Race to Dubai to cut prize fund as sponsor feels pinch

The European Tour's flagship tournament is expected to lose its claim to being the richest in professional golf this week when officials will announce that the prize fund for the much-vaunted Race to Dubai is to be cut because of the economic troubles that have beset its sponsor.

Details of a new deal struck between the tour and Leisurecorp, a Dubai-based developer, will be announced this week but it is understood that the world's leading players will be playing for at least 25% less than had been promised.

If confirmed, this will mean the season-ending Dubai World Championship will carry a $7.5m (£4.4m) prize fund (down from $10m) and the Race to Dubai, the season-long points event that replaced the Order of Merit, will be worth a similar amount.