“I didn’t know anything about the LIV Promotions until I got told the Monday after I won,” said the Kiwi, “and now I’m here and I’ve made it to the second day, which everything is on.”

Mountcastle is one of 29 players who finished inside the top 20 and ties to advance out of the 60 competitors playing the first round. Those 29 will be joined by 13 exempt players for a 42-man field for Saturday’s second round, with scores reset.

Round of the day so far goes to Kiwi's Kerry Mountcastle – eight under par round the National Course ?‍?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/c0fBDNchZ0

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) December 8, 2023

The top 20 (with playoffs breaking ties) will move on to Sunday’s 36-hole day, with the top three finishers earning lucrative spots in the 2024 LIV Golf League.

His closest pursuer on the opening day was American Seungsu Han, who carded a six under 66.

Seven players finished at 5 under, including Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, who claimed a hole-in-one at the par-3 15th with an eight iron.

“I felt like it was a little bit too much club,” Pulkkanen said, “but my caddie said it’s perfect, and I trusted him, and it went in. Thanks for him.”

The real drama was the cutline number at two under.

Of the 12 players who advanced on the number, seven needed birdies on the last hole, the par-5 18th: Settee Prakongvech, Zach Murray, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Braden Thornberry, Luis Carrera, Bio Kim and Lucas Bjerregaard. Two others were at two under entering the 18th and bogeyed the hole – Guntaek Koh and Chris Stroud.

Three amateurs played Friday, and one advanced – Ireland’s Max Kennedy, who shot a bogey-free five under 67. LIV Golf Promotions is just the second professional tournament he’s competed in. His game plan for Saturday is simple.

“Just make birdies,” he said. “That’s all it takes.”

Irish Amateur Max Kennedy is safely through to round two after a bogey-free five under par

We followed him over his closing holes – the stones on him!

Plus his caddy is the ultimate hype man!@amateur_info #LIVGolf @livgolf_league @ADGolfClub pic.twitter.com/osr1NjhqZS

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) December 8, 2023

PLAYERS ADVANCING TO ROUND TWO

Kerry Mountcastle, New Zealand (-8) – Recently won the Gippsland Super 6 on the PGA Tour of Australasia

Seungsu Han, USA (-6) – Won the Asian Tour’s Korean Open Golf Championship in June

Junghwan Lee, Korea (-5) – Has three runner-up finishes on the Korean Tour this season

Jinichiro Kozuma, Japan (-5) – Made three starts in the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, finishing 29th in points

Taichi Kho, Hong Kong (-5) – Won the Asian Tour’s World City Championship in his native Hong Kong in March

Max Kennedy, Ireland (-5) – One of four amateurs in the field this week

Tapio Pulkkanen, Finland (-5) – Played this season on the DP World Tour

Poom Saksansin, Thailand (-5) – Won the Asian Tour’s Yeangder TPC in September

Sadom Kaewkanjana, Thailand (-5) – Played full-time on the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series

Jaco Ahlers, South Africa (-4) – Won the Asian Tour’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters in October

Jeongwoo Ham, Korea (-4) – Has one win and five other top-5 finishes in his last six starts on the Korean Tour

Steve Lewton, England (-4) – Finished 22nd on the International Series standings in 2023

Miguel Tabuena, Philippines (-4) – Won The DGC Open on the Asian Tour in March

Zach Bauchou, USA (-3) – Has two top-5s in his last eight Korn Ferry Tour starts

Kazuki Higa, Japan (-3) – Has 10 professional wins, six on the Japan Golf Tour

Phachara Khongwatmai, Thailand (-3) – Played full-time in the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series

Grégory Bourdy, France (-3) – Has 10 professional wins, four on the European Tour

Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Thailand (-2) – Won in his most recent start on the Asian Tour at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open

Settee Prakongvech, Thailand (-2) – Posted three victories in 23 starts in 2022

Zach Murray, Australia (-2) – Finished 38th in the 2023 International Series standings

Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Thailand (-2) – Won once and finished runner-up four times in 25 starts in 2022

Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Thailand (-2) – Finished 28th in the 2023 International Series standings

Kevin Yuan, Australia (-2) – Played the inaugural event last season at LIV Golf London Invitational

Braden Thornberry, USA (-2) – Won the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s golf championship while at University of Mississippi

Joel Stalter, France (-2) – Posted his lone DP World Tour win in 2020 in Austria

Luis Carrera, Mexico (-2) – Turned pro this summer after stellar career at University of Central Florida

Bio Kim, Korea (-2) – Has four wins in the last three seasons, including the LX Championship this year on the Korean Tour

Martin Trainer, France (-2) – Won in Puerto Rico on the PGA Tour in 2019

Lucas Bjerregaard, Denmark (-2) – Has six professional wins, including two on the DP World Tour 

13 PLAYERS JOIN FIELD FOR ROUND TWO

Thirteen players who received first-round byes due to their eligibility category will join Friday’s survivors for the second-round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Those 13 include five players who ranked 2nd – 8th in the final International Series standings: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, Australia’s Wade Ormsby and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent.

Three players who were relegated out of the 2023 LIV Golf League will begin their attempt at returning to the league: Australian Jed Morgan and Americans Sihwan Kim and James Piot. In addition, reserve Laurie Canter will also start Saturday.

Amateur Sampson-Yuhne Zheng of China received an invite as the highest-ranking entrant in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Finland’s Kalle Samooja is eligible as a 2022 winner on the DP World Tour.

Two veteran players accepted invitations to play: 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and PGA Tour winner Kevin Chappell, both from the U.S.

“Bypassing the first round is definitely an advantage,” Ormsby said. “It’s one less round you’ve got, one less hurdle to get over.”

“Instead of 80 players fighting for three cards in the first round, we will have less than 40 players fighting for the same number of cards,” Bhullar said. “The probability just gets better.”

The second round will start with a fresh leaderboard after scores are reset. The top 20 finishers on Saturday – playoffs will break ties if necessary – will advance to the final 36-hole finish on Sunday.

Image: LIV Golf

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So, he’s trying something new this week. Something different. Something he hopes will lead to an exciting new chapter of his competitive life.

The 2013 PGA Championship winner is arguably the most decorated player of the 73 competitors at this week’s LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. He’s the only player with a major win, and he also has Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup experience, along with the most PGA Tour wins of anyone (5).

Now he has a chance to join the 2024 LIV Golf League if he can finish in the top three after Sunday’s 36-hole final day. It would be a considerable career U-turn for Dufner, who has spent the last 18 years playing an American-based schedule. He’s certainly embracing the possibility; otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

“For me, it would be a new experience, obviously,” the 46-year-old Dufner said Thursday on the eve of a first round that he doesn’t need to play, thanks to a tournament invite directly into Saturday’s second round.

“At this point, maybe something new, maybe something different might refresh me a little bit. … Looking forward to the week of qualifying and seeing where I stack up.”

The decision to play in the Promotions tournament, Dufner said, is mostly related to his category status on the PGA Tour. “I’d be in the past champion category,” he explained. “I think that’s going to be very limited starts with the way things have changed on the PGA Tour, and I just looked at it like maybe I could come over and play this tour. Maybe that would be an opportunity for me.

“I’m an independent contractor, so I’m always looking for opportunities to play. … If I could come over here and have a good week, that would open up some doors for something new and something different for me to be part of LIV Golf.”

Although Dufner has competed against many of the current LIV golfers, he said he doesn’t have close relationships with any of them. But he certainly is aware of the success of the league’s biggest names, including Brooks Koepka, who has won three of the 10 PGA Championships played since Dufner’s victory at Oak Hill.

“There are great players on this tour. I know that,” he said. “I’m familiar with these guys, and when I do see these guys, they always have good things to say about this tour.”

