International Series Morocco champion Vincent had led the race going into the final event of the season on 325.59 points, 40.29 ahead of Asaji, who won last time out at the Moutai Singapore Open to move to 285.30.And despite a rough day on the course – Vincent carded a four-over 75 – his return to the big league was never in danger as his nearest challengers failed to earn the required finishes needed for a late Rankings charge.

Despite the ultimate lack of a challenge, the 33-year-old admitted he was affected by nerves with so much at stake going into the final day.

He said: “I woke up at about 4:30, which was two hours before I was hoping to. Then you start playing all the different scenarios in your head, which was not what I was hoping for. I wanted to come out here and just play freely and give it my best, but yeah, I was nervous.

“Obviously not knowing and not trying to look at leaderboards, you don’t know how much of a cushion you have. You don’t want to be the guy who is ahead and loses, all those things.

“Once I got moving and got into my routine, putting and range work, I definitely settled down. I just didn’t play great today, but obviously my performance over the season was enough.”

As Rankings leader, Vincent tried to keep away from the permutations and calculations needed to establish who would finish where, but admitted it was difficult to do.

He said: “No, I tried to stay completely away. I kind of knew that, unless someone probably finished in the top five or so or two people did that, I was probably okay. I don’t typically look at leaderboards, but today I was looking a little bit. I didn’t see anyone there.”

For Vincent, the result means a return to LIV Golf after a year out. The two-time Asian Tour winner was the first person to take the pathway to LIV Golf from The International Series when he secured a place in the Iron Heads GC team after finishing top of the first ever Rankings race in 2022.

After losing his place at the end of the 2024 season, he doubled down on his efforts on The International Series in 2025 and finished top of the Rankings for the second time thanks to his Morocco win in July and a runner-up finish to Wade Ormsby at the Jakarta International Championship last month.

Speaking about that pathway offered by The International Series, the elevated Asian Tour events, he said: “Obviously I’m very thankful. It is great that this has worked out for me.”

About his return to LIV Golf, he added: “Obviously I kind of know what I am going to, and I am looking forward to that. It’s going to be a great challenge.”

A missed cut from Asaji on Thursday had left the door open for Tabuena, who was just 53.02 adrift. But the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus champion fell agonizingly short of the T6 position needed as a two-under 69 left him one shot adrift.

Unlike Vincent, Asaji claimed he felt no nerves as he watched the drama unfold. He said: “I was not nervous at all. I just wanted to see what was happening today. It all depended on other players’ results today, and I just wanted to see what was happening.”

Reflecting on the moment he saw Tabuena had come up short, he added: “I was so happy with my wife and my caddie, we were together. We can get in the LIV event. I was so happy.”

Asaji pinpointed the moment he dared to dream about that lucrative LIV Golf spot, saying: “Winning the Moutai Singapore Open was very, very valuable for me because after winning the Singapore Open, I noticed that I am No.2 in the International Series Rankings, and I thought, ‘oh, I have a pathway to LIV Golf, I have a chance to do this’.

Going into tournament week, a number of challengers were in with a slim chance thanks to the high number of Rankings points available in the US$5 million tournament.

American Ollie Schniederjans, winner of the season-opening International Series India presented by DLF, could not muster the top-two finish required, ultimately settling for a level-par 71 that left him T60 and seventh in the table.

However, the former amateur world No.1 has the consolation of a bye into the second round of the LIV Golf Promotions event in Florida at the start of next season, where another two LIV Golf golden tickets will be available.

Australian Ormsby also has the same opportunity. Needing a top-two finish, the 45-year-old missed the cut. At No.8 in the Rankings, he will regroup with two tournaments Down Under before entering the second-round stage of the four-round tournament at the Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida from 8-11 January.

Going into the final round, Danthai Boonma of Thailand and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho had also given themselves a slim chance of glory.

Danthai, runner up behind Vincent in Morocco, went into the final round T7 and five off the lead while Taichi, the 2023 World City Championship winner in his native Hong Kong, sat T18 and two shots further back.

In the end, both finished T27 on 10 under with Taichi level par for his final round and Danthai two shots over. Danthai will join Tabuena, Schniederjans and Ormsby in the second round of the Promotions event as one of 10 leading players from the top 20 of the final Rankings table. Kho will enter the first round as one of 25 leading players inside the top 40.

