In under a year, he went from a 24 handicap to scratch. He became the first Emirati to compete at the U.S. Junior Amateur. He earned medallist honours in the final qualifier for the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine. He practised on the range at Oakland Hills alongside Charlie and Tiger Woods. He won the Tommy Fleetwood AJGA event at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course. He claimed both the Men’s and Junior Order of Merit titles in the Emirates Golf Federation’s 2026 season. And now, at 19, he is heading to UC Irvine in California as the first UAE national to secure a full NCAA Division I golf scholarship.

He speaks about all of it with a quiet matter-of-factness that is either remarkable self-possession or the product of a very deliberate mental discipline. Probably both.

The Beginning: Covid, a Rangeside House, and an Obsession
Ahmed’s family played golf for fun. During Covid, when the afternoons on the course with his father became the main event of the day, something shifted. He had been a table tennis and badminton player at school. Golf was supposed to be a family leisure activity. Instead it became an obsession, and it moved quickly.

“I simply fell in love with the process of getting better. I became obsessed – practising for hours, watching golf, thinking about golf,” Rayan says.

His parents noticed. His mother and father moved the family home to a property right in front of the Montgomerie range in Dubai – a decision that removed every logistical barrier between Ahmed and the hours he needed to put in. It is the kind of parental commitment that does not show up in a results summary but tends to underpin most serious athletic careers.

Crucially, they did not attach conditions to it. No specific targets, no pressure around medals, no scorecards brought home for review. Sport was about building character. The golf was Ahmed’s obsession and he was left to grow into it at his own pace.

“The biggest thing they gave me was freedom. I genuinely wouldn’t be here without that,” he says.

The Influences: McIlroy on Loop, Tiger on the Wall
Rory McIlroy’s swing plays on a loop on the television at Ahmed’s home academy. He studied it obsessively when he started and has not stopped. Tiger Woods occupies a different kind of place in the household: a large oil-on-canvas painting of a young Woods fist-pumping greets visitors at the front door. Watching him win the 2019 Masters, Ahmed says, was “simply out of this world”.

The Woods connection acquired a different dimension in the summer of 2024 at Oakland Hills, when Ahmed — competing at the U.S. Junior Amateur as the first Emirati to do so — found himself on the practice range next to Charlie and Tiger. His father’s reaction to the story has become something of a running joke in the Ahmed household.

“My father couldn’t stop telling everyone that his son had beaten Tiger’s son,” he says.

The Breakthrough: EGF, World Amateurs, and a Summer that Changed Everything
Ahmed joined the UAE national team in 2023 after winning the Emirates Golf Federation’s Junior Order of Merit. The access that came with it was immediate and significant – international tournaments, world-class facilities, and a coaching team that includes Faycal Serghini and Matthew Brookes. Within months he was competing at the World Amateur Team Championships in Abu Dhabi against players including Gordon Sargent and Nick Dunlap, two of the most decorated amateur golfers of recent years.

The EGF framework, and the vision of its President, General Abdullah Al Hashmi, receive repeated, specific credit in how Ahmed talks about his development. The international travel schedule it opened up – the kind that builds resilience in ways that pure talent and practice cannot – is something he returns to when discussing why he feels ready for the United States.

The summer of 2024 consolidated it. U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills, then medallist honours in the final qualifier for the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine. Two of the most prestigious amateur events in world golf, within weeks of each other.

“It made me feel that I had arrived, that I belong, that I can compete at the highest level,” Rayan says.

The Mental Edge: A Kickboxer, Quiet Composure, and Taking Notes at Royal Liverpool
Ahmed describes his natural demeanour as quiet. People read it as mild-mannered. He is careful to make clear that is not quite right.

“Behind that quietness I am fighting extremely hard.”

The mental development has been structured. Alongside swing coach Liam James, Ahmed works with Sensei Majid- a kickboxer – whose contribution is specifically around comfort in difficult situations. The crossover is deliberate: learning to stay composed under pressure in a combat sport environment translates, Ahmed has found, to the golf course.