LIV Golf’s global schedule certainly is appealing to Dufner. The 2024 regular-season schedule was recently released; of the 12 tournaments announced, seven will be held in nations outside the United States – Mexico (Mayakoba) in February, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong in March, Australia (Adelaide) in April, Singapore in May, and Spain (Andalucía) and England in July.

Dufner’s appearances outside North America have been rare in recent years, although he did play the Saudi International in 2022. He’s even played at Abu Dhabi Golf Club before, in 2013 when he tied for ninth.

“When I was in my prime for that decade or so, I played a lot around the world and I enjoyed it,” he said. “I enjoyed going to different places. I enjoyed bringing the game of golf to places.

“I think in the States, we’re spoiled because every week is almost a new event in a different location that is in the United States. But people in Hong Kong or Australia or in Abu Dhabi don’t get to see the best players in the world on a week-to-week basis, so I always thought it was important when I was one of the best players in the world to kind of go and play globally. I think that is very interesting to me that this tour kind of plays that global schedule and hits all these different spots.”

Asked what kind of form he’s in, Dufner called it “reasonably well” since the U.S. Open in June. He tied for 19th recently in Napa, California, one of his top results in recent years. Once he committed to playing LIV Golf Promotions, he’s put in proper prep time.

“I feel like we see it in all professional sports – guys that struggle or aren’t playing great,” Dufner said. “Every week is a new opportunity. I think that’s the great thing about professional golf. Things can change pretty quickly.”

If Dufner finishes inside the top 3 this week, things will definitely change quickly for him as the next chapter begins.

Main Image: Turk Pettit, Jason Dufner and Jed Morgan (l-r). LIV Golf

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Beginning Friday, December 8, the three-day, four-round competition will feature more than 70 rising stars and accomplished pros including a Major Champion, Ryder Cup and Walker Cup standouts, former top-ranked amateurs and NCAA champions, and winners on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Open exemption criteria gave accomplished players from around the world the opportunity to enter LIV Golf Promotions, where the top three finishers will earn their place to be drafted onto one of the LIV Golf League teams for next season, which kicks off in Mexico, February 2-4, 2024, with LIV Golf Mayakoba.

“LIV Golf Promotions creates an open pathway for players to compete in the LIV Golf League, and the interest shown in the event’s inaugural year reinforces the significance of these new opportunities for the sport,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “There is exceptional talent from all corners of the globe and LIV Golf is establishing a platform for these current and rising stars of the game to build their careers in new, exciting ways. LIV Golf’s future is bright, and our anticipation grows to see which competitors will be part of this game-changing league in 2024.”

Nearly 60 players will tee off in round one on December 8, and those who finish in the top 20 and ties advance to Saturday’s second round, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who automatically qualified for day two of competition.

The top 20 players (after tiebreakers) following round two will advance to the final day of competition, where scores will reset once more for a 36-hole shootout.

At Sunday’s conclusion, the top three finishers will receive highly coveted spots in the LIV Golf League for 2024, where they will compete in each of the league’s 14 stops on the 2024 global schedule. In addition, players finishing fourth to 10th place will earn full exemption for all 2024 events on The International Series sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

With an average age of 31, including 38 players under the age of 30, the field is full of next-generation talent. Among the rising stars are the Irish duo of Max Kennedy and Ryan Griffin, both renowned for their Palmer Cup successes. The lineup for LIV Golf Promotions also includes 22-year-old Samson-Yunhe Zheng from China, the field’s highest-ranked amateur and the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship runner-up.

“I’m really excited to compete in Abu Dhabi for the chance to play on LIV Golf in 2024,” said Zheng.  “I’ve been following the league closely this year, and the opportunity to play team golf with some of the best players in the game is very special. LIV Golf provides a great environment for players to build their career whilst sharpening their game, and I’m excited to compete and make that dream a reality.”

The field also includes 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner, former Ryder Cup stars Victor Dubuisson of France and Jeff Overton of the U.S., and former PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour winners such as Chris Stroud, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, and Alvaro Quiroz.