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The post Vincent and Asaji hold on to stamp LIV Golf ticket via International Series in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Let him cook!! Min Woo Lee breaks down how he squeezes every ounce out of his drives, Golf Saudi explain how they are transforming golf into a sport for all, we take a look back at the 2024 Aramco Team Series season and look ahead to their final two events of the year. Fancy playing your way into the Hero Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am? You can by coming to play in our Oktoberfest-themed golf day! We review both Jon Rahm and Ripper GC’s season on LIV Golf, plus how Billy Horschel held off Rory McIlroy to claim the BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour! All this and much, much more in the October 2024 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.

See below for the eleventh issue of the Arabic edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

If you want to look back at all our previous Arabic editions of Golf Digest Middle East, click here.

The post Get the October 2024 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Taking place December 4-7 the US $5million event will make its debut at Riyadh Golf Club after five successful years at the praised Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

Riyadh Golf Club has played host to many of the Kingdom’s leading tournaments, including the Saudi Open presented by PIF, the Aramco Team Series Riyadh, and the Aramco Saudi Ladies International as it now adds the PIF Saudi International to it’s ever growing CV.

Notable players already confirmed for the December event are defending champion Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, American duo of 2022 champion Harold Varner III and two-time winner Dustin Johnson, and the 2022 Open Champion Australian Cameron Smith.

Smith, who plays on the LIV Golf League as skipper for the Ripper GC’s, finished runner up to Ancer in 2023, as he looks to go one better this time round, “I am really looking forward to visiting Riyadh for the first time.

“From what I have read, there is so much going on there with some great sports facilities for grassroots and professionals being put in place. We have also heard lots of good things about the Championship course at Riyadh Golf Club.

“Looking at the design and reputation of the course, I reckon it is going to provide us with a real test as we try to stay both out of the water and out in front of what will be another world-class field at the PIF Saudi International.”

With The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers moving to the season end of both the Asian Tour and The International Series order of merits, it has clearly added to the tournament’s prominence, which has grown significantly since its inception. For the first time later this year, the PIF Saudi International will finish on the Saturday in order to align with the final two days with the weekend in the Kingdom as players take aim on the $1 million first place cheque.

The tournament is the last of 10 elevated events on the International Series, a league that offers a direct pathway for players from all over the world onto the LIV Golf League.

The champion of the season-ending International Series Rankings, which is currently held by American John Catlin, will secure a spot on the 2025 LIV Golf League roster.

Golf Saudi CEO, Noah Alireza commented, “We are delighted to be taking this prestigious event to Riyadh Golf Club. Securing this key date and being positioned as the finale to the Asian Tour and The International Series adds to the significance of the PIF Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers as we see it grow in stature with each edition.”

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour said, “This new date gives the PIF Saudi International, the key position and prominence it deserves as the climax to our season. We believe Riyadh Golf Club will provide an excellent stage to showcase the culmination of our year and, with so much on the line, it should make for a dramatic and must-watch ending to our 2024 season.”

Main image: Asian Tour. Image supplied

This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine.

The post Riyadh Round The Corner appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Now, with a number of events under their belts, including the Asian Tour International Series, both Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif took time out to speak to Golf Digest Middle East about their progress on tour among some of the best players in the world.

Q: Can you describe both what is similar — and what is different — about your lives in general now you are professional?

Faisal: I’m very lucky to have teammates that share the same schedule, so it still feels like we get to share moments and learn from each other and help each other as well.  It is a lot more than the independent “You eat what you kill”, and I am very fortunate to have support from Golf Saudi.

Saud: The similarities I think have been there since amateur days as Faisal and I travelled the world together competing on international stages, and that hasn’t changed yet, thankfully. We have built a brotherhood relationship for years and years to come.

Q: When you reflect on your introduction to golf, at what point did it become your aspiration to turn professional?

FS: When I first joined the national team. The more tournaments I competed in, and the exposure I got to the game, the more my aspiration to grow to progress in the game. As a kid I always used to watch golf on TV. I stayed up at night to watch all the majors and I found the players inspiring, hoping to be like them one day.

SAS: Ever since I got introduced to the game from the age of 10 I knew I had the potential to work hard and be the best version of myself on the golf course and outside, so to myself it was clear ever since the get-go.

Q: What advice would you give an aspiring young golfer, especially in a market in Saudi Arabia where the sport is yet to be fully established?

FS: Luckily in Saudi there are a lot of great programmes that are being established to fully support the next generation of golfers. My personal advice is to start with no expectations, enjoy the game, and when you feel like you’re ready to take it to the next level, there will be the right support system.