The test came at The Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool. His swing was out of sync. He made serious errors. The old version of himself, he says, would have compounded a bogey into a triple by dwelling on what went wrong. Instead, he took detailed notes and went back to work on the range. It is a small story but it is the kind of thing that separates golfers with talent from golfers with careers.

The Numbers: 116 mph, Three Strokes Lost Putting, and a Secret Weapon
A year before winning the Tommy Fleetwood AJGA event at Earth Course with a 14-under total, Ahmed was losing nearly three strokes a day through putting. It is a striking admission – and a striking turnaround. Putting, particularly pace control, is now what he calls his secret weapon.

The gym work has driven his club speed to 116 mph and it is still climbing. He is also, when the swing is functioning as it should, an accurate driver. These are not the numbers of a junior golfer making up the numbers at elite events. They are the profile of someone whose physical and technical development has been managed with a professional trajectory in mind.

What Comes Next: UC Irvine, Business & Economics, and the Long Game
In the fall of 2026, Ahmed heads to UC Irvine in California. He will study Business and Economics. He will play under Coach Paul Smolinski, whose programme he has researched and rates highly. He becomes, in doing so, the first UAE national to secure a full NCAA Division I golf scholarship – a historic first that sits alongside several others he has accumulated without, he insists, spending much time thinking about them during competition.

What he thinks about instead is the flag. The UAE flag, at the events where it flies because he is there to represent his country.

“When I walk into an event and see the UAE flag flying amongst all the others, knowing it is there because I am representing my country – that motivates me to give everything. Pressure honestly doesn’t feature at all,” Rayan says.

The Professional game is the long-term destination. Ahmed is clear about that, and equally clear about the difficulty of what getting there requires. The humility is genuine – he has been around good enough golf long enough to know how hard the gap between excellent amateur and touring professional actually is. But the ambition is absolute.

“I have the humility to understand just how difficult it is to reach the very top of this game. But that understanding is only matched by my desire to get there. I am aiming for the stars. Nothing less.”

RAYAN AHMED: KEY CAREER MOMENTS

2023: Wins EGF Junior Order of Merit; joins UAE national team
2024: First Emirati at U.S. Junior Amateur (Oakland Hills); medallist at U.S. Amateur qualifier (Hazeltine)
2025: Wins Tommy Fleetwood AJGA event at Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, at 14-under par
2026: EGF Men’s and Junior Order of Merit titles; competes at The Amateur Championship, Royal Liverpool. Joins UC Irvine as first UAE national on a full NCAA Division I golf scholarship

AT A GLANCE
Age: 19
Nationality: Emirati
Status: Amateur
Handicap journey: 24 to scratch in under one year.
Destination: UC Irvine – first UAE national on a full NCAA Division I golf scholarship
2026 season: Men’s and Junior Order of Merit titles, Emirates Golf Federation
Club speed: 116 mph and growing

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The election was attended by representatives of the Asia-Pacific Golf Federation, the Arab Golf Federation, the Iraqi National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Also present were members of the Olympic Committee Executive Office, presidents of sports federations and clubs, distinguished guests, and members of the Iraqi Golf Federation General Assembly.

Board of Directors for the 2026–2030 Iraqi Golf Federation

Following the conclusion of the voting process, the newly elected Board of Directors for the 2026–2030 term was confirmed as follows:

Hamid Hanoun Owaish – President

Munar Riyadh Abdul Abbas – Vice President

Ali Shamsuddin Hassan – Board Member

Abbas Kurdi Shalaka – Board Member

Murtaza Fares Mahmoud – Board Member

Wamed Khaled Rahman – Board Member

Morteza Hamed Hanoun – Board Member

The Iraqi Golf Federation extended its congratulations to the newly elected President and Board members on receiving the confidence and support of the General Assembly.

The Federation expressed its confidence that the new leadership team will continue to advance the development of golf throughout Iraq, strengthen participation at all levels of the game, and contribute to the continued growth of Iraqi sport both nationally and internationally.

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RELATED: The Story of Lebanon’s Lone Fairway

This pioneering initiative aims to introduce the sport into the university environment and strengthen its presence among young people.

