If you thought 2023 was a busy year for golf, this one looks to be even bigger.
Happy New Year! – Here’s to hoping you received plenty of golfing related gifts and have managed to squeeze in a few rounds of golf in over the holiday season, wherever you might have been celebrating.
Well, as we look ahead to 2024 it looks like another exciting year in the world of golf. Who said golf was boring?!
Scottie Scheffler and Lilia Vu currently start the year leading their repsective rankings as the best male and female golfers in the world. Scottie with two victories to his name including The Players Championship and Lilia four which include two major titles. But will they still be at the summit of the game in 12 months time? Especially with the current questions being asked over the Official World Golf Rankings points systems across the tours.
Let’s start things off on the professional side of the game, as we have got quite a few events for you to book mark in your calendar that we will be covering in the region in 2024!
First up is the newly branded ‘International Swing’ on the DP World Tour in 2024. We have five, yes five, tournaments on the bounce in the Middle East commencing in January. Starting us off we have the inaugural Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, followed by the 35th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club, The Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club is up in RAK, before a return to the Kingdom of Bahrain after 13 years for the maiden Bahrain Championship, while we end the swing with the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters – and breath!
Don’t you worry, all the big guns will be in town making an appearance over the five weeks; World Number Two Rory McIlroy, Dubai residents Tommy Fleetwood and Adrian Meronk, Kiwi Ryan Fox, Ryder Cup winning Captain Luke Donald, four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton, Danes Nicolai Højgaard and Thomas Bjørn, plus Americans Brian Harman and Cameron Young are set to make their first appearances in the UAE. There’s plenty more to read all about that inside.
The Ladies European Tour have announced their season schedule which sees them returning to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on two separate occasions. In February we have the US$5,000,000 Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF before they return in November to Riyadh Golf Club for the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF.
LIV Golf having revealed their 14-event schedule which includes LIV Golf Saudi Arabia on March 1st – 3rd, with newly signed Jon Rahm as the headline act for the season ahead. He joins the tour containing Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Talor Gooch, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson. We are very much looking forward to bringing you all the action from that event and the rest of the LIV Golf 2024 season.
On the Asian Tour Tour, an initial schedule of 20 events across 12 countries has been announced. Including seven world-class destinations confirmed as part of their International Series which is part of its 10-tournament schedule for the 2024 season. Of local note we have three coming to the region; International Series Oman, International Series Qatar and the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund.
Finishing off proceedings, we have the Challenge Tour returning to the UAE thanks to their collaboration with the European Tour group and the Emirates Golf Federation, with back-to-back events in April at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club followed by Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi as the players compete on the season long Road to Mallorca.
We will as always be closely following the UAE National Team as they compete across both the professional and amateur circuits, in what is set to be their biggest year to date.
Plus, we have you covered with the newest clubs and equipment on the market and golf course reviews with plenty of enhanced video content coming your way along with exclusive features from all the biggest names in the game. All of this available online at Golf Digest Middle East and across our social media channels. So, if you haven’t already, what you waiting for? Give us a follow for all local golfing news in the region. You might even see a feature on yourself winning the monthly medal at your local club!
Main Image: LIV Golf
