Get your June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here!

Isla Canela Links represented one of the only links-style tests on the 2026 Road to Mallorca schedule and made its HotelPlanner Tour debut as a tournament venue.

The course meandered along the banks of the Guadiana River, offering views towards the Portuguese Algarve and the Gulf of Cadiz. Despite being one of the flatter venues on the 2026 schedule, Isla Canela Links provided a stern examination throughout the week, with strong winds and undulating greens testing the field.

A host of homegrown talent teed it up at Isla Canela Links hoping to follow in the footsteps of rising star Pablo Ereno, who had triumphed on home soil at the Challenge de Catalunya two weeks earlier. Ereno was back in action as he looked to strengthen his position in the race for one of the coveted DP World Tour cards awarded to the top 15 players at the end of the season.

The Challenge de España continued its long-standing place on the Road to Mallorca schedule, having first been played in 1999 when Carl Suneson became the inaugural champion. Since 2006, the tournament has been an ever-present fixture and has crowned a number of notable winners.

DP World Tour winner Matthew Baldwin claimed his maiden professional victory at the 2011 edition, while five-time Major Champion Brooks Koepka secured his third HotelPlanner Tour title in 2013, finishing ten strokes clear of the field. DP World Tour winners Adrien Saddier, Antoine Rozner, Victor Perez and Martin Couvra have also lifted the trophy, along with home favourite Joel Moscatel, who returned to Isla Canela looking to secure a second Challenge de España title in three years following his victory at Real Club Sevilla Golf in 2024.

The Road to Mallorca Rankings continued to take shape, with Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen arriving on the back of his second HotelPlanner Tour victory of the season in Denmark, a result that had propelled him to fourth in the standings.

However, with both Pulkkanen and Rankings leader MJ Daffue absent from the field, home favourite Ereno had an opportunity to make further ground. Englishman Chris Wood, who sat seventh in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, also featured after winning the Italian Challenge Open earlier in May and looked to bounce back from a missed cut at the Challenge de Catalunya.

Ryan van Velzen overcame a difficult start to his final round to seal a maiden HotelPlanner Tour title at the Challenge de España.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Challenge de España

