By Kent Gray
What do you get when you mix a Harvard Business School education, investment banking experience, the visionary governorship of one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds and deep personal passion for golf?

A vastly experienced, business-savvy, globally connected and wholly invigorated new President of the Arab Golf Federation (AGF), that’s what.

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan ascended to the pivotal role on January 1 and immediately pledged his “full commitment” to helping the AGF’s 19-member nations become even more influential contributors to the growth of golf globally.

The dual Golf Saudi and Saudi Golf Federation (SGF) Chairman’s appointment was part of a double-whammy for the Kingdom as Majed Al Sorour, the CEO at Golf Saudi and Deputy Chairman of the SGF, was announced as the AGF’s new Secretary-General.

Majed Al Sorour

It means the ambitious duo behind the rise and rise of Saudi Arabian golf have now been charged with super-charging the game’s governance and development across the Arab world. 

Further to that noble grow the game mission as an R&A and Arab Olympic Committee sanctioned organisation, Al-Rumayyan believes the AGF is ready to play an even bigger role developing the professional game.

“The Arab Golf Federation represents one of the most important regional clusters in not only global golf development, but worldwide professional golf,” said Al-Rumayyan. 

“Since as far back as the late 1980s, the Middle East has become a catalyst for the game’s growth and enjoys a rich heritage in promoting the sport. This is something I know all members take great pride in and is a driving force in our vision for the future.”

Sport has been a cornerstone of Al-Rumayyan’s career and as the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) – the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – he is responsible for the multi-billion-dollar investment in sporting events forming part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s transformative economic and social reform blueprint opening up the Kingdom to the world. 

With a Harvard Business School education and subsequent experience in wealth management and investment banking, the organisation stands to benefit from Al-Rumayyan’s business acumen as well as a passion for, and substantial professional expertise in, the development of Saudi golf.

“It is an honour for me to take on the role as AGF President. First of all, I would like to congratulate my predecessor His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi on the fantastic job he has done in leading the Arab Golf Federation and thank him personally for his success in bringing the great game of golf to the Arab people,” Al-Rumayyan said.

“I am not only a passionate golfer, but recognise the true value the sport can deliver, across all our societies. I pledge my full commitment to focussing on how the AGF can support the game’s governing bodies, in their mission to develop the game around the world, as well as mobilising our collective resources to maximise opportunities for Arab nations in our growing participation in game’s global future.”

A keen golfer himself, Al Sorour will be looking to bring his widespread business and sporting expertise in his new role at the AGF.

“Thanks must go to Mr. Adel Mohammed Al Zarouni, who I take over from as the Arab Golf Federation’s new Secretary General,” said Al Sorour. 

“I am incredibly proud to take up this new position, given the ever-increasing prominence of Saudi Arabia in the global golf industry and having already worked closed alongside His Excellency at Golf Saudi, I am confident that we will be able to deliver an inspired strategy for golf in the Middle East which sees the sport’s continued growth in the region.”

golfsaudi.com

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With Morocco’s Maha Haddioui, Indian Diksha Dagar and his H.E Yasir Al-Rumayyan in her corner, Team Hall earned the opening-round lead at the unique $1 million Pro-Am event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.

For deeper context, that’s a former major champion and European No.1 (Hall) leading her captain’s pick (Haddioui) who just happens to be the only Arabic player in women’s professional golf, a 20-year-old who has already won on the LET (Dagar) and, for good measure, the dual chairman of the event’s title sponsor and Golf Saudi. Call His Excellency an amateur with significant global trade and golf business influence if you like.

At -19, Team Hall lead Team Carlota Ciganda by a stroke. Hall’s captain’s knock, a seven-under 65, also sees her joint top of the individual standings with German Olivia Cowan. It all translated to excellent golf and PR gold.

H.E Yasir Al Rumayyan.

Hall finished last week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International at the same venue 13-under-par and went blemish-free on Wednesday.

“Bogey-free is always a nice round here,” said Hall. “I tried to take advantage of not a lot of wind, and I still missed a quite few putts, but I’m happy with -7.”

Diksha Dagar.

Dagar – who missed the cut at the Saudi Ladies – wasted no time in making amends, shooting an opening-round 68.

“Today was very good in general. I had a very good start, and we have a very good team. We have a chance and tomorrow we can pick it up and continue playing good golf.”

Haddioui, a fan favourite in King Abdullah Economic City, chipped in with some momentum keeping putts.

“It was really fun playing as a team,” said Haddioui. “I started pretty well but couldn’t keep it up on the back nine. But still, I made a few good pars when I needed to and had a few birdies on the front nine too, so it was nice.”

Ciganda had Spanish compatriot Harang Lee, Germany’s Leticia Ras-Anderica, and amateur Lee Seung Su in her team.

“I’m enjoying being on this course,” said Ciganda. “The back nine was tricky. There was a lot of wind today and the last few holes weren’t easy, but we did great as a team – when one player was in trouble we had another in good shape. That’s what you want in this type of format. I had a great time with Harang, Leticia and our amateur and we’re ready for tomorrow.”

