His Excellency Sheikh Saad Al Saadi, Oman’s Minister of Sport, hit the ceremonial tee shot to officially open the $1.75 million NBO Oman Open.

The shot off the 1st tee at Al Mouj Golf is the culmination of a five-year journey for golf in the Sultanate. The Muscat club has graduated from a European Challenge Tour host, the past three years as the secondary tour’s season-ending Race to Oman event, to full tour status.

With Ryder Cup stars including Robert Karlsson, Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood and Stephen Gallagher, former Open Champions Paul Lawrie and Darren Clarke, 2016 Open de Espana winner Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and 2017 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion Jeunghun Wang in the field for the Desert Swing event, the best Omani golf has to offer is set to be broadcast the a global audience in excess of 400 million.

“Five years ago we started an incredible journey through our relationship with the European Tour with a vision to one day host a European Tour golf tournament through which we can position Oman on the international stage,” said NBO chairperson Sayyida Rawan bint Ahmed Al Said.

“Now, today we are here and it is a very proud moment to inaugurate the NBO Oman Open as one of the highest-level golfing competitions globally, watched by millions of people around the world.

“To us, golf represents much more than just a game; it is a platform that brings us all together, and helps drive Oman forward by showcasing to the rest of the world the natural beauty and talent Oman has to offer.”

The post Watch Oman’s Minister of Sport hit a ceremonial tee shot ahead of the NBO Oman Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.