Over 100 competitors from 12 countries took part across five categories; Under 15 Girls, Ladies, Under 13 Boys, Under 15 Boys and Under 18 Boys.

Golfers from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia and the UAE all joined the hosts Saudi Arabia, in an event which marked a significant moment in the global golfing calendar as it furthermore showcased the expanding talent there is in golf across the Arab world.

Division Winners:

Under 13 Boys: Egypt – Abdelrahman Aldefrawy

Under 13 Boys Teams: Egypt – Adam Aboshabana, Abdelrahman Aldefrawy, Adib Shabana

Under 15 Girls: Morocco – Noha Ghadi

Under 15 Girls Teams: UAE – Sara Abubaker, Maya Gaudin, Aasiya Saleem

Under 15 Boys: Tunisia – Mehdi Ben Youssef

Under 15 Boys Teams: Tunisia – Mehdi Ben Youssef, Selim Haouala, Ghaith Rhimi

Under 18 Boys: Morocco – Kamil Bensouda

Under 18 Boys Teams: Morocco – Kamil Bensouda, Aberrahmane Fakori, Sinan Melhi

Ladies: Morocco – Sofia Essakali

Ladies Teams: Morocco – Sonia Bayahya, Malak Bouraeda, Sofia Essakali

Thanks must go to Riyadh Golf Club and the Saudi Golf Federation (SGF) for hosting this prestigious event under the umbrella of the Arab Golf Federation (AGF). It is the SGF’s commitment to promote golf in the region and it was clear to see that with the Pan Arab Championship, it has highlighted the emerging talent there is within golf from various Arab nations.

The achievements in each category reflects the high level of competition and the promising future of these Arab golfers.

Images: Golf Saudi

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Winning gold for the UAE in the Girls 15 and Under Division was Sara Abubaker, Maya Gaudi, and Aasiya Saleem. Aasiya was the front-runner for the team with rounds of 75-67-72 to finish two under par and claiming the silver medal in the Individual Category. Maya took the bronze medal in the division also. While back in the team category, Tunisia took silver, and the Egypt team bronze.

UAE Girls 15 & Under Team – Emirates Golf Federation

The UAE Ladies Team with Intissar Rich, Jamie Camero, and Alia Alemadi won the silver in the Ladies’ Team Division. Jamie led the way for the UAE with rounds of 70-74-72 and also taking home the silver in the Individual Category. Team Morocco came out on top overall and Lebanon won bronze in the Ladies’ Team division.

The medals kept coming for the UAE.  In the Boys 18 & Under Mohammad Skaik, Rashid Aljassmy, and Sayed Ahmed came away with silver. Morocco impressively ran away with division winning gold by more than 30 shots. But the competition between the UAE and the eventual bronze team Egypt was a tight race with the UAE pipping them by just three shots.

Abdulla Darwish won silver in the Boys 13 & Under Individual Category after firing an impressive three under par 69 for his second round which gave him enough to win via countback. Egypt won the gold and Jordan took bronze in the team category.

Competing in the UAE Boys 15 & Under Team division and placing fifth in the Team Category were Marwan Alemadi, Abdulla Salmeen, and Mohammed Thabet. Tunisia won gold, Egypt won silver, and Saudi Arabia won bronze in the team category.

Moving forward the teams and players will focus on playing the Emirates Golf Federation Order of Merit events. Some of the players will even travel and compete in World Amateur Golf Ranking events to continue to develop their game.

Images: Emirates Golf Federation

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In the Ladies Division, just three shots back, from the UAE team consisting of Intissar Rich, Alia Alemadi, and Jamie Camero, are Morocco in second spot. They are followed by Lebanon in third, while Tunisia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia round off the top five.

In the Junior Girls 15 & Under, again led by the UAE with Maya Gaudin, Sara Ali, and Aasiya Saleem representing the team. Tunisia are in second, followed by Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

In the Boys Divisions there are three categories being competed for. The Junior Boys 18 & Under which is led by Morocco after the first day’s play at Riyadh Golf Club. Tunisia lead by seven shots in the Junior Boys 15 & Under Division. While in the Junior Boys 13 & Under, Egypt lead by seven shots as well.

Highlights of note are five of the competitors shot under par; Mehdi Ben Youssef (Tunisia U15 Boys) one under, Aberrahmane Fakori (Morocco U18 Boys) four under, Sinan Melhi (Morocco U18 Boys) two under, Mousa Shana’ah (Jordan U18 Boys) two under and Sofia Essakali (Morocco U18 Ladies) one under.

These achievements highlight the emerging talent in Arab world of golf.

Image: Golf Saudi

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Boasting a prize purse of US$1 million, the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund will be staged at Riyadh Golf Club (main picture) from December 14-17.

As the 23rd and last event on the Asian Tour’s 2023 calendar, the tournament will not only determine the Order of Merit champion but also will be the final chance for players to secure a top-65 finish and keep their playing rights for 2024.

Those that succeed will then be able to look forward to a speedy return to the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund with the tournament also primed to play host to the opening leg of the 2024 season from January 25-28.

The elevation of the event from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2022 to the Asian Tour is a further sign of the close ties between Golf Saudi and the Asian Tour.

Naraajie Ramadhanputra won the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund last year when it was part of the Asian Development Tour – Ian Walton

“We’re delighted to see the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund become part of the Asian Tour,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour.

“Last year’s Saudi Open on the ADT was one of the most popular tournaments we have staged in the Kingdom. Following that success, it will now provide a fitting climax to the Asian Tour’s 2023 season – and we will then see a quick turnaround during the new year break and return to tee-off our 2024 campaign.