SAS: My advice will be no matter where you are or what your resources are with determination and a dream comes a bright future, and that comes with loving what you do and being able to go that extra mile each day for it.

Q: Aside from golf, how do practice weeks differ from tournament weeks?

FS: The weeks that are just practice, I usually go to the gym, play some other sports and try to generally stay active and healthy. 

SAS: I try to keep my technical in check on off weeks with Jamie [McConnell], and still challenge myself in that pressured atmosphere of a golf tournament even in practice with drills, you have to practise under pressure to be able to perform under pressure.

Q: What challenges do an international schedule present for travelling tour professionals? In particular, how do you manage your health and fitness?

FS: I am still learning how to cope and deal with all the travel, as at times it can be a bit overwhelming. Even when I was an amateur we would play on schedules that expected us to travel a lot. Having those teammates that travel and have the same schedule as you make it less lonely and we can rely on each other, some people are more organised than others.

SAS: I try to make sure I tick a lot of boxes when it comes to nutrition, make sure I consume enough calories when travelling and obviously staying hydrated is key.

Q: How do courses and conditions differ around the world where you have competed? Is it important to you to play in other regions? If so, why is that?

FS: Different regions have different types of golf courses. Some courses are tighter than others, and weather can play a role as well. That is why it’s important to play on different courses to challenge myself.

SAS: It is important by all means. To be a complete global-performing professional you have to develop that skill of being able to perform under any given circumstance, rain, wind, hot, humid and different ground surfaces around the world, and luckily the busy worldwide schedule we have presents us with these different playing conditions to be able to learn from.

Q: How significant is The International Series to you when setting your schedule? 

FS: They are the biggest events in my schedule. I always want to be playing at my best during those weeks as they are largest events on my circuit and have the highest quality field and the points are very meaningful towards gaining a full card.

Q: What has been your impression of International Series events so far and which events, if any, are you looking forward to?

FS: Overall, they are very well organised, courses and locations are great. The facilities are well prepped.

SAS: Again, The International Series is the platform for us right now to make strides towards our golf games, and it helps bring out the best of our golf. The addition of the St Andrews Bay Championship is extremely cool.

Q: What is your proudest moment in golf since turning professional and why?

FS: Turning professional in Saudi Arabia is definitely my biggest highlight, and one of the proudest moments was grinding it out in Oman, at the first International Series event of the year, to make the cut on a tough course.

SAS: Probably making my first cut back in February this year at International Series Qatar, with it being my second tournament as a pro, and being in the lead during round one too was indeed a proud moment.

Q: What targets have you set yourself for the remainder of 2023? And beyond?

FS: For 2023, with the remaining events that I have is to settle myself as a professional and make cuts and strive for bigger goals as I achieve my stepping-stone goals.

SAS: I am optimistic, feel like it will be good year to hopefully take as a learning experience, and am confident that I will be successful in some events.  Who knows?

The post Saudi duo Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif reflect on their first year as golf professionals — and hint at what lies ahead appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Tour was in dire straits following the COVID-pandemic — with the massively depleted 2020 season still taking more than two years to complete — but Cho has been the architect of its resurgence. Thanks in no small part a deal with Golf Saudi and LIV Golf which Cho helped engineer, the Asian Tour is now thriving with massively boosted prize funds across the majority of its tournaments, and the introduction of the flagship $5 million PIF Saudi International and the innovative International Series, which showcases the Tour’s talents on the global stage. 

Where it was previously limited to a handful of events in the likes of Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand, the Asian Tour in 2023 takes in destinations around the world including England, Vietnam, India, South Korea, Morocco, Egypt and Bangladesh. 

The deal brokered with Golf Saudi has also opened the door to events across the Middle East, including recent events in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, with the possibility of more in the near future.

With such an explosion of competitions across such a wide range, Cho has spent more time in airport terminals and on the various golf courses than he has at home, but it is a mission that he relishes.

“It is a very welcome challenge,” he said. “We are here to represent and help our players and help raise the profile of the Tour. When you see what has happened over the past year, with the increased purses, it helps our players professionally and personally, plus — as they are only playing a schedule of 14 events on their series this year — we will see a lot of LIV Golfers continue to appear on Asian Tour events. That raises the field, brings in some bigger names, draws more crowds and raises the profile of the Tour.” 

Cho Minn Thant presents Wade Ormsby with the International Series Thailand trophy. Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant

The 2023 International Series is well underway, with Wade Ormsby claiming the third title of the 10-event series in Singapore, following Takumi Kanaya in Oman and Andy Ogletree in Qatar, but with six destinations still to be announced, there is potential for a return to the Middle East.