1st – Ryan van Velzen – €48,000.00

2nd – Wil Besseling – €27,000.00

T2nd – Dan Erickson – €27,000.00

4th – Pedro Figueiredo – €18,000.00

5th – Charles Huntzinger – €13,500.00

T5th – Jamie Rutherford – €13,500.00

7th – Matteo Cristoni – €8,400.00

T7th – Pablo Ereño – €8,400.00

T7th – Liam Nolan – €8,400.00

10th – Barclay Brown – €5,925.00

T10th – Aymeric Laussot – €5,925.00

T10th – Filip Mruzek – €5,925.00

T10th – Kieran Vincent – €5,925.00

14th – Victor Bjørlow – €4,950.00

T14th – Matt Gilchrest – €4,950.00

16th – Julien Brun – €3,900.00

T16th – Alex Goff – €3,900.00

T16th – Jhared Hack – €3,900.00

T16th – Justin Harding – €3,900.00

T16th – Frank Kennedy – €3,900.00

21st – Haydn Barron – €2,910.00

T21st – Albert Boneta – €2,910.00

T21st – Wouter de Vries – €2,910.00

T21st – Lauri Ruuska – €2,910.00

T21st – Santiago Tarrio – €2,910.00

26th – George Bloor – €2,580.00

T26th – Benjamin Hébert – €2,580.00

T26th – Liam Johnston – €2,580.00

T26th – Aron Zemmer – €2,580.00

T26th – Jiri Zuska – €2,580.00

31st – Jean Bekirian – €2,130.00

T31st – Steven Brown – €2,130.00

T31st – Emilio Cuartero Blanco – €2,130.00

T31st – Bryce Easton – €2,130.00

T31st – Will Enefer – €2,130.00

T31st – Marc Hammer – €2,130.00

T31st – Julien Quesne – €2,130.00

T31st – Julien Sale – €2,130.00

T31st – Tadeas Tetak – €2,130.00

T31st – Jacopo Vecchi Fossa – €2,130.00

41st – Javier Barcos Garbayo – €1,740.00

T41st – Fiorino Clerici – €1,740.00

T41st – Charlie Forster – €1,740.00

44th – Deon Germishuys – €1,470.00

T44th – Chase Hanna – €1,470.00

T44th – Sam Hutsby – €1,470.00

T44th – Christian Jacobsen – €1,470.00

T44th – Mark Power – €1,470.00

T44th – James Sugrue – €1,470.00

50th – Veer Ahlawat – €1,176.00

T50th – Matthis Besard – €1,176.00

T50th – Christian Braeunig – €1,176.00

T50th – Maxence Giboudot – €1,176.00

T50th – Lars van Meijel – €1,176.00

55th – Bailey Gill – €1,050.00

T55th – Wilco Nienaber – €1,050.00

T55th – Andrew Wilson – €1,050.00

58th – Asier Aguirre – €990.00

59th – Callan Barrow – €915.00

T59th – Javier Calles Roman – €915.00

T59th – Max Kennedy – €915.00

T59th – Alfie Plant – €915.00

63rd – John-Ross Galbraith – €825.00

T63rd – Corey Shaun – €825.00

65th – Quinnton Croker – €765.00

T65th – Clément Sordet – €765.00

67th – Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon – €720.00

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Supplied

The post Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Challenge de España appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Challenge de España

The moment Ryan van Velzen became a HotelPlanner Tour winner #HotelPlannerTour | #ChallengeEspana pic.twitter.com/s7IZwcFk9d

— HotelPlanner Tour (@HPlanner_Tour) May 31, 2026

Get your June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here!

The South African, who was two over par through the first five holes of his final round at Isla Canela Links, battled to a two under 69 to reach 17 under par for the week, two shots clear of Dutchman Wil Besseling and American Dan Erickson who shared second place.  

Starting the day one shot ahead of Erickson and Englishman Jamie Rutherford, the 24-year-old appeared to settle well with a birdie on the opening par five. However, three bogeys in his next four holes dropped the South African back down the clustered leaderboard.  

Two birdies before the turn steadied the ship before two back nine gains saw Van Velzen regain his position at the summit, with a routine par on the last closing out a memorable week.  

“This feels amazing,” he said. “I started off badly today and thought I’d blown it but I kept myself composed and made a couple of birdies to keep myself in it and then was super solid on the back nine. 

“It was a bit of a shock to this system on the front nine; that nine has caught me out a couple of times this week. Level is normally a good score on that side, I think it’s a tougher nine. 

“I back myself on that back nine. You can go low there, and I was surprised nobody went low. It was nice to see where I was, I like seeing where I am on the leaderboard.” 

Van Velzen is a two-time Sunshine Tour winner having triumphed at the 2023 Limpopo Championship and 2024 Mediclinic Invitational, as well as topping the Order of Merit the same year.  

This win marks Van Velzen’s first victory outside the Rainbow Nation and the 24-year-old believes his game is now ready to compete more regularly on European soil. 

“The game is close to something really good and I’m excited to play next week in Switzerland and the rest of the season.  

“This gives me a bit of leeway where I can maybe go and play some DP World Tour events if I have a few more good weeks out here, which will be good.” 

Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo ends the week in solo fourth on 14 under, one stroke clear of Rutherford and American Charles Huntzinger who share fifth. 

The win sees Van Velzen rise 20 places to fourth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, with his countryman MJ Daffue still occupying the Number One berth. Spain’s Pablo Ereno retains second place, with Englishman Will Enefer in third. 

The Road to Mallorca now heads to Switzerland for the Swiss Challenge at Golf Sempach, Lucerne, taking place from June 4-7.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Octavio Passos – Getty Images

The post Van Velzen seals maiden HotelPlanner Tour win in Spain appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Frenchman signed for a closing two under par round of 69 to go with rounds of 65-67-66 for a 17 under par total, to finish one shot ahead of Dane Victor Sidal Svendsen.

Friends
Family
Family dog

Everyone came out to see Clement Charmasson secure a breakthrough win #ChallengedeEspana pic.twitter.com/a2tAmAjOmj

— HotelPlanner Tour (@HPlanner_Tour) May 11, 2025

Charmasson, who led by one overnight, extended his advantage to four with five holes to play, but on a dramatic final day in Girona, saw his lead reduced to one before he held on to earn a breakthrough win in front of friends and family.

“I’m just proud,” he said. “Seeing my parents on the side of the 18th green, and all the work for the last 10 years, it’s so fun that I can get to share this with them.

“The last time my friends or my parents saw me play was probably six or seven years ago because I was in college.

“When my ball landed on the green on 18, my dad just screamed, and it made me cry right away.