Olivia Cowan won the Aramco Team Series – London’s team crown back in July. In sitting joint-top with Hall with two rounds to play, the German could now end this year’s run of Series events with a solo win, too. Team Cowan also sit just three behind Team Hall.

Maha Haddioui.

“I think we just worked really well as a team. On some of the holes where one didn’t do as well, the other two helped out. We had quite a few birdies which definitely helped,” saidn Cowan.

“Our amateur is really good to talk to and he’s really chilled out. We all get on really well, so it’s a good team. The most important thing is to have fun out there – and we’re having a good time, which makes us play well.”

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By Kent Gray
Tiger Woods reportedly turned down a world record appearance fee to play in the new Saudi International. It’s fair to say/assume the new European Tour event has invested that very large chunk of leftover change – believed to have been in the neighbourhood of US$3 million – very well anyway.

Major champions Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson and European Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter have been unveiled as the latest headline acts for the inaugural event, the new third leg of the European Tour’s early season Desert Swing to be held at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from Jan. 31- Feb.3.

World No.3 Dustin Johnson, reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed and victorious Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn were confirmed for the $3.5 million event in King Abdullah Economic City last April and following Woods’ polite thanks but no thanks, reported last month, many were left  wondering about the quality of the supporting cast. They doubters needn’t have fretted.

The tournament now boasts two of the world’s top three players (Rose is ranked No.2 behind Abu Dhabi bound Brooks Koepka), five major champions and six players from September’s Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris.

“Today’s announcement reiterates our intention to make the inaugural Saudi International one of world golf’s strongest events,” said Saudi Golf Federation chairman, H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

“Our ambition from the start was to amass a box office field that would build immediate impact and allow us to showcase the ambition of Saudi Arabia and its bright future to the world, whilst laying solid foundations for future endeavours.

“With the visual impact of Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, the impressive host venue facilities and the beauty of the Red Sea coastline, we have all the ingredients for a successful opening year and are confident all the players will leave holding Saudi Arabia and its golf prospects in the highest regard.”

In a statement, Rose and Stenson also accentuated the positives of the new stop.

“I’ve heard a lot of positive things about Saudi Arabia and I’m delighted to see a new tournament added to the European Tour schedule,” said Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion and PGA Tour’s 2018 FedEx Cup winner. “It’s an honour be part of history and compete in the first professional golf tournament in the Kingdom.”   

Stenson played the quality field card: “You always want to compete against the best players in the world when you tee it up and this provides me another opportunity to do that,” said the 2016 Open champion who has also just been confirmed for Abu Dhabi.

“I’ve been on the European Tour since 2001 and I’ve been lucky enough to play golf all over the world but I’ve never been to Saudi Arabia. The course looks spectacular and I’ve heard a lot about the Kingdom’s plans to grow golf in the region and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Perched on the shorelines of the Red Sea, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club boasts a championship golf course, a state-of-the-art clubhouse, practice facility and residential and recreational facilities. The Saudi International powered by SBIA will place a special focus on families, community, charity and junior development as the Kingdom looks to develop its golfing pedigree.

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Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and Paul Casey, the current world No.13 who is likely to be part of the Dane’s European team for September’s matches near Paris, have also been confirmed for the event at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Saudi Golf Federation chairman, H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, unveiled the big names at the official opening of the new course which hugs a spectacular stretch of Red Sea coastline in King Abdullah Economic City. Further details, including the tournament’s name and prize fund, will follow in the “coming weeks” but European Tour chief Keith Pelley promised it’s “only the start of our player announcements”.

The European Tour has locked in a date for the Royal Greens event – January 31 to February 3 – meaning it will follow the week after the 30th anniversary Omega Dubai Desert Classic from Jan. 24-27. The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship will likely kick-start the new look Desert Swing from Jan. 17-20. While not confirmed, it seems likely Johnson will once again start his season in Abu Dhabi before playing in Saudi while Reed’s schedule will be interesting after his previous appearances at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates. It wouldn’t surprise if he plays the Desert Classic to split the drawcard firepower.   

Johnson was saying all the right things in a prepared statement: “I am excited to make my first trip to Saudi Arabia and support this historic new event. It sounds like some amazing things are happening there, including big plans for junior and family golf development. It’s an honour to be part of Saudi Arabia’s golf journey from the onset.”

Reed concurred: “It’s been a crazy few weeks since I won at Augusta and so much fun. I had not, at this stage, finalised anything in my schedule for next year but when I heard about the ambitious plans for golf in Saudi Arabia, I committed straight away.”

Fahd Al Rasheed, H.E. Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan and Keith Pelley, Photo: Paul Severn.

Al-Rumayyan underlined the Saudi Golf Federation’s ambitious plans to accelerate golf development in the Kingdom via the new event.

“The Tournament will provide an important platform for us to showcase Saudi Arabia’s many assets to the world, from our golf courses and facilities, to our rich cultural heritage to our business credentials and our ever developing lifestyle and entertainment offerings.”

Pelley, currently in Saudi at the opening of Royal Greens alongside Ernie Els and Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, hailed the course as a “spectacular venue, with world class facilities, and our players are going to absolutely love playing there.”

“We are a global Tour and this is an exciting opportunity for us to play in a new country which has a strong focus on golf as part of its vision for the future.”

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