While refusing to rule it out, Cho was playing his cards close to his chest before any announcement for the second half of the 2023 Asian Tour schedule. 

“We have looked at some potential host venues,” he told Golf Digest Middle East on the sidelines of the Saudi International in Jeddah. “For us, we want to make sure we have 25 really strong events on tour, and we’re not going to be over ambitious and say we want 45 $3 million events on the tour, it just doesn’t work in terms of corporate sponsorship and travel, so 25 is about the sweet spot. If we can get to 25 events, $2 million-plus of [prize money] that’s a great tour to play on, and whether or not there is that progression to LIV, that’s a bonus.”

The International Series offers a pathway to playing privileges at LIV Golf events. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent was the big beneficiary last year, having won the won the International Series Order of Merit and received an exemption to play in the 2023 LIV Golf League. Vincent and several others also played a full LIV schedule in 2022 thanks to their success in last year’s International Series events.

Even if players don’t make it to the ‘big bucks’ at LIV Golf, Cho is confident the Asian Tour regulars are delighted with recent developments. 

“We’re very much independent now, and to the bulk of our membership that’s absolutely fine,” he said. “They’re playing for more money, they’re playing in new destinations, we’re a strong tour and there is a future playing on the Asian Tour, you don’t necessarily have to progress your career by going overseas.

“For the players to be able to play a full season for decent money, where keeping your card in the top 60 earns you — I’m plucking a number out of my head — $200,000 a year, that’s a pretty good living for guys pushing a white ball around.”

As for the future destinations for competitions both in the International Series and on the regular Asian Tour calendar, Cho is open to putting on more tournaments in the Middle East — but prefers to take the game to new audiences rather than established and successful destinations such as the UAE. 

“There is a lot of big and highly successful golf in the Middle East and the UAE right now,” Cho said. “There are big championships in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Even for us, we have Saudi, Oman and Qatar on the International Series, plus this massive event here in the PIF Saudi International.

Cho Minn Thant with Hassan Nasser Al Naimi, President of the Qatar Golf Association, at the inaugural International Series event in Doha. Photo by Ian Walton

“It’s about spreading it out in the region and we will look at places that don’t have golf at the moment, like we did in Egypt last year [with the International Series]. It is a bigger impact for us to go into those countries with a championship, where they haven’t had much golf, rather than do a smallish event in comparison to what they already have in somewhere like Dubai, where it could become saturated.”

Cho is also looking further afield in Asia in an attempt to get some more of the old Asian Tour regular destinations — China, Macau, Hong Kong — back as regular fixtures.

“China has just opened up again, and very recently they’ve reached out to the Asian Tour and said they’d like to work together with us again,” Cho continued.

“Obviously we’re going to concentrate on building the areas around Hong Kong as well. We haven’t been to Macau in a few years, we haven’t been to China for a few years because of Covid.

“If we can build that triangle of events, where we have Hong Kong, we get Macau back and we potentially get something in Southern China, that would be great for us.”

The post Commissioner Cho Minn Thant stays as relaxed as ever as the Asian Tour grows and grows on global stage appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Sometimes we use the phrases ‘brother’ and ‘family’ in a matter-of-fact way. 

Throwaway references to your best chums, the guys you meet at the club or colleagues you tolerate after work. 

Then sometimes you are given a true reminder of what that term actually means when you meet someone like Othman Almulla.

The 36-year-old began his golfing career on the sand courses in Saudi Arabia, using a rubber mat and a set of borrowed clubs, with school grades suffering as he would sneak on to the course whenever he could. 

That dedication and addiction paid off in the long run as he started to turn a few heads in the Middle East and beyond. How could a boy from the sand of Saudi Arabia compete with the best in the world? 

Compete he did, and true to his word and ambition to become a champion, he won the Qatar Open and Saudi Aramco Invitational in 2008 and became the youngest Pan Arab Amateur Golf Tournament champ at 21, sporting his beloved Adidas gear whenever he could on the course.

After years of grafting away, Othman eventually marked his official arrival when he became the first Saudi professional golfer in 2019, aged 32, when the game began its next-generation journey in the Kingdom through Golf Saudi. 

Now a seasoned pro, Othman is not content to rest on his laurels, and has already began nurturing the fruits of his labours — with two little ‘brothers’ ready to carry the torch forward for Saudi Arabian golf.