“It’s good that I have a week off now to get my emotions straight and hopefully I can build some momentum for the rest of the season.”

Charmasson, in only his fifth HotelPlanner Tour start and his fourth since gaining promotion from the Pro Golf Tour last term, parred his opening five holes before three birdies in a four hole stretch from the sixth saw him jump three clear at the turn.

Confident roll from Charmasson

The Frenchman has extended his lead to four and is closing in on a maiden HotelPlanner Tour win.#ChallengedeEspana pic.twitter.com/GEeajbLG0V

— HotelPlanner Tour (@HPlanner_Tour) May 11, 2025

The 26-year-old extended his lead to four with a birdie at the par five 13th, but back-to-back dropped shots on 14 and 15, and a surging Sidal Svendsen, saw his lead cut to one with two holes to play.

Charmasson held firm though, parring his way home to earn a narrow win that sees him climb 108 places to ninth in the Road to Mallorca Rankings.

“I have a rule that I keep saying, to get in contention on the back nine,” he added. “On the front nine I felt very relaxed because it didn’t matter if I was leading or not, I just wanted to be in the mix.

“A couple of bad shots and it gets you away from that. Then I thought, this position is what I work for and to go for it, take the moment. I guess I got it right this time.

“The last four holes, I couldn’t feel anything. I feel like I did it more with my heart than anything else.”

Spaniard Luis Masaveu, who plays on LIV Golf and Scotsman Euan Walker shared third place on 15 under par, with German Anton Albers – who fired a round-of-the-week ten under par 61 on the final day – countryman Hurly Long and Swiss Benjamin Rusch one shot further back in fifth.

The top four places in the Road to Mallorca Rankings remain the same, with South African Daniel van Tonder retaining his spot as the Number One. Spaniard Quim Vidal moves up one place to fifth, while Sidal Svendsen enters the top ten for the first time this season, with a second-place finish in Girona moving him up 22 places to eighth.

The HotelPlanner Tour returns from May 22-25 for the Danish Golf Challenge at Bogense Golf Club.

Main Image: Getty Images

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

X

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

The post Clement Charmasson secures maiden HotelPlanner Tour title in Spain appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Frenchman signed for a five under par round of 66 on a low-scoring day in Girona to reach 15 under par for the week, one shot clear of Scotsman Euan Walker who occupies solo second on 14 under.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by HotelPlanner Tour (@hotelplannertour)

Charmasson, who earned promotion from the Pro Golf Tour in 2024, will now tee it up in the final group on Sunday, in just his fifth start on the HotelPlanner Tour.

“I started pretty well today which helped,” he said. “I kept doing good things, so I had momentum right away and I just kept going.

“I hit it well, but I made crucial putts to keep my round going the right way. I’ve figured out the greens well so that helps. I’ve been able to see the lines and I’ve got the speed right which is big,

“I feel good. I’ll go out there tomorrow and see what I can do.”

Charmasson began the day one shot off the lead but made an early move with birdies at the first and fourth, before back-to-back gains at the sixth and seventh saw him lead for the first time.

The 26-year-old then made birdies at hole ten and 15 on the back nine, and despite carding a bogey on the 17th – only his second dropped shot of the week – he parred the last to remain in front with 18 holes to play.

Charmasson, who has his friends and family supporting him this week, insists his game plan won’t change as he targets a breakthrough win.

“I’ll just be doing the same tomorrow,” he added. “I’ve got my family and friends with me this week which is cool. I have my best friend on the bag too, so we’ll just keep having fun.

“That’s what I chose to do last year, getting my good friend on the bag, and things have been good since then.

“There’s a lot of golf to play. I know it’s usual to say that, but it is true. I’ve had a good start of the week already, so there’s another 18 to go, and anything can happen.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by HotelPlanner Tour (@hotelplannertour)

Swiss Benjamin Rusch fired a six under par round of 65 to climb into a share of third place on 12 under par alongside overnight leader from LIV Golf, Luis Masaveu, with Finn Kim Koivu’s round of 64 putting him in fifth place alongside Sweden’s Oliver Gillberg on 11 under.

Five players are a further shot back in seventh on ten under par, including Victor Sidal Svendsen and Jeppe Kristian Andersen from Denmark, Spaniard Joseba Torres, Welshman Jack Davidson and Englishman Tom Shadbolt.

The final round of the Challenge de España gets under way at 8:00am local time, with Charmasson teeing off alongside Walker and Rusch at 10:00am.

