With world No.1 Brooks Koepka headlining a box office field, quality golf at the 2nd Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is guaranteed. Less visible but no less important to the growth  of the game in the ambitious Kingdom is the work going on outside  the ropes at Royal Greens Golf & County Club

By Kent Gray
Abu Dhabi boasts double the prize money and Rolex Series stature, the Dubai Desert Classic a decorated honours board spanning three decades and the hard-earned status as the “Major of the Middle East”. But for Desert Swing pulling power, look no further than King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).

For the second year, the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers has attracted a galaxy of star players. It’s not that the $3.5 million event is trying to outmuscle its Middle East neighbours. The tournament’s ambitions are even grander than that, much as it was for Dubai when golf first met grass in the region just over 30 years ago.

Fuelled by the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ socio-economic development programme, the Saudi International intends on becoming one of the world’s elite events and a local conduit to introduce the royal and ancient game to the intrigued people of a royal and ancient land.

To put Saudi on the golfing map, the quickest way is to lure the game’s biggest names to your ambitious corner of the world. Enter world No.1 Brooks Koepka, defending champion Dustin Johnson and a roll-call of major champions, Ryder Cup legends and European Tour winners.

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“Last year was the first step towards realising our dream of opening Saudi Arabia up to the world and showcasing the beginnings of our vision for the country,” said H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi.

“Royal Greens Golf & Country Club proved to be an impressive host venue and we are excited to be welcoming back more of the world’s best players to King Abdullah Economic City.”

That cast includes Royal Greens debutants Phil Mickelson, reigning Open champion Shane Lowry, 2010 U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell and two-time major champ Martin Kaymer. Captain America Patrick Reed is back, as too are major champions Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia.

“Bringing the world’s best golfers to experience what KAEC has to offer is an exciting proposition for us,” said Ahmed Linjawy, Group CEO of KAEC. “KAEC aims to make the city among the top attractive tourism destinations on the Red Sea in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Royal Greens Golf & Country Club is a stunning, multi global award-winning development and proud jewel of the city’s rapidly growing leisure and sport facilities offering.”

Selling the sizzle of that offering to a largely uninitiated domestic audience is not as simple as bringing household names to a country still learning golf. It almost makes the championship village, where there is a focus on families, community and junior development, as important as what happens inside the ropes.

The wider development role being driven by the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi is even more pivotal long-term. Some of the game’s most influential powerbrokers will participate in a four-day ‘Golf Saudi Summit’ beginning the day after the Saudi International, including major champions Gary Player and Greg Norman, award-winning course architects Robert Trent Jones Jnr and David McLay Kidd, legendary swing coach David Leadbetter and Troon CEO Tim Shantz.

The brainchild of H.E. Mr. Al-Rumayyan, the summit will bring leading industry figures together to debate how Saudi can pioneer “new benchmarks in mass participation, design and management.” Attendees will be walked through the nation’s commitment to create a new golf ecosystem centred around Golf Saudi’s five key development pillars – access and infrastructure, events, the national team and academies, mass participation and tourism – and the mutually beneficial business opportunities that exist in all areas of the growth plan.

With innovation and best-practice at the heart of Golf Saudi’s strategy, the utilisation of new technologies will be a central conversation and one which could set the tone for the industry globally going forward.

Player is certainly enthused. “Saudi Arabia’s ambition in golf presents a significant opportunity for the game and all its stakeholders and future exponents,” said Player, who captured the first of his nine major titles at the 1959 Open Championship and went on to amass a total of 165 international victories, including nine senior majors.

“I am excited to connect with many of the national stakeholders at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s transformation and to hear first-hand about Vision 2030 and, importantly, how they plan to capitalise on the socio-economic benefits the sport can provide for its youthful population.”

Els has made a number of visits in recent years to oversee golf’s pervasion in Saudi, including an appearance as part of a golf industry panel at the Future Investment Initiative held in Riyadh last October. While on-site, the four-time major champion also met LET players Carly Booth, Amy Boulden and Rachel Drummond, Camilla Lennarth and Isabella Deilert who will return to Royal Greens for Saudi’s first female professional tournament next month. The $1 million Ladies European Tour event underpins Golf Saudi’s game
wide strategy.

“The Saudi Golf Federation is doing a lot to grow the game in the Kingdom and I am pleased to be part of helping their vision,” said Els.

World-class Action
There will be photo calls for worldwide consumption and local activations to inspire the next generation of Saudi golfers but for the highest-profile players assembled in KAEC, the focus will quickly shift to what they do best – performing inside the ropes.

If the 2nd Saudi International is anything like the first, it will be an enthralling watch at Royal Greens and on television screens around the globe.

Johnson ignited a stellar 2019 with his two-stroke victory after a ding-dong final round battle with Haotong Li. The American arrives in KAEC fresh from a top-10 at the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of champions while countrymen Koepka and Reed will be hoping for much better shows 12 months on after finishing 57th and 56th respectively at Royal Greens last year.    

“I’m excited to be returning to Saudi Arabia, after an enjoyable visit last year. The golf course is one of the best I’ve played in the region, with incredible scenery, including some breath-taking views of the Red Sea,” said Koepka. “The event is an opportunity to showcase the work being done to grow the game of golf in the Kingdom, which was evidenced by the enthusiastic fans last year. It is great to be involved with the initiative and I look forward to seeing the progress Golf Saudi has made in the past year.”

Reed is also looking forward to doing his bit on and off the course again

“I loved playing in Saudi Arabia last year,” said the three-time Ryder Cupper. “The golf facilities at Royal Greens are world-class and I was honoured to be part of history at the Saudi Golf Federation’s first professional event.

“I was also lucky enough to be invited to one of the local schools and it was really rewarding to meet the kids and talk to them about golf and what we were doing there that week. To see all those school kids come out to the course and watch us play on the weekend was an incredible experience. Golf Saudi is doing a fantastic job of growing the game and I hope I can help further their progress in the future.”

Mickelson’s return to the Middle East is eagerly anticipated. Lefty has won 51 worldwide titles but none of his 10 European Tour victories have come in the region; the closest he’s come was a share of second in Abu Dhabi with Rory McIlroy in 2014, a shot shy of Pablo Larrazabal.

“I watched Dustin win the title last year and thought the course looked like an interesting challenge,” said Mickelson, who is now ranked 79th after having spent more than 25 years in the world’s top 50.

“Having so many talented players on show also made it look like a much more established tournament than one in its inaugural year. I have enjoyed my previous visits to the Middle East and am looking forward to playing in a new country and doing my bit to grow the game in the Kingdom.”

Premier tournament. Exceptional field. Great golf course. The foundations are in place. Now it’s up to the world’s best to add to the burgeoning legacy.