This year's Dubai Desert Classic will be given a touch of the golden oldies by Tom Watson.

Watson, who is 60-years-old, will make his debut appearance on the Majlis course that will help in compensating for the expected absence of Tiger Woods, who was the tournament's main attraction and is taking an imprecise break from the game.

When the legendary golf player went within a whisker of securing a ninth major championship triumph in last summer's memorable British Open at Turnberry, he proved that the old age has not deteriorated his performance.

At the 72nd hole, all that the popular American needed was a par in order to repeat his famous one-stroke victory over his opponent Jack Nicklaus on the same Ailsa course 32 years formerly. However, to the hard luck of Watson, he was unable to hole an 8ft putt that Sunday evening.

After losing to his fellow American Stewart Cink in a four-hole play-off, Watson was more than happy to accept a "Duel in the Desert" with a yet to be decided field to follow his epic 1977 "Duel in the Sun" with Nicklaus.

Having been a prolific collector of senior titles in recent years, Watson expressed, "I am anxious to visit Dubai since I have heard so many good things about it."

The prize money for the Dubai Desert Classic, which will run from 4th to 7th February, is US$2.5million (Dh9.18m).