Additionally, former LIV Golf players Sihwan Kim, Chase Koepka, Jed Morgan, and James Piot, who were relegated at the end of the 2023 season, as well as reserve Laurie Canter, will be trying to reclaim their LIV Golf status at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in December. Morgan, who completed a full season with the all-Australian Rippers GC team made up of Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones, shared his anticipation ahead of LIV Golf Promotions.

“Playing alongside Cam, Leish and Jonesy this past year was an unbelievable experience, both personally and professionally,” said Morgan. “Helping the team win in Bedminster, playing in front of a home crowd in Adelaide and sharing those memories with the guys are highlights that are tough to beat. I couldn’t quite put together the consistent play I wanted to, but I learned a lot from the season and I know what I’m capable of. Obviously, the goal is to return to the Rippers, so I know what I’ve got to do in Abu Dhabi.”

The post LIV Golf announces field for LIV Golf Promotions at Abu Dhabi Golf Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Runners-up were the duo of Julian Pope and Alexander Pietzsch one point back on 43 points.

While in third spot a went to Abu Dhabi Golf Club Men’s Captain Chris Rossmeisl and Men’s Vice Captains Charles Parks on 41 points.

The three leading teams qualify to play in the UAE National Finals of the International Pairs at Abu Dhabi Golf Club held over the National Course on Saturday 9th March, 2024.

Then the winners of the UAE National Finals will qualify for the International Pairs World Final to be held in November, 2024 at the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort and Bom Sucsso Resort in Portugal, aiming to be crowned the International Pairs World Champions.

Image: UAE International Pairs

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Emirates Golf Club

Pirvu and Ayres win EGC Ladies UAE Race to Obidos International Pairs Qualifier

Emirates Golf Club Ladies’ Section hosted the latest UAE International Pairs Qualifier over the Majlis Course, with 60 ladies competing. The duo of Anca Pirvu and Annabel Ayres took top spot with 45 stableford points. They had a combined total of 11 net birdies. Runners-up were Josie Tracey and Wonjeong Lee on 43, ahead of Sonal Gandhi and Avani Shahon 41.
The top three Pairs at each qualifier progress to the UAE National Finals at Abu Dhabi Golf Club which will be held over the National Course next March.
The winning pair then goes on to represent the UAE at the World Final of the International Pairs — Race to Obidos event next November at Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort and Bom Sucsso Resort in Portugal.

Jumeirah Golf Estates

Tommy Fleetwood adds flavour to Jumeirah Golf Estates event
Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood joined the Jumeirah Golf Estates members for the latest edition of the Thursday Curry Club on the Fire Course.
The Englishman and Dubai resident and Club Manager Stephen Hubner could only make sixth spot in the standings as Tom Stephenson and Tom Purdy triumphed over Louis Thorne and Seth Hopkinson.

Aviv Clinics brought to you by DP World OG Classic Golf Day returns
Following the success of last year’s event, the Aviv Clinics brought to you by DP World OG Classic Golf Day returns on October 28 to Trump International Golf Club, Dubai. Tickets are selling fast for this year’s event and cost AED 650 for which you will get access to the driving range and practice facilities from noon ahead of the 1.30pm shotgun-start, 18-hole pairs shambles event.

Supplied

US secure Eisenhower Trophy in Abu Dhabi
The US surged to their 16th Eisenhower Trophy win, and their first since 2014, on Saturday in the 33rd World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. David Ford, the No. 5 ranked amateur in the world, posted an eight-under 64, while 2023 US Amateur champion Nick Dunlap contributed a four-under 68. “I just feel so happy for these guys,” said US captain Mark Newell. “This is a great championship filled with lots of good players and they really earned their victory with great play all four rounds and especially today.”