Lebanese Golf Federation (Image supplied by Lebanese Golf Federation)

The establishment of the team marks a pivotal step in promoting golf at the academic level, offering students the opportunity discover and practice this distinguished sport within a structured framework that combines competitive performance development with skill also represents an importantfirst move toward encouraging other Lebanese universities to establish similar teams, potentially paving the way for a future inter-university golf league that fosters a strong golfing culture within the student community.

Lebanese Golf Federation (Image supplied by Lebanese Golf Federation)

This initiative aligns with the vision of the Lebanese Golf Federation to expand the base of participants, reinforce inclusivity in sport, and make golf accessible to all age groups and segments of society.

It further reflects the Federation’s commitment to supporting young talent and providing new platforms that enable students to develop their abilities and refine their skills in a positive and competitive environment.

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New Zealander Ryan Fox fronts this month’s issue and opens up on the journey behind one of the most recognisable swings in professional golf. It may not be textbook, but it has delivered 19 professional wins, including two on the PGA Tour and four on the DP World Tour. Foxy breaks down how he found confidence in his own move and why embracing what works for you can be far more powerful than chasing perfection.

We look back on a whirlwind stretch in the UAE that saw both the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club take centre stage, it was very much another reminder of why the Dubai Desert Classic continues to earn its reputation as the Major of the Middle East.

Away from the ropes, our exclusive interview with Ronan Keating offers a different perspective on the game. Now a Dubai resident, the Irish pop icon explains why golf has become an even bigger part of his life, from competitive rounds with friends to what the game gives him away from the stage.

Instruction takes a front seat this month too. Liv Jackson from Five Iron Golf Dubai shows how to shape shots with purpose, Travis Fulton explains how one simple adjustment can add real distance off the tee, and Mark Blackburn challenges the idea that a one-piece takeaway is always the right move.

We also kick off Part 1 of our annual Hot List equipment coverage, starting with the latest drivers hitting the market and the models worth your attention as the season gets underway.

All this and plenty more in the February 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

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Achieving this requires more than just hosting high-profile tournaments—you have to invest in infrastructure, grassroots programs, and opportunities for new Saudi nationals to learn, compete, and stay engaged with the game. And the Kingdom is very much doing that.

Mark Runnacles / LET

Golf Saudi’s efforts are to integrate the sport into local communities, schools, and youth programs across the country.

Central to participation growth is their “Go Golf” program. The initiative offers 12 free lessons for any Saudi national, introducing beginners to the fundamentals of the game in a structured, supportive environment. Participants will then earn a digital golf passport upon completing the lessons, providing discounts on equipment, memberships, green fees, and even restaurants—all designed to encourage long-term engagement.

Infrastructure growth is just as important. Currently, Saudi Arabia has seven publicly accessible golf courses, but Golf Saudi plans to increase that number to more than 20 within the next five years. Driving ranges will be introduced across all 13 regions, and multi-purpose, Topgolf-style venues are planned for Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province. In addition, the partnership with Five Iron Golf will bring cutting-edge indoor golf facilities to Riyadh starting in early 2026, blending simulation technology, hospitality, and instruction to attract beginners, families, and casual players.

Golf Saudi

For example, courses like the new Wadi Safar Golf Course, designed by Greg Norman, combine world-class infrastructure with sustainable operations. These types of venues will serve both professional competitions and community programs, offering golfers a place to learn and grow while also positioning Saudi Arabia as a global golf destination.

High-profile tournaments also play a role in inspiring participation. Events in the past 12 months include LIV Golf Riyadh, the PIF Saudi Ladies International, and the Saudi Open presented by PIF all showcase elite talent while giving Saudis a chance to experience world-class golf firsthand. Attendance figures highlight the growing interest that there is in the Kingdom. More than 72,000 people registered for the 2025 Saudi International, a dramatic increase from just 8,000 the previous year across the four tournament days.

Golf Saudi

The tournaments staged by Golf Saudi are integrated with weighty initiatives like Riyadh Season and entertainment events, combining sport with tourism, hospitality, and business. Showing that golf is a driving economic growth, thanks to partnerships with entities such as the Public Investment Fund and Riyadh Season.

