countrywoman, Paula Radcliffe, was ranked seventh at 5,000m, fifth at 10,000m and 10th at marathon distance.

BOXING: Ricky Hatton's camp have been warned they need to stump more cash to tempt light-welterweight kingpin Kostya Tszyu to Manchester for a world title showdown.

Russian-born Australian Tszyu sat down with his manager Matt Watt on Tuesday to consider a deal to fight 'The Hitman' at the MEN Arena next year. But with other options on the table - including a lucrative four-fight deal with American promoter Murad Muhammad - Watt has stressed Tszyu would want more than the £2 million on offer to come to England.

Any fight with Hatton is likely to take place in the early hours of the morning to allow for US television scheduling, and Watt said: "What the promoters have to do is show the champion why he should fight at four in the morning in the other guy's backyard.

"People are using Kostya's name to put an event on and the way it works is you have to take care of the talent."

Tszyu could be stripped of his IBF belt if he does not face Hatton by August, but Watt insists his fighter has "gone beyond belts" and could yet opt for a multi-million dollar meeting with Oscar De La Hoya instead.