SGSC

Samiuddin takes Sharjah Monthly Stableford
The Orient Travel monthly medal kicked off the new season in style on Saturday at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. Samiuddin Siddique topped the leaderboard at the end of the day’s play with a very impressive three-under 69. Past SGSC Club Captain Rory Thomson was runner-up on two-under.
Also taking place at SGSC was the summer-ending Air Arabia Matchplay awards. Sami Butt was the 2023 singles champion, ahead of George Liu. The net singles crown went to Aamir Inam.

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The tournament will be staged on December 8-10 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the UAE, with four rounds of golf played over three days, including 36 holes on the final day where the top three finishers will be drafted into one of the LIV Golf teams next season. LIV Golf Promotions also offers a prize purse of $1.5 million.

“In less than two years, through the launch of LIV Golf and our development of The International Series on the Asian Tour, more than 3,500 new opportunities have been created for players to compete and advance their careers at golf’s highest levels. This is bringing progress to the sport on a global scale, and the world is taking notice,” said Greg Norman, LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO. “LIV Golf Promotions establishes an integrated pathway for the best players and up-and-coming talent from all over the globe to join a league that is changing the game. Open competition and meritocracy have always been a part of the fabric of LIV Golf, and following the success of our first full, 14-event season, we’re excited to be able to launch LIV Golf Promotions and offer players from around the world the chance to qualify for 2024.”

Highlighting the global aspect of the LIV Golf League, leading players from all over the world will be eligible to participate. A full breakdown of eligibility criteria, including qualifiers for round one and round two, is below.

LIV Golf Promotions will consist of four rounds of 18-hole stroke play. Starting Friday, December 8, those who finish in the top 20 and ties from round one will advance to Saturday’s round two, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who automatically qualified for day two of competition. The top 20 players following round two will advance to the final day of competition, where scores will reset once more for an intense full-day, 36-hole shootout. At Sunday’s conclusion, the top three finishers will receive spots in the LIV Golf League for 2024. The top three finishers will also earn prize money of $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively. Players finishing fourth to 10th will receive full exemption for all 2024 events on The International Series on the Asian Tour.

LIV Golf Promotions will complete the player roster for the 2024 LIV Golf League, with the three qualifiers from Abu Dhabi Golf Club being joined by the winner of The International Series 2023 Rankings to replace the four relegated players. American Andy Ogletree, who competed in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2023, is poised to secure that automatic berth, having recorded two International Series victories in England and Qatar, and three further top-10 finishes.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “This is what our season has been driving towards and is a great showcase of the open player opportunities that LIV Golf is committed to. The innovative format of LIV Golf Promotions will offer drama and excitement and I have no doubt that we will crown some very deserving recipients of their rights in the LIV Golf League 2024.”

Scott Vincent, a member of this season’s Iron Heads team thanks to finishing atop last year’s International Series Rankings, finished this season 22nd in the LIV Golf League Individual Rankings to lock in a spot for 2024.

“That’s the coolest thing about LIV is you get to play with some of the best in the world, and that’s what we grow up hoping for, to challenge ourselves, push ourselves, and try and reach new levels – maybe something we never dreamed of,” Vincent said. “It’s amazing how it worked out for me. So many things just rolled into place, and the fact that I get to do this again, I can’t be more thrilled.”

In addition to welcoming players from around the world, relegated players, and those without a team commitment for 2024 who finished in the ‘Open Zone’ (25-44th) on the 2023 LIV Golf League standings also have the opportunity to regain their playing rights for 2024.

The tournament will be available globally live and on-demand on LIV Golf Plus, the LIV Golf YouTube channel and broadcast partners around the world, with live coverage on Friday and Saturday from noon to 4pm and Sunday from 12.30pm  to 5pm UAE time.

LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Category A: Qualifiers for Round 1
• Members of the 2023 Walker and Palmer Cup Teams
• Winner and runner-up of the following most recent amateur events:
  US Amateur Championship
  The Amateur Championship
  Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (October 29)
  Latin America Amateur Championship
  European Amateur Championship
  NCAA Championship (Individual)
  Eisenhower Trophy (Individual)
• Leading 15 available players from within the top 40 WAGR rankings as of November 20, 2023 (excluding players exempt into round 2)
• Leading 25 available players from within the top 40 on the final International Series 2023 Rankings, (excluding those exempt into round two)
• Leading three available players from inside the top five from each of the following professional Tours as of November 20, 2023
• Japan Golf Tour (Money Ranking including majors)
• KPGA Korean Tour (Genesis Point Ranking)
• Sunshine Tour
• PGA Tour of Australasia
• Tournament winners from the Asian Tour in 2023 and Korn Ferry Tour in 2023
• Leading 30 available players from within the top 300 in The Universal Golf Rankings (TUGR) as of November 20, 2023 (excluding those who are exempt into Round 2)
• Event invitations as determined by LIV Golf League
• Category B: Byes into Round 2
• The following players are exempt from Round 1 and are automatically eligible to participate in Round 2:
• The top two players in the WAGR rankings as of November 20, 2023
• Players ranked two to eight on the final International Series 2023 Rankings
• Leading five available players from within the top 30 of the Final 2023 DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour Order of Merits / Rankings
• Winners of PGA TOUR and DP World Tour sanctioned tournaments in the 2022 and 2023 calendar years
• Ryder Cup and President’s Cup participants from 2019-2023
• Winners of Major Championships from 2019-2023
• The leading 15 available players from within the top 150 in The Universal Golf Rankings (TUGR) as of November 20, 2023
• Players relegated or without a contract for the following season from the Final 2023 LIV Golf Individual Standings
• Event invitations as determined by LIV Golf League

Main image: LIV Golf

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The men will fight it out over Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course for the Eisenhower Trophy from October 18-21 before the women contest the Espirito Santo Trophy from October 25-28, the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.

One man who has high hopes for the home nation — both on and off the course — is Ahmad Skaik, the UAE’s No.1 amateur golfer, and he can’t wait to get started once again to fly the flag after an injury-disrupted year. 

“I am very excited of course, as it is always an honour to represent the country on such stages and having it at home makes the occasion even bigger and better,” Skaik told Golf Digest Middle East.

“The course isn’t one that I would say suits my eye but I have good memories there, so I will keep that in my mind always and I’m sure that it will help me. 

“I am excited to play it this time as last year in France I was not able to play because of my back injury, so I am very happy to be able to be part of the team and compete this time.”

After graduating last year, Skaik had big plans for 2023, including the possibility of turning professional, but his troublesome back pushed back his schedule. However, now it is full steam ahead once again.

“The season has been tough, but I’m putting in the work and making big changes in my game which I am sure will help in the future,” he said. “I used to always worry about what is happening and that I want to play well, but I have changed the mentality. Of course, I want and will always try to play well but I would rather do the changes now and struggle in the process and get it good than postpone the changes until the future. 

“For the injury, I have an acute disc which will probably stay with me my whole life, so I always have to be careful and stay on top of things, especially with physio and gym work.”

As for turning pro, that is still on the agenda in the near future.

“Hopefully by the end of the year or beginning of next year,” he said. “Only time will tell but for now, my focus is on the Asian games, the WATC, and the Asian Pacific.

“I finished college last year in May and I got injured two weeks after that, so I didn’t really get to enjoy it, but now I am really enjoying having nothing else to worry about other than golf.”

Main Image: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

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Abu Dhabi is gearing up to host the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships — the the first time the event has taken place in the Middle East — with Monday marking the start of the one-month countdown until the event kicks off at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Hosted by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism, the men’s Eisenhower Trophy is scheduled for October 18-21 while the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy takes place for the following week from October 25-28.

Both tournaments are set to feature 36 countries with each nation having two or three playing representatives.

The best two scores from each day’s play constitutes towards the team’s score for each round with the 72-hole total combing to give the nation’s score for the full championship.

“We are delighted to host the World Amateur Team Championships which is another significant addition in Abu Dhabi’s ever-growing international calendar of sports,” said Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council.  “It also provides our home golfing talents the opportunity to play side-by-side with the elite amateur golfers. We warmly welcome the participating teams and wish every participating team the very best.”