Not quite old enough to be a ‘father figure’, Othman is content to be the big brother of the Saudi golf family as Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif are emerging as stars in their own making.  

Othman Almulla with his Saudi golfing family Faisal Salhab, left, and Saud Al Sharif. Neville Hopwood

The recent PIF Saudi International saw Faisal and Saud mark their own professional journeys for Saudi golf in a field full of major winners and legendary names such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith.

A big stage indeed.

Saudi’s second and third golf stars have one guy to thank and to aspire to, that big brother Othman, who has guided them through a difficult — and a sometimes solitary — path to the top level in the game, having played together flying the Saudi flag in team events.

“Faisal and Saud, they are my little brothers,” Othman told Golf Digest Middle East. “Golf can be a very individual sport and you are with your own team — physios and coaches, whatever — but you find yourself out there on your own a lot of the time. 

“But to be out on tour with them now as professionals will be super special, we will create the best memories together. My favourite memories in golf so far are with them in team events representing Saudi Arabia around the world in some big championships. The camaraderie and brotherhood has been created over these past years. I think I have been playing with them for almost 10 years and these relationships and friendships are not easy to come by. I truly believe that I am an older brother to them — they really are my two little brothers out here now on the pro circuit and to see them out here chasing a passion that we all share is truly uplifting. 

“I think it is easy to sometimes get stuck in one event, but we now have a very fruitful career ahead of us, all three together and I am very excited about that. This is just the first step, after the partnerships with Golf Saudi and the strides we have taken around the world, and I truly believe the best is yet to come.”

Faisal was quick to praise the ‘big guy’ whom he overshadows, literally, with his bulging biceps, a product of the new revolution taking over golf in the Kingdom. 

“This is another exciting step on our journey and where better to turn professional than in our home country at the Saudi International,” he said.

“It has been a long journey to get to this point but the continued support of Othman and Golf Saudi, the Saudi Golf Federation, my coaching team, and friends and family have made all the difference.

“I want to thank them for everything and hope that I can continue my success in the professional game.”

Othman in action at the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Neville Hopwood

Saud was equally as excited for the future. “Turning professional has been my goal since I first caught the golf bug as a young kid through guys like Othman, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to fully pursue golf as a career,” he said.

“There are so many people to thank but Othman, Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation have been integral to growing the game within the Kingdom and allowing both of us the opportunity to play golf and reach this point.

“I can’t wait to be on the road with Othman and Faisal testing ourselves against the best players and on the best courses, and hope that our story can help others to see and believe they can do the same and follow in our footsteps. As well as winning on the international stage, we each share the dream of inspiring the next generation, and professional golf gives us the platform to do that.”

Hugging his ‘family’, Othman added: “Life on tour is a pretty demanding one, so I’m hoping that I can help the guys avoid some of my mistakes and to do whatever I can to help them overcome some of the early challenges of turning professional.”

The curtain-raiser for Faisal and Saud was not without its tragedy as Othman has to cut short ceremonies at Royal Greens to return to Dammam as his father-in-law passed away on the Tuesday evening. However, he ensured he was back in Jeddah to support his teammates and tee up for the Saudi International by Thursday, with wife Rana’s blessing and encouragement. 

“It was a tough couple of days, but it was important to me to come back,” an emotional Othman said. “It was important to come back and support Saud and Faisal.

“I told my family it was important to come back and put on a brave face. We need to be role models and an inspiration to the Saudi population and that is keeping me strong. 

“I think golf families are the most unsung heroes. My wife is the most supportive and special person I know.” 

When back on the range and greens, Othman attracted more than a few jealous glances as he was sporting a very special set of shoes — the brand new Adidas ZG23s — something even the top pros in the US and across Europe are waiting to get their hands (and feet) on.

“A few of the guys during the pro-am stopped me and said: ‘Whoa, where did you get them?’ I won’t say who, but these are established guys looking at my shoes and casting envious glances, wanting to check them out. 

“I turned pro in 2019, and the guys in Dubai started a conversation in an unofficial capacity as they saw I was always a massive fan of Adidas gear and the relationship started from there. 

“I started wearing some of the best golf gear available and, around two years ago, we got together with an official partnership.  

“I can’t tell you how much I love being an Adidas athlete, as it’s all I remember wearing.”

As understanding as she is, Rana has her limits when it comes to Othman’s attire.  

Neville Hopwood

“My wife gives me a hard time about it as my whole wardrobe is Adidas, and it’s my lifestyle regardless what we are going out to do,” he admitted. 

