Rolex, the official timekeeper of golf's European Tour, will be the first official sponsor of the season-ending event of the inaugural Race to Dubai.

The agreement, signed between the watchmaker and Leisurecorp, a division of Nakheel Leisure, sees Rolex expand its already extensive sponsorship of golf. It also includes sponsorship of the European Open and the 2009 South African Open.

The season-long Race to Dubai competition comprises 49 golf tournaments around the world, culminating in the Dubai World Championship. The top 60 players will compete in Dubai.

"As one of The European Tour's longest-standing sponsors and sponsor to more than 20 tournaments in The Race to Dubai, the decision to back such an exciting group of tournaments was a natural progression for our long-term support of golf and one that we are very excited about," said

Jean-Noël Bioul, co-director of sponsoring at Rolex. "The advent of the Race to Dubai and the drama that surrounds it has made this season  on the European Tour arguably one of the most important in its long and distinguished history. Due to the quality of the competitors and the prize fund on offer, the Dubai World Championship will be one of the most important sporting events ever to be staged in the region, and we are extremely pleased to be a part of it."