General Abdullah Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, added: “The Championship Committee along with the Local Organising Committee have been working hard over the past 12 months to get to this final stage of preparation.

“Under the patronage of his Excellency Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Golf Federation, we look forward to hosting the world’s best amateur golfers and top federations at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. I would like to thank our partners at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Culture and Tourism for their support and for making this Championship possible.

“Finally, I would like to thank golf’s governing bodies, the International Golf Federation, The R&A and the USGA for their trust in the United Arab Emirates for hosting this prestigious championship, it is our mission to continuing to develop the sport of golf in the Middle East.”

These amateur contests have often been a showcase of golf’s promising young talent with past major champions Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods featuring on winning teams before turning professional.

Both tournaments were last held in 2022 in France where Italy emerged victorious in the Eisenhower Trophy, while Sweden claimed the Espirito Santo Trophy.

The last tournament also featured names such as Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and USA’s Rose Zhang — both of whom are recent winners in the professional game, the former having been named in Luke Donald’s European team for the upcoming Ryder Cup in Rome, while Rose will represent Team USA in the Solheim Cup.

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That impressive stable of champions is led by Alvaro Quiros with seven DP World Tour wins, including victories at the 2011 Hero Dubai Desert Classic and 2011 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. David Howell, who also lifted the Dallah Trophy in 1999, is a five-time DP World Tour winner, while Matteo Manassero, the youngest winner in DP World Tour history, has four victories to his name alongside Gallacher.

Also teeing it up in the capital will be Brandon Stone and Mikael Lundberg, who have three DP World Tour titles apiece.

“I was having a look at the entry list the other day and I was surprised by how good the standard was this week,” said Gallacher, who will captain the European Junior Ryder Cup Team in Rome later this year. “It’s getting tougher these days, we’re all getting a bit older and young guys are coming through so it’s a really good field.”

After 26 successive seasons and more than 600 appearances on the DP World Tour, Gallacher lost his full playing privileges last season after failing to finish inside the top 117 of the Race to Dubai Rankings. During that impressive stint, the Scotsman enjoyed plenty of success in the UAE, becoming the first, and only, man to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back-to-back in 2013-2014, while also featuring regularly at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a Rolex Series event.

Since the inaugural tournament in 2006, Gallacher has played the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on 16 occasions with 15 of those starts coming at this week’s host venue.  “It’s a totally different atmosphere here this week compared to what I’m used to on the DP World Tour,” said Gallacher, who finished in a share of eighth at the 2015 edition. “I’m quite pleased the event is here as I did a bit of TV work for the first time at the start of the year at the Hero Cup. I walked the course and was able to see how different it was without stands — it’s totally different on the eye.

“It’s going to be a great event on a fantastic golf course, one I’ve really enjoyed playing over the years. It’s one of those places where the wind gets up and can be a little tricky, but I think that suits the way I play the game which is nice.”

The Abu Dhabi Challenge will precede the UAE Challenge (May 4-7) which is being held at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. The two events are part of the European Tour group’s long-term partnership with the EGF, which aims to develop golf in the UAE for at least the next decade.

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But way back in the noughties, the golf world was abuzz with talk of another hot new talent that had burst on to the scene and smashed a host of records on the way.

A fresh-faced Italian by the name of Matteo Manassero, at the age of 16, became the youngest-ever winner of the British Amateur Championship in 2009, before winning the Open Championship Silver Medal with a T13 finish.

He went on to become youngest player ever to make the cut at the Masters, and he still holds the mark as the youngest golfer to win on the DP World Tour thanks to his triumph in the Castelló Masters in Valencia, Spain.

Everything was set for a glorious career, the Italian looking to following the footsteps of Constantino Rocca and the Molinari brothers as one of Italy’s finest golfing exports. By 2013, Manassero had five wins on what was then the European Tour, entered the top 30 in the world rankings and has the world at his feet.