“To be honest the gear is amazing and that is why I wear it all the time. The shoes are some of the most comfortable involved in the game and the ZG21s, which were the previous versions of the new one, were one of my favourite pairs of golf shoes. 

“The guys began to tease me: ‘Wait to you see what is coming in 2023.’ I was kinda looking around for snippets and previews and couldn’t find anything. Then these arrived at my house and I was like: ‘Wow.’ 

“There are one of the lightest shoes in golf, just like the previous iterations, and it is nice to feel I can go at it as hard as I want I am going to feel super stable and my feet will still be fresh after a round, know what I mean? 

“I won’t go into the tech but all I know is I know they help me play my best golf.” 

The post Brother beyond: Othman Almulla keeps it in the family as Saud and Faisal make professional debuts at Saudi International appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Scott Vincent discusses how he is taking full advantage of the opportunities that came his way in 2022, while Saudi star Othman Almulla delights in welcoming his little ‘brothers’ Saul Al Sharif and Faisal Salhab to the professional ranks.

The Golf Digest Hot List also gets to grips with the best irons on offer this year.

All this and much, much more in the March 2023 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 to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get the March 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

For the first time, the Kingdom’s two flagship events had equal billing and equal prize money. The $5 million Aramco Saudi Ladies International attracted six of the world’s top 10 female players, including world No. 1 and eventual champion Lydia Ko.

Ahead of the tournament the Jazzy Golfer spoke to Ko about her swing.

“I think one of the biggest things I think about is my rhythm,” the New Zealander said. “I don’t think I’ve heard anybody say that their swing gets smoother and longer on the golf course, I think it always gets shorter and quicker. So, for me, just keeping that rhythm, and I feel like when I’m in good rhythm and it’s smooth, even if I do miss it, it’s not too wayward.”

The men’s tournament at Royal Greens took place in early February and broadcaster and Golf Diget Middle East’s first editor Robbie Greenfield spoke to defending champion Harold Varner III about his win. “I think I’m pretty outgoing,” the American said. “You don’t see my emotions for the most part. And when you do something good, I think you should celebrate. So, I was pumped. I was excited.”

Varner spoke about the barriers people face getting into golf and how he hopes to help more young people try the sport. “People don’t understand how hard it is for a kid to get into golf and I want to change that,” he explained. “That’s important to me, because there are some very talented kids out there that just don’t have the opportunity to see if they like it, let alone see if they’re good at it. And that’s how you grow the game. And that costs a lot of money. So, I want to play well, make a lot of money, raise a lot of money, so that that happens.”

Another view or Varner’s celebration after holing the winning eagle putt at the 2022 Saudi International. Oisin Keniry

Next, Greenfield met Australian Cam Smith, who claimed his first major at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews last July.

“It was very surreal,” the Aussie said. “I think it’s something that you dream of, and probably you don’t get that far in your dreams almost. It was crazy. Such a cool environment. Everyone was there, there were Aussies screaming out: ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,’ all that stuff. It was just such an unreal moment.”

Greenfield also spoke to four-time major winner Brooks Koepka about performing under pressure. “I think I’m just able to focus a lot better,” he said. “Things just slow down for me. A lot of times when guys are under pressure, they speed up. I enjoy that. I don’t enjoy playing golf for 20th place. I enjoy playing to win.”

Louis Oosthuizen. LIV Golf

South African Louis Oosthuizen joined LIV Golf in 2022 and he told CNN that he’s excited for the 14-event global schedule the tour has lined up for 2023. “It’s actually nice travelling to different places and seeing different cultures, golf courses, and completely different areas,” he said. “So, growing the game is very important. Whenever I speak to someone young trying to become a golfer, I say you’ve got to travel the world, you’ve got to go play all over the place, and see different things, and see if you can grow your game that way.”

The Jazzy Golfer. CNN

Golf Digest Middle East recently caught up with the Jazzy Golfer herself in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship, turning the tables and making her the interviewee rather than interviewer.

Here is the Q&A:

Q What brings you to Dubai?
A I’ve been travelling to the Middle East to film for Living Golf. We visited the DP World Tour Championship and also played on a sand course in Abu Dhabi!