Main Image: Getty Images

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

X

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

The post Charmasson climbs to the top in Girona, LIV Golf’s Masaveu three shots back appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Fireballs GC member Masaveu, starting on the tenth, made the turn at two under par after mixing three birdies with a solitary bogey. He then added birdies at the second and the ninth – his last.

The 22-year-old, who secured playing privileges on the HotelPlanner Tour through the Global Amateur Pathway Rankings in 2024, is excited to be in contention on home soil.

Masaveu moves into a share of the lead with a birdie on his closing hole #ChallengedeEspana pic.twitter.com/tDAS02U18H

— HotelPlanner Tour (@HPlanner_Tour) May 9, 2025

“When you’re in contention, that’s why you practice and that’s why I play golf, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“It was definitely a grind today. I just tried to keep hitting the best shots I could. My last six holes I didn’t play too well but I stuck to it and I’m happy with the way I finished.

“I’ve been playing very aggressively, and I think I need to do the same these next two days to be able to win. I’m super excited.”

RELATED: Former LIV Golfer returns to roots at €300k HotelPlanner Tour event

Gillberg carded a five under par round of 66 on day two, while Masaveu’s four under 67 saw the duo both move to 11 under par for the week, one stroke clear of overnight leader Victor Sidal Svendsen from Denmark, Frenchman Clement Charmasson and Scotsman Euan Walker who share third.

Gillberg was one of the early starters on day two and birdied four of his opening five holes to jump into the outright lead.

The Swede added two more gains at the ninth and 12th, and despite recording his only bogey of the day on the par five 13th, is in a strong position to challenge for a maiden HotelPlanner Tour title at the weekend.

The 28-year-old is making his first start of the season this week after earning promotion from the Nordic Golf League in 2024.

Road to Mallorca Number Three, Joshua Berry, occupies sixth place on nine under par, with four players one shot further back in seventh, including Spaniard Javier Sainz, Dane Jens Kristian Thysted, Finn Lauri Ruuska and Englishman Tom Shadbolt.

The third round of the Challenge de España gets underway at 9:00am local time, with Gillberg and Masaveu teeing off alongside Sidal Svendsen at 11:00am.

Main Image: Fireballs X

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

X

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

The post Fired-up Masaveu co-leads on home soil on HotelPlanner Tour appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Spaniard carded one eagle, seven birdies and a single bogey to sit one off the pace at Fontanals Golf Club, one shot back from Dane Victor Sidal Svendsen, who posted an eight under par round of 63.

RELATED: Former LIV Golfer returns to roots at €300k HotelPlanner Tour event

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by HotelPlanner Tour (@hotelplannertour)

22-year-old Masaveu, starting on the first, birdied six of his opening ten holes before dropping shots on the 11th and 16th, but made further gains with an eagle on the 13th and a birdie on the 17th.

The youngster, who joined Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC team earlier this year after replacing fellow Spaniard and recent DP World Tour winner Eugenio Chacarra, is currently 44th in the LIV Golf League Individual Rankings.

It’s a Fireballs tradition now!

Say fuegito on 3, 2, 1! pic.twitter.com/i5cJiF4PoK

— Fireballs GC (@fireballsgc_) March 9, 2025

However, he has already tasted silverware this year, with the Fireballs claiming victories in Adelaide, Hong Kong, and Singapore to sit second in the LIV Golf League Team Rankings.

Prior to turning professional last year, Masaveu had two amateur titles under his belt, was a semi-finalist at the 2024 U.S. Amateur and has also collected the Low-Am trophy twice at the Spanish Open, in 2022 and again in 2024.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by HotelPlanner Tour (@hotelplannertour)

Sitting alongside Luis in the Challenge de España is Slovakian Žan Luka Štirn at seven under par.

Nine players share fourth place on six under par, including Frenchman Clement Charmasson, Oliver Gillberg and Albin Bergstrom from Sweden, German Anton Albers, Spaniard Javier Sainz, Finn Lauri Ruuska, Scotland’s Euan Walker and Englishmen Alfie Plant and Tom Shadbolt.

Former Cleeks GC Member Kalle Samooja opened up with a one under par 70, after turning down a start on the Asian Tour’s $2 million International Series Japan, opting for the familiarity of the €300k HotelPlanner Tour event.

The second round of the Challenge de España gets underway Friday at 8:00am local time, with leader Sidal Svendsen teeing off at 8:30am and Masaveu at 8:50am.