Golf Saudi has focused a vast amount of its time on creating pathways for local talent. Programs for juniors, women, and emerging professionals provide coaching, competitive opportunities, and mentorship from Golf Saudi ambassadors, including both global stars and Saudi Arabian professionals like Othman Almulla, Saud Al Sharif, Faisal Salhab, Khalid Attieh, and Shergo Al Kurdi. This combination of elite access and grassroots development ensures that the sport is inclusive and that talent can be on display at every level.

The Kingdom’s development efforts are also complemented by regional initiatives. The Arab Golf Federation (AGF) launched the Arab Golf Series (AGS), a unified schedule of tournaments across 17 member nations, complete with an official ranking system for amateur and professional players.

Five Iron Golf

This now provides a clear pathway for emerging Arab golfing talent, enabling them to measure themselves against the best in the region and gain international exposure. By participating in AGS events, local players can track progress, earn ranking points, and qualify for higher-level competitions, creating a structured ecosystem that bridges grassroots development and elite performance across the Arab world.

Looking into the crystal ball for 2026, the Kingdom’s strategy is to further nurture and grow the sport through infrastructure, community programs, elite competition, and national initiatives like Go Golf. The combination of world-class venues, strategic partnerships, and structured development programs is designed to ensure that golf is not only played but embraced as part of Saudi Arabia’s cultural and sporting fabric.

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That commitment was reflected clearly this past season, with over 20 Arab players earning spots in the 2025 Saudi Open, a US$1 million event on the Asian Tour, offering them valuable experience at a world-class level.

2025 Saudi Amateur Open

The progress on display began well before tournament week. The Saudi Amateur Open again showed how Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation are building a complete structure that gives emerging players the opportunities they need.

The event sits within the Arab Golf Series, sanctioned by the Arab Golf Federation, and awards official regional ranking points. Those points carry real weight as they raise a player’s standing and strengthen their chances of qualifying for stronger fields across the region and beyond.

Othman Almulla – Saudi Open

The 2025 Saudi Open highlighted the speed at which the sport is evolving in the Arab world and Saudi Arabia’s influence as a host of international golf.

This year’s field brought together standout players from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, joined by a strong Saudi lineup that included professionals Othman Almulla, Saud Al Sharif, Faisal Salhab, Khalid Attieh and Shergo Al Kurdi.

A promising group of Saudi amateurs also competed, highlighting the work underway and reinforcing the wider effort to create an integrated ecosystem that prepares Arab players for the professional stage.

Adam Bresnu – Saudi Open

Al Kurdi and Moroccan amateur Bresnu were amongst five regional competitors to make the cut alongside the UAE’s Joshua Grenville-Wood, Qatar’s Daniil Sokolov and El Mehdi Fakori, also of Morocco.

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A new year begins the only way it should in this part of the world, with elite golf front and centre in Dubai. As the calendar turns, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic once again sets the tone for the season, bringing the global game back to one of its most iconic stages.

Rory McIlroy returns to Emirates Golf Club as World Number Two, marking 20 years since he first teed it up here as a teenage amateur in 2006. He leads a world-class field that includes Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and the very best of the DP World Tour, all chasing early momentum on the Majlis course.

Dubai resident and former champion Rafa Cabrera Bello walks us through three of the Majlis’ defining holes, sharing the decisions that matter most when the pressure is on. Alongside him, Emirates Golf Club Senior Teaching Professional Tom Ogilvie breaks those same holes down from an amateur’s perspective, offering practical advice you can take straight to the course.

Ryan Fox is making his 10th start in Dubai and reflects on a tournament that helped shape his career, as well as his long-standing involvement with Arena, giving him a rare behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to deliver one of the Tour’s flagship weeks.

Elsewhere in the region, we look ahead to the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort, where course upgrades and firmer greens are set to provide a fresh challenge. We look back at the transformation of Bahrain’s Riffa Golf Club to what it is today as the Royal Golf Club, while 14-year-old Qatari talent Daniil Sokolov prepares for his third appearance at the Qatar Masters.

