By Matt Smith
Q: You recently played well at the Asian Development Tour in Indonesia, can you tell us how it went and how your form has been?
A: I’ve been very lucky to get the opportunities to compete in Asia this year, I think my results in the last few events have been a continuation of the progress I have been making, I have put a lot of work with my team to continue getting the one per cent better every day. I would’ve loved to play better after making the cut in Indonesia and that’s the next step, you can’t have high finishes unless you give yourself a chance to compete in the final rounds, I’m really looking forward to the rest of this season.
Q: Following your success at the Trust Golf mixed event earlier this year, what does the future hold?
A: I’m hopeful to continue my good form until the end of the year, competing on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour has been such a great learning experience for me, I’m optimistic and confident that these experiences will help me achieve my goals and put myself in position to compete at the highest level at the latter stages of events.
Q: Did you follow the boys at the Eisenhower Cup? How is the mood in the Saudi Arabia National Team camp?
A: I’m always keen to see how Saud (AlSharif) and Faisal (Salhab) are doing, they are both extremely talented and hard working,I know it’s only a matter of time till I see them both competing in Asia with me as professional golfers. I think the mood in the National Team camp is really positive and optimistic. I think we can all see how strong the support for the game of golf has been from Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, the platform we’ve been provided is incredible, and soon we will see not just one professional golfer from Saudi but three who can inspire the next generation of boys and girls to aspire to do the same.
Q: How do you feel the ongoing investments from Golf Saudi are helping the game?
A: If you look at the events that have come to Saudi Arabia in the last few years, we have had the highest levels of the game competing for prestigious prizes in both the women’s and men’s game, and with the Saudi Open this year becoming an Asian Development Tour event, the lower levels of the professional game are also feeling the support of Golf Saudi. The leadership of Golf Saudi, led by Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Majed Al Surour, is very ambitious and the game of golf will be the biggest winner I believe.
Q: Are you a fan of the team events we are seeing more of now?
A: I’m a big fan, some of my best memories have been in team events competing on my college golf team, and with Saud and Faisal on the national team representing Saudi Arabia. I firmly believe that the team aspect in golf can provide a super exciting flavour to all the events that embrace that.
Q: Golf Saudi is also getting involved with promotions such as its Mass Participation Days. What are your hopes for the next generation?
A: I think the mass participation projects can be super exciting, obviously golf is a new sport in Saudi Arabia, and to see the excitement in the country with the events that have happened, and some of the school projects that have been launched, I think we’re going to have a big boom very soon, and the numbers are drastically going to rise. I remember when I started playing golf at 15 I was one of only a handful of golfers in the country under the age of 25 and to see the numbers of boys and girls trying golf and falling in love with the game every single day now is truly a dream come true, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for golf in the Kingdom and in Asia.
See More: Chatting with the Golf Saudi CEO