Main Image: Getty Images / Aitor Alcalde

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

X

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

The post LIV Golfer just one off lead in “home” event appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Interestingly, Samooja opted out of playing in this week’s $2 million International Series Japan event, choosing instead to accept an invite to compete in the more familiar surroundings of the HotelPlanner Tour and the Challenge de España.

A first look at our venue this week #ChallengedeEspana pic.twitter.com/GVC6xWM3kl

— HotelPlanner Tour (@HPlanner_Tour) May 6, 2025

The ninth event of the season on the 2025 Road To Mallorca sees the HotelPlanner Tour touchdown in mainland Europe, and this week it is being hosted by Fontanals Golf Club in Girona, a former DP World Tour Qualifying School stop. With a prize pot of €300,000 on offer, it’s a far cry from the $20 million purse Samooja would be used to from his time on LIV Golf.

The Finn graduated from the HotelPlanner Tour in 2018 after winning the Hainan Open and comfortably retained his card on the DP World Tour for the following five consecutive seasons, never finishing lower than 85th in the Race to Dubai Rankings. His time on the DP World Tour was highlighted by a maiden victory at the Porsche European Open in 2022, before his path took him to LIV.

Martin Kaymer Cleeks GC LIV Golf

Flying Finn to LIV “The guys that aren’t happy about it just don’t say anything”

He played the 2024 LIV Golf League season for Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC, having earned his spot through the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2023, and took home a tidy $2,132,158 in 2024 alone – despite his best result being a tie for 14th at LIV Golf Singapore.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme)

After a full season with Kaymer, Richard Bland and Adrian Meronk on the Cleeks, Kalle narrowly missed out on retaining his playing rights in the Saudi-backed league, finishing 49th in the Individual Rankings — one spot inside the Drop Zone. That, however, didn’t seem to be enough for team captain Kaymer to re-sign him, instead opting for Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup.

The 37-year-old also competed in a handful of events on the Asian Tour’s International Series to maintain his Official World Golf Ranking throughout 2024, even teeing it up earlier this season in India and Macau, although he never finished better than a tie for 14th. He held a full card for the 2025 International Series as a result of finishing in the LIV Golf Drop Zone in 2024.

Samooja isn’t the only LIV Golf connection at the Challenge de España — current Fireballs GC member Luis Masaveu is also in the field, having arrived straight from his tie for 20th at LIV Golf Korea.

Fittingly, the Challenge de España this week has served as a launchpad for many a player. A certain Brooks Koepka claimed the title in 2013 — just two weeks before earning automatic promotion to what was then the European Tour — and says his time on the HotelPlanner Tour was “the most fun I’ve ever had playing golf”.

The rest, as they say, is history.

READ MORE: Get your FREE 2025 May edition of Golf Digest Middle East here!

Main Image: R&A via Getty Images

The post Former LIV Golfer returns to roots at €300k HotelPlanner Tour event in Spain appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Spaniard signed for an impressive five under par final round of 67 to go with rounds of 68-71-68 and reach 14 under par for the week, one stroke clear of Finn Tapio Pulkkanen and Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen on a dramatic day in Andalucía.

The 25-year-old was delighted to secure a maiden Challenge Tour victory in his home country, a result that sees him climb 26 places to third in the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Challenge Tour (@challengetour)

“I don’t have words to be honest,” he said. “I played really well and I’m so happy. The home crowd were amazing, really supportive and I was feeling great all the way around.

“At the beginning, the putts weren’t dropping but we were patient and stayed focused.

“There’s a lot of tournaments to play yet this year but obviously this win helps a lot. In Abu Dhabi I came close to winning, but I didn’t have the help of Alberto (Calvo) caddying for me, so maybe that was the difference. This is just amazing.”

Moscatel started the day three strokes behind overnight leader Pulkkanen but closed the gap with a birdie on the opening hole. Further gains came at the ninth, 11th and 13th before a fifth birdie of the day at the 16th hole saw him move into the lead for the first time.

The Spaniard’s only blemish came at the 17th, but he responded with a stunning approach on the 18th before tapping in for birdie to make sure of a memorable win.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Challenge Tour (@challengetour)

“I didn’t know if the putt on 18 was for the win to be honest,” he added. “I knew I had a chance but I thought it would go to a playoff.

“I was so nervous that I couldn’t think, so I just said ‘ok, make this putt’ and that was it.

