By Kent Gray
It’s not a WGC event, a major or even one of the European Tour’s gold-starred Rolex Series events but the Saudi International sure has a field akin to one of golf’s most prestigious championships.

The 3rd edition of the $3.5 million European Tour event in February will feature no fewer than nine major winners including reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and newly-minted Masters champion Dustin Johnson.

But as Golf Saudi are want to do, the quality of the field for the Feb. 4-7 Desert Swing event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club gets better with every passing week. The latest signings – Viktor Hovland and Tony Finau – only add to the legend.

Hovland is part of the golf’s exciting new youth movement, a superstar in waiting alongside OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic-bound Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff.

The 23-year-old Norwegian won his second PGA Tour earlier this month, a week before belying the inevitable jet-lag of Mexico-Dubai journey to finish T-3 at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The former amateur No.1 is now up to a career-high 14th in the professional world rankings and is looking at a Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits beyond his Saudi debut.

“My first full year as a professional, even given all the Covid-related difficulties, has been really amazing,” said Hovland.

“I would never have dreamt that I would already have two PGA Tour titles and winning the Mayakoba Golf Classic [in Mexico] was the perfect way to finish up the year. As a European, trying to get my first European Tour victory will definitely be high on my agenda for 2021 and of course, trying to win my place on the European Ryder Cup team.

“I’ve only played in about six European Tour events in total so I am excited to add some into my schedule and the Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers has the most impressive field of players already confirmed so I think it’s going to be a huge week.”

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Tony Finau will make his Saudi debut a year after it was originally planned.

World No.18 Finau was a late scratching from Royal Greens last year but is looking forward to a strong showing as he looks to make a second Team USA Ryder Cup appearance later in 2021.

“I was unable to make my debut in 2020, so I’m really looking forward to being there alongside an especially world-class field in February. I’ve heard nothing but positive things from my fellow players about their experiences at the tournament and their visit to the Kingdom. It should be a great week and I am excited to go.”

In addition to world No.1 Johnson, headline-hogger DeChambeau and big-hitting Finau, the PGA Tour will be well represented in in King Abdullah Economic City with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed also confirmed starters.

Martin Kaymer, Matt Wallace, Bernd Wiesberger and Danny Willett have been added to a star-studded European contingent including Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and defending Champion Graeme McDowell.

“2021 is another step on our journey of aligning Saudi Arabia with the highest-profile events in world golf,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi.

“We continue to shine a light on our growing passion for the sport, but also the strategic measures being taken to ensure we develop a vibrant and sustainable golfing nation. Our partnership and relationship with professional golf and the world’s best players is a central tenant within our long-term investment plans. We can’t wait to welcome them to the Kingdom and to crown our third Champion.”

The post Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau add yet more star power to 3rd Saudi International line-up appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

With newly minted Masters champion and world No.1 Dustin Johnson and runaway U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau among no fewer than nine major champions previously confirmed, the Saudi International’s status as the king of the Desert Swing was never in doubt. Oh, did we mention reigning Open champion Shane Lowry and American drawcards Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed? Yes, they King Abdullah Economic City-bound as well.

But with the addition of nine European Ryder Cuppers, seven of them new names for the 3rd edition of the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club event in Feb., Golf Saudi might just have assembled the strongest European Tour field of 2021 outside the majors and WGCs.

Tommy Fleetwood, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwoood, Paul Casey, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Tyrrell Hatton are the new significant seven, joining already confirmed Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell, the latter defending champion.

“This announcement marks yet another amazing group of golf stars joining our 2021 field and the excitement of all the players to kick-off afresh in 2021, in Saudi Arabia is heartening to hear,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi.

“The line-up for the tournament is looking strong and with more players still to be announced in the coming weeks – and on the back of two excellent Ladies European Tour events earlier this month – we are very much looking forward to the third edition of our tournament.

“We believe it will be the strongest instalment to date and will serve as a fabulous illustration that Saudi Arabia is open for business.”

The Feb.4-7 event will be fan-favourite Fleetwood’s bow in the Kingdom.

“From all I’ve heard from the lads who played there the last couple of years, the Saudi International is already established itself as one of the leading events on the European Tour both in terms of set up and facilities as well as quality of the field, which is really impressive this year,” said the six-time European Tour winner and standout of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National.

Such a deep field means a deep well of OWGR and Ryder Cup ranking points on offer.

“With Ryder Cup qualification on the line, I am obviously looking to get my campaign off to a fast start and getting a decent finish or winning the Saudi International against such a stellar field would be massive,” said Poulter. “It’s been a really weird year with COVID so we are all looking forward to a fresh start in 2021 and I am hoping it is also a strong start as I keep my eyes firmly focused on qualifying for the European team at Whistling Straits.”

“I really enjoyed the tournament at the beginning of this year and am psyched to be returning next February. The course sets up for my game rather nicely so I was pretty frustrated to only finish in the top 20 and will certainly be aiming to finish rather higher up the leader board this year.”

The post Fleetwood set for debut as another wave of Ryder Cuppers join Saudi line-up appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.