Saudi Arabia continues to grow its presence in the game too, with Qiddiya City set to host the Faldo Series, led by Sir Nick Faldo, plus all the latest updates from the Arab Golf Federation.

Beyond the Middle East, we dive into golf’s coolest records, revisit Walter Hagen’s famous 54-hole journey along England’s south coast, and take a look inside Bud Cauley’s bag. As always, there are tips and insights throughout the issue designed to help you play better golf straight away.

From all of us at Golf Digest Middle East, we wish you a happy, healthy and inspiring start to 2026.

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Hosted by the Sultanate of Oman and represented by the Oman Golf Association, the championship ran from 22 to 24 December and brought together national teams from GCC countries. The event formed part of the Arab Golf Federation calendar and was supported by The R&A, reinforcing its standing as one of the region’s most important amateur championships.

The United Arab Emirates emerged as the standout nation of the championship, claiming multiple team titles and sweeping the Ladies individual competitions. Host nation Oman also celebrated a proud moment, with Yousef Al Rumhi successfully defending his Boys Under 13 Individual Championship title, confirming his status as one of the region’s rising stars.

Qatar made a strong statement in the Boys Under 16 category. After winning the team title in 2024, Team Qatar repeated as GCC U16 Golf Champions this year, with Daniil Sokolov adding the individual GCC U16 crown to the country’s success.

The Gulf Golf Championship is regarded as a key fixture on the GCC sporting calendar, playing a central role in identifying and developing emerging talent and preparing players for future national team representation.

The championship concluded with a closing ceremony held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Fahr bin Fatik Al Said, marking a successful edition of the event in Muscat.

GCC Golf Championship Final Results

Ladies Team Championship

1st – United Arab Emirates

2nd – Saudi Arabia

3rd – Bahrain

4th – Oman

Girls Under 16 Team Championship

1st – United Arab Emirates

2nd – Saudi Arabia

3rd – Kuwait

4th – Oman

Boys Under 13 Individual Championship

1st – Yousef Al Rumhi (Oman)

2nd – Mohammed Waheed (Bahrain)

3rd – Khalifa Al Fadhala (Bahrain)

Boys Under 16 Team Championship

1st – Qatar

2nd – Bahrain

3rd – United Arab Emirates

Boys Under 13 Team Championship

1st – Bahrain

2nd – Oman

3rd – United Arab Emirates

4th – Saudi Arabia

5th – Kuwait

Ladies GCC Individual Championship

1st – Jamie Camero (United Arab Emirates)

2nd – Lara Elchaib (United Arab Emirates)

3rd – Faye Al Balooshi (United Arab Emirates)

Ladies Under 16 Individual Championship

1st – Anca Mateiu (United Arab Emirates)

T2nd – Aasiya Saleem (United Arab Emirates)

T2nd – Sara Abubaker (United Arab Emirates)

Boys Under 16 Individual Championship

1st – Daniil Sokolov (Qatar)

2nd – Khalid Sadeeq (Bahrain)

3rd – Mohib Al Kathiri (Oman)

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The Golf Saudi ambassador made an all-important 10-foot putt for par on the last to finish in a tie for 19th on six under.

Lin Yuxin – Asian Tour

Lin Yuxin, a two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, finished number one of the class at the Final Stage of the Qualifying School today – leading 35 players who secured their cards for the 2026 season.

After five days of blood, sweat and tears, Lin, a lefthander, carded a four-under-par 67 to emerge victorious after a close finish.

The 23-year-old finished with a tournament total of 16-under to win by one from India’s Shaurya Bhattacharya.

Lin, playing in the penultimate group, was tied with Bhattacharya playing the difficult par-four 18th. The Chinese golfer made par while Bhattacharya, in the last group, finished with a bogey.

Bhattacharya closed with a 72, while Canadian Henry Lee ended third, after shooting 70. Lee finished two behind the winner, frustratingly having made a double on the last.