How easy is it to get into golf as a career?
I started my golfing journey less than six years ago while on a family holiday in Portugal. After many air shots and topped balls, I hit one pitching wedge that landed right next to the pin and that was it, I was hooked. At the time, I had a career in finance, but after a couple of years I took a leap of faith to turn passion into my full-time job and try to make a difference in the golfing world. Using social media has been a great tool to amplify my journey, share the stories of other fantastic women in golf, create an engaged, supportive network and to show that golf really is a sport for everyone — especially women and juniors.
It hasn’t always been easy though. Playing golf was always fun, but from my early experiences in the game I felt that the culture of the sport didn’t match up with just how fun the game was to play. I hoped that by documenting my journey, more women and girls would see golf as a sport for them. And the more my channels grew, so did the size of the audience I was able to reach to call out the sexism that exists in the sport and talk about how clubs and institutions can become more inviting toward women.

As golf grows in popularity across the Middle East, especially among female golfers and youth, what is your ideal vision for the future?
Golf is definitely moving in the right direction, and I want to continue to be a part of that change, highlighting the sport’s appeal to a newer, younger and more diverse audience. I aim to do this through my work on Living Golf, but I am also phenomenally proud of the work me and the team at the UK Women’s Golf Community (UK WGC), have done over the past year. The UK WGC is a supportive online community for women and girls who play golf, complemented by a series of social meet-ups designed to bring women and girls together at ranges and clubs across the UK. There is a similar community called ‘Chicks with Sticks’ in Abu Dhabi, who are doing great work to get more women playing golf in the UAE. I’d love to see a continued growth of women taking up the sport in the Middle East off the back of initiatives like that as well as have golf clubs continue to evolve with the times, ensuring they are giving women equal access to the facilities and being given equal treatment.
After all, this game is for everyone and with so many varied options such as TopGolf, nine-hole courses, par 3 courses, Golf Sixes, FootGolf, mini golf as well as a full 18 holes, you can find the version that fits you, your lifestyle, and your personality.

Will the likes of the Saudi International tournaments receiving equal prize money of $5 million for both the men and women pave the way for change?
Yes, it will. You only need to look to the example set by other sports to see the impact it has. Equal pay across male and female events is a key issue across all sports, not just in golf. For example, in tennis at Wimbledon and the Australian, French and US Opens, prize money has been equal since 2007. And last year the US Women’s football team successfully negotiated a deal for equal pay including equalisation of World Cup prize money. This levelling of prize money and pay at the higher levels needs to filter down to the lower levels too, if we want more women to be able to take up sports, especially ones like golf which can sometimes have higher start-up costs. Change has been under way in other sports for some time, and I hope that change will eventually be replicated throughout the world of golf, including at every major tournament.

Tommy Fleetwood. DP World

What do you make of the facilities across the UAE compared to other destinations you have visited?
I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the UAE’s world-renowned courses that have hosted some of the sport’s best players and, from my experience, the golf courses are always in pristine condition and the service levels have always been excellent. As the game continues to grow in the region, it will be interesting to see how more investment and development in the sport brings new benefits and opportunities. The recent introduction of the Tommy Fleetwood Academy in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates is a great example of this, and I look forward to seeing how the academy will develop the next generation of our game at a grass roots level.
As someone who is passionate about sustainability, I have also been impressed with the work many golf clubs are doing to ensure they are working as sustainably as possible. It was interesting to visit the Al Ghazal Golf Club in Abu Dhabi to see how golf was played in the region before these modern courses were built and as this unique form of the game is played on sand, it is much more sustainable with a lot less water and maintenance needed for the upkeep of the courses. It’s an experience that I would encourage all golfers visiting the region to try out.

What are your own plans for the future?
In the space of a year, the UK WGC has grown to over 2,500 members and I am regularly seeing new groups of women and girls coming together across the country to enjoy golf and share their positive experiences. With this in mind, we’re looking forward to growing and building on our early success. We aim to make the sport accessible for more women and girls and I personally am passionate about achieving this not just through the UK WGC but also through the campaigning, presenting, and consulting that I do in this space.
I’m personally on a mission to lower my handicap this year so through a combination of lessons, the right equipment, and some hard work I’d love to get to single figures (one can hope, right?!) I am also going to be travelling more and highlighting golfing achievements from across the world with Living Golf and continuing to tell the many stories of the fantastic women we are so lucky to have in the sport.

The post Speaking with CNN and Living Golf’s Jazzy Golfer, as she visits the UAE and Saudi Arabia appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Abraham Ancer was always relishing a return to his native Mexico for the 2023 LIV Golf League opener at Mayakoba.

But now he has even more reason to celebrate when he arrives to greet family and friends back home with the Saudi International trophy tucked away in his cabinet.