Matteo Manassero won the BMW PGA Championship in 2013

However, that was when things started to go wrong for the still-teenaged Italian.

After collecting a fourth-place at the 2014 Scottish Open — as is often the case with young golfers — Manassero’s form deserted him, making only six cuts in 22 competitive outings in 2015, leading to a downward spiral that saw him lose his European Tour card and forced him back to the drawing board and on to the lower-tier Challenge Tour.

“Simply put, I didn’t perform well,” Manassero told Golf Digest Middle East. “Golf is hard and sometimes it goes like that. Your technique goes the wrong way and then that creeps into the mental side and it can be a vicious circle, which is difficult to get out of.

“If your form goes — there are only 110 or so guys who keep their DPWT card and they are all really good — then it is so hard to stay at the top.”

Thankfully, at 29, Manassero still has time on his side to get back to golf’s top table — an opportunity he is ready to grab with both hands, starting with the upcoming Challenge Tour double-header in the UAE capital: the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Abu Dhabi Golf Club (April 27-30), and the UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (May 4-7).

With a revamped game and a thirst for more success, Manassero is firing on all cylinders once again and he has his sights set on regaining his DP World Tour card in the Challenge Tour’s Race To Mallorca season-long rankings race.

Matteo Manassero has resdicovered his form on the Challenge Tour

“I started to think I could get back after Covid — well during Covid, actually,” he said. “I did a lot of mental work with professional help as we could not do much more out on the course, so I worked on how I spoke to myself, working closely with my mental coach, and then I got to work on my technique.

“After Covid, I got back into playing properly, and I had a lot of dust to shake of around 2021. I knew I could play better now and it began to show, both on the course and how I regarded things from outside the ropes.

“I was enjoying it again. I went very close in 2021 to getting my card back and this year … the Challenge Tour can be quite funny in that, if you have one great week and win, that can set you up for the season and keep you right up there in the Race standings. So, say, if I win in Abu Dhabi — just one good week — that should have me in a position come the end of the season. The competition is very high on the Challenge Tour but I am optimistic once again and with a bit of consistency I know I will be back up there.

“I am 29 now, and thankfully, I still have a lot of golf ahead of me, so I am ready to start the second part of my career, I have been on tour for a long time already and now I feel like I want to do things properly.”

Still on the right side of 30, Manassero sure has been around for a long time already, and he is more than happy to act as an inspiration for all those young golfers who are keen to make it on their own.

“More and more boys and girls are starting earlier in golf there days — it can be thanks to the access to facilities, especially here in the UAE, and to the top coaches who can guide them from day one,” he said. “Then there are people like me, who they can look at as an example to see others have done it before, so that can give them confidence that they can make it, too.”

Matteo Manassero focused on his mental strengths to help his game during Covid

Manassero has also played many times in the UAE over his career (“I have lost count how many times I have been here,” he admits), and he is relishing yet another return.

“This place is fantastic with so many championship courses and top-level facilities,” he said. “From Abu Dhabi [HSBC Championship] in 2009, I have been coming out here for tournaments and for practice and warm-weather training. It is heaven for us golfers in Europe where the winter temperatures can drop well below zero. The UAE is a perfect spot for us this time of year.”

While a spot on Luke Donald’s team is a dream too far this year, Manassero is thrilled to see the Ryder Cup coming to Italy later this year, when Europe take on the US at Marco Simone Golf Club in September, and he is confident it will inspire a future generation of golfers to thrive in the country.

“We saw what happened in Spain when it hosted the Ryder Cup at Valderrama [in 1997] and the legacy it left for Spanish golf, with the likes of Jon Rahm and Carlota Ciganda making it right to the very top,” he said. “The power of the Ryder Cup can do the same in Italy this year and can really launch the sport across the country. I would have been unthinkable for Italy to host the Ryder Cup a while ago and this is such a fantastic opportunity to show what we have to offer and also help inspire the future generation and unearth some more talent.”

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