Mexico’s Roberto Lebrija (72) finished fourth and Australian Will Florimo (70) was fifth. The final round was played on the C&D course at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Victory by Lin is a huge milestone for the highly-rated golfer. He won the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2017 and 2019 and played college golf at the University of Florida.

He has been playing the PGA Tour Americas and some Korn Ferry Tour events since turning professional in 2023, with putting issues, mainly ‘mental’ he says, holding him back.

There were no such issues this week, as he shot rounds of 68, 67, 70, 67 and 67.

“It’s definitely a great feeling to get through Q School, it’s one of the toughest tournaments in golf for any professional, so just fortunate enough to get in this week,” said Lee – who made an eagle, three birdies and one bogey today.

“I’ve been hitting it good all season, just been having trouble with the putter, mainly throughout the summer. I did some work on it during October and November, so the game has been feeling good for a while.”

On the transition to the professional game, he said: “It’s been tough, it’s a lot of ups and downs and just trying to stay patient to be honest. I’ve learned a lot in the last few years after I turned pro, so it’s been a good learning experience.”

Bhattacharya started the day leading by one and was in pole for much of the round but was undone by bogeys on 12, 13, and 18.

Nevertheless, it was an outstanding week for the in-form 22-year-old who is currently third on the Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit with two wins.

He said: “It was a tough last day, but lot of positives. I made a lot of birdies, just that today I made too many bogeys. But looking at the positives, I made I think 27 birdies this week, which is a good number, and, yeah, looking forward to the season next year.

“I play a tournament to win, that’s my goal. Even if it’s a Q-School, I want to win. So, it was stress free in the sense that the cut line wasn’t a factor, but I wanted to finish number one, just couldn’t finish it off.”

Other notables to have safely made it through included South African Justin Harding, Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, Indonesian Naraajie Ramadhanputra, Berry Henson from the United States, and India’s Rashid Khan and Ajeetesh Sandhu.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, Singaporean Gregory Foo, Hong Kong’s Shunyat Hak and Malaysian Khavish Varadan also qualified.

As ever, the battle for the 35th card proved to be gripping. Twelve players ended in a sudden-death play-off for the last eight cards, after they finished on five under in joint 28th.

Japan’s Tomohiro Ishizaka, who started the day in second but crashed to an 81 today, was one of those who was happy to survive the extra-holes. He was joined by Carson Herron, the young American who is the son of former PGA Tour star Tim Herron, Carlos Pigem from Spain, Welshman David Boote, Jin Zihao from China, Germany’s Marc Hammer, and Marcus Plunkett from Australia.

The play-off went to five holes with Shubham Jaglan from India the last to get in at the expense of Kelvin Si from Macau.

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In the Men’s Division, Kayun Mudadana captured the title after a tense finish, posting rounds of 63, 68, and 65. His final round was highlighted by three closing birdies to set the clubhouse score, matched by England’s Eliot Baker at 14 under.

Mudadana then prevailed on the 18th-hole playoff to secure the victory. Germany’s Hendrik-Luka Schmitz and Korea’s Seonghyeon An tied for third, while Morocco’s Hugo Mazen Trommetter led the Arab contingent, finishing tied for fifth at eight under par. UAE’s Sam Mullane was the highest-placed home player, tied seventh at six under.

The Women’s Division saw Korean star Yun Seo Yang surge to victory with a spectacular final-round 7-under 63. She finished two strokes clear of overnight leader Ella Scaysbrook of Australia, who claimed second place. Austrian Johanna Janisch took third, while Turkey’s Deniz Sapmaz tied for fourth at level par. The top UAE finisher was Jamie Camero, who tied for ninth.

Team Australia, represented by Kayun Mudadana and Ella Scaysbrook, combined their efforts to post a total of 25 under par, winning the Team title by three shots over Korea. England secured third place, while Morocco led the Arab nations, finishing sixth at 17 under par.

The UAE Cup, organised by the Emirates Golf Federation and part of the Arab Golf Federation’s Arab Golf Series, attracted elite amateur players from 39 countries, competing not only for trophies and national pride but also for opportunities to progress on the professional circuit. The event continues to grow in prestige, further cementing the UAE as a key destination for world-class amateur golf.

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