The Mexican held on for a wire-to-wire victory over American Cameron Young near Jeddah, claiming an eventual two-stroke triumph on 19-under — with Aussie Lucas Herbert third on 15-under — to get the party started

“Any time I get to play in front of my family and friends in my home country is a lot of fun. This time it will be extra special.

“I feel like golf is beginning to take off in Mexico a bit, and obviously bringing a LIV event there is huge. I am really excited and pumped. Mayakoba is an unbelievable place to go — even if you don’t like golf, it’s an unbelievable place to just hang out, and now with the Saudi victory it is going to be a great week.”

The diminutive 31-year-old was consistently outdriven by his playing partners Cameron Young and Matthew Wolff at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Sunday during the final round of the Asian Tour $5 million flagship event, but Ancer consistently had the answers.

“There is hope for us short guys,” he joked. “I have played with big hitters my whole life, ever since I was a little kid, I just know I need to hit it closer from farther away. It is sometimes a little frustrating hitting a tee ball relay well and then you are using a 6-iron and then you walk 50 yards and they’re hitting a wedge. But if you get caught up in that then you’re going to be hitting all over the place. I know I’m not going to be anywhere close to Matt off the tee with the driver. I have just got to be accurate instead, that’s the way I like it and it’s nothing new.”

The post Ancer ready for a homecoming party in Mexico at LIV Golf Mayakoba appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It was profitable trip to Jeddah for Abraham Ancer as he claimed the fifth Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

Here is a full breakdown of the prize money.

Winner Abraham Ancer, $1 million
2 Cameron Young, $525,000
3 Lucas Herbert, $300000
4 Sadom Kaewkanjana, $235000
5 Paul Casey, $200000
6 Travis Smyth, $140333.33
6 Marc Leishman, $140333.33
6 Mito Pereira, $140333.33
9 Andy Ogletree, $105000
10 Joaquin Niemann, $89375
10 Matthew Wolff, $89375
12 Kyongjun Moon, $70500
12 Jbe Kruger, $70500
12 Shubhankar Sharma, $70500
12 Charl Schwartzel, $70500
12 Anirban Lahiri, $70500
12 Talor Gooch, $70500
18 Sanghyun Park, $53928.57
18 Peter Uihlein, $53928.57
18 Jinichiro Kozuma, $53928.57
18 Branden Grace, $53928.57
18 Nitithorn Thippong, $53928.57
18 Bernd Wiesberger, $53928.57
18 Jason Kokrak, $53928.57
25 Graeme McDowell, $46250
25 Patrick Reed, $46250
25 Hennie Du Plessis, $46250
28 Yeongsu Kim, $39642.86
28 Ian Snyman, $39642.86
28 Kiradech Aphibarnrat, $39642.86
28 Louis Oosthuizen, $39642.86
28 Sergio Garcia, $39642.86
28 Henrik Stenson, $39642.86
28 Richard Bland, $39642.86
35 James Piot, $32571.43
35 Richard T. Lee, $32571.43
35 Takumi Kanaya, $32571.43
35 Taylor Dickson, $32571.43
35 Bjorn Hellgren, $32571.43
35 Cameron Champ, $32571.43
35 Ian Poulter. $32571.43
42 Scott Vincent, $27625
42 Cameron Tringale, $27625
42 Stefano Mazzoli, $27625
42 Sebastian Munoz, $27625
46 Laurie Canter $23750
46 Harold Varner III, $23750
46 Wade Ormsby, $23750
46 Andrew Dodt, $23750
46 Ding Wenyi [A]
46 Matthew Cheung, $23750
46 Brooks Koepka, $23750
53 Pat Perez, $19416.67
53 David Puig, $19416.67
53 Jediah Morgan, $19416.67
56 Shiv Kapur, $18250
56 Kosuke Hamamoto, $18250
58 El Mehdi Fakori [A]
58 Ervin Chang, $16000
58 Kevin Yuan, $16000
58 Todd Sinnott, $16000
58 Scott Hend, $16000
58 Matt Jones, $16000
58 Taehee Lee, $16000
58 Lee Westwood, $16000
66 Jazz Janewattananond, $13750
66 Ratchanon Chantananuwat [A]
66 Phachara Khongwatmai, $13750
69 Siddikur Rahman, $13000
69 Issa Abouelela [A]
71 Rashid Khan, $12500

The post LOOK: Who earned what as Abraham Ancer wins Saudi International appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.