“The crowd helped for definite. I was feeling the energy out there. I don’t know why, but today with the crowds I felt more comfortable than yesterday and maybe that helped me.”

Englishman Jamie Rutherford ended the week two strokes off the lead in fourth place, with Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and South African Robin Williams one shot further back in fifth.

Frenchman Felix Mory finished in seventh on ten under par, with Gregorio de Leo in eighth on nine under.

Neergaard-Petersen extends his lead at the top of the Road to Mallorca Rankings on 954 points, 453 points clear of Frenchman Alexander Levy who remains in second place. Moscatel’s victory sees him climb into third place on 482 points, with Swede Mikael Lindberg (461 points) and Englishman John Parry (442 points) rounding out the top five.

The Road to Mallorca takes a short break before returning for the Danish Golf Challenge from May 23-26.

Main Image: Getty Images

The post Spain’s Joel Moscatel seals fairytale win in Challenge de España appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
With his trademark plus fours and penchant for extravagant colours to match, Joel Sjöholm doesn’t exactly present as a golfer looking to fly under the radar. But that is exactly what the 32-year-old Chile-born Swede is hoping for as he eyes a return to the Middle East this month for the final fortnight of the Challenge Tour season.

Sjöholm is on the cusp of a return to the European Tour for the first time since 2013 after capturing his maiden professional title, July’s Italian Challenge Open, after nearly 10 years in the play for your mortgage ranks.

A beloved character in the UAE where he was once attached to Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, Sjöholm must finish inside the top 15 on the Challenge Tour money list to secure a main tour card for 2017-18. He is currently  19th after worryingly slipping eight spots following a missed cut at the Kazakhstan Open and nearly repeating the unwanted weekend off at the Challenge de Espana where he finished T-63 and banked just €560. But he plans to play the remaining four events of the season, two of them in China. before returning to the UAE for the 2nd Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge (Oct. 25-28) and the season-deciding NBO Golf Classic Grand Final at Almouj Golf in Muscat (Nov. 1-4)

The normally media-friendly former Georgia State University star initially declined overtures for an interview for our October issue, politely promising full disclosure only once the potentially career reviving season is done. He relented slightly, or more accurately had his arm-twisted to front a wider media gathering at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday, but was again economical with his crystal-ball gazing.

“I need to dig deep to get back on the European Tour and until I get there I don’t really want to talk too much about it,” Sjöholm told Golf Digest Middle East before elaborating on Sunday. “I want it so much but I just have to be careful not to want it too much, not to get too far ahead of myself.”

Sjöholm said he was still lerning how to be more ruthless when he gets into position down the “stretch on the back nine Sunday”. A key part of that process has been learning to be more focused on and off the course as he admitted he had failed to live up to his own high expectations as a “golfer or a person”. Indeed, he admitted he had “never really regarded myself as a professional golfer” despite a decade in the pro ranks.

“I want to be more cocky on the course and more humble off it. It’s a narrow line for me.”

The desire not to jinx anything is understandable after a run of lean years bouncing between the tours. Sjöholm has career earnings in excess of €1.1 million in Europe but nearly €840,000 was banked in a three year run on the main tour from 2011, including his career best collect of €412, 376 in 2012 headlined by enjoyed four top 10s, one of them a €185,185 payday for a T-4 finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The €48,000 Sjöholm won in Sardina in July was certainly a timely boost, eclipsing in one cheque the prize-money he’d earned in six of his previous seven years on the Challenge Tour.

But it’s more what the win did psychologically, not to mention on the Race to Oman standings where he lept 93 places up to fifth at the time. The now world No. 485 had missed three successive cuts leading into Is Molas Resort but closed with a 65 to overcame a two shot deficit and win by four from overnight leader Neil Bradley (Scotland) and Chase Koepka, the younger brother of U.S. Open champion Brooks.

Often typical of a player bouncing around tours, Sjöholm only got into the Italian event on a sponsors invite.

“It feels amazing,” he said afterwards. “I never thought when I was 10 years old that I would have to wait until I was 32 before I earned my first victory as a professional. It is close to being the best thing that has ever happened to me. Obviously having children and getting married will always be the most special thing, but this is pretty incredible.”

So to, we suspect, will be the interview when Sjöholm hopefully boomerangs back on the European Tour. The dictaphone is poised.

Sjoholm with the European Tour’s Middle East Director Nick Tarratt.

The post European Tour hopeful Joel Sjöholm determined to let his game do the talking in RAK and Muscat appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.