DUBAI, Feb 1 - Top MENA Golf Tour professionals will test their skills against some of the world's leading players when they compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, mindful that opportunities like these don't come knocking every day.

England's Jake Shepherd and Peter Richardson and American Sean McNamara will join three of the world's top four ranked players -Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - in the field which also includes victorious US Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples, John Daly and defending champion Alvaro Quiros of Spain.

The three won special invitations to the $2.5 million European Tour event, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, after finishing among top three on the MENA Golf Order of Merit. Exposure to this big event, starting at the Emirates Golf Club from February 9 to 12, could well mark a defining moment in their nascent professional career.

"Playing in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic will be just awesome," enthused England's rising star Shepherd, who took the MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title with a total earnings of $17,749, well ahead of Richardson ($15,087) and McNamara ($13,271).

"I thoroughly enjoyed playing on this MENA Tour which was quite professionally run. The money was good and so was the competition. The fact that it attracted entries from different parts of the world shows the tour is up there with the best," said the 21-year-old prodigy.

"With the top three professionals getting a chance to play in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, we couldn't have asked for more. That's a huge bonus," said Shepherd, who defeated McNamara in a playoff to win the Tour Championship, the fourth and concluding event on the MENA Golf Tour.

"You do feel a bit disappointed, but I have achieved what I wanted to - an invitation to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. This is the biggest prize I have won since turning pro in January last year. So no regrets," said McNamara.

Peter Richardson, who led from start to finish to win the third and the penultimate event on the MENA Golf Tour at Al Badia Golf Club, also lauded MENA Golf Tour, saying: Everything about it was just great. I am enjoyed playing on it and I believe so was the case with every player. Now it's time to make our presence felt in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic."

The top three players were also invited to compete in the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School. They may have missed out on the opportunity, but returned home richer in experience.

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, said: "The MENA Golf Tour is open to both professionals and amateurs and, therefore, have a unique appeal to it. Money is one thing. They offer an opportunity to play golf at the highest level (the Omega Dubai Desert Classic) and this exemption on the Asian Tour Q-School is an added bonus.

"The tour will, hopefully, encourage more people to take up golf, because if they can see people they know, playing, it's so much easier to relate to that than watching big players like Tiger Woods or Lee Westwood."

'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Gulf News, Emirates NBD, Jumeirah, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi's drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.