“Our thanks go to our counterparts at Golf Saudi and the Riyadh Golf Club for their continued support and partnership.”

The 120-strong field for this year’s event will include the top-80 available players from the Asian Tour’s 2023 Order of Merit as well as invited players from other international Tours, such as Australia, South Africa, Japan and Korea.

The tournament will also feature up and coming players from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab countries as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia’s national team.

Noah Alireza, CEO at Golf Saudi, said: “Joining the Asian Tour this year as the final event on its schedule is an exciting new development for the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund.

“Every year we’ve hosted the tournament, it has got bigger and better. We’re especially proud of how each edition provides Saudi and Arab golfers the opportunity to participate in a top tier competition.

“It not only allows them to develop their skill levels but also to test themselves and go head-to-head against players from different countries in the Middle East, North Africa and now the Asian Tour in a competitive environment.”

In view of the significance of the tournament, the Merit points that will be awarded have been elevated to Tier 3, the same as The International Series events.

This will be the eighth edition of the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund. Last year’s 54-hole event on the ADT was won by Indonesian Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra with a score of 19-under-par 197. Egyptian Issa Abouelelah finished as the low amateur on nine-under 207.

Managed by Golf Saudi and playing to a par of 72, Riyadh Golf Club is located 20 minutes from the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Opened in 2005, the course is laid out on undulating terrain with wide fairways and manicured greens.

Main Image: Asian Tour

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You can catch up will all our coverage by visiting the website HERE, or alternatively scroll through the ISSUU links below — from Jason Kokrak and Cam Smith to the Aramco Team Series — or download to your favourite device for later.

Issue No.1 – January 2022

Issue No.2 – April 2022

Issue No.3 – August 2022

Issue No.4 – October 2022

Issue No.5 – January 2023

Issue No.6 – April 2023

Issue No.7 – August 2023

Issue No.8 – October 2023

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It could have been even better for Alison as she went on another record-equalling eight-birdie streak from holes 15 to four (she started on 10) and was on for a 59, but had to ‘settle’ for three pars and a birdie for a course record and a bogey-free card.

Minjee was hot on her heels on the closing stretch but a bogey on 17 halted her own charge and she sits on nine-under.

Minjee Lee. LET/ATS

Behind that duo is a bunch on seven-under, including Czech Jana Melichova, Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta, Dane Nicole Broch Estrup, Kylie Henry of Scotland, Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg, Wales’ Chloe Williams, last year’s runner-up Charley Hull of England and Spain’s Solheim Cup hero Carlota Ciganda.

It was not the best day for Chiara Noja, who defeated Hull in a playoff in Jeddah 12 months ago to lift the ATS title and her maiden crown at the age of 16. The Dubai-based German was faced with a tie for last spot until she conjured up some magic for eagle on 18 to sign for a three-over 75.

There were a lot of red numbers out there on Friday, with 62 out of 84 of the professionals scoring par or better.

In the team event, Team Ciganda lead the way at the halfway stage alongside Bronte Law’s quartet on an impressive 21-under, two strokes ahead of another logjam — Team Lisa Pettersson, Team Minjee Lee, Team Diksha Dagar, Team Anne van Dam and Team Nicole Broch Estrup.

How things stand after a breathless Day One ?‍?? #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/Sfc60Dgfdu

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) October 27, 2023

On her day of records, Alison, winner of the Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande Individual title in 2021, told the Ladies European Tour: “I honestly had no idea! Today was just one of those days that golf just felt really easy, like a dream round. I wish every day felt like this. I was telling my caddie: ‘Gosh golf is so easy.’ Obviously I don’t say that every day but it was one of those days.

“I just felt so confident out there. I was able to read the greens really well, pick a good target on my approach shot, I was able to hit my targets.

“Coming down the stretch I started to realise I’m on 59 watch here. But I missed a couple of good birdie chances coming down the stretch. Not too disappointed I had a great round today, overall I played really solid.

“I’m feeling really good about my game. We still have two days left but I feel like it’s a really nice golf course, it’s a fairly easy golf course, pretty easy to attack pins and make a lot of birdies.”

Minjee added: “I played really really solid. I made a ton of birdies and had four birdies in a row so that was really nice. I’ve been hitting it really solid and come into this week with a lot of confidence from last week. I had another really great day.

“I played one round with Alison last week and then obviously beat her in a playoff. She’s got such great talent and I’ve actually known her for quite a while. We rookied together [on the LPGA] in the same year. We’ve both been on Tour nine years and it’s always nice to have great competition. That’s what we play for.”

Over on the team side of things, Ciganda told the LET: “It’s been a fun day. We made a lot of birdies between the three of us. It was great fun to watch the great shots that they hit. As everyone knows, I love team events and yeah hopefully we can have a good day tomorrow and win this thing.”

Main image: Alison Lee. LET

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American star Vu has raced to the top of the world rankings this season with a sensational run of form that secured two major championship titles. This 2023 has also seen Australia’s Lee won the recent Kroger Queen City Championship while Hull has shown some impressive form to finish runner-up in two majors.

Hull lost out in a playoff at Royal Greens last time out for the Individual crown last year to Chiara Noja, but there will be stiff competition this time around.

Vu, Lee, and Hull have all expressed their delight and pride at lining up in the first professional golf event to be held in Riyadh. Vu, making her second appearance in the series, after signing up for the Aramco Team Series — Hong Kong earlier this month, has had a phenomenal season. She followed up her maiden title at the Honda LPGA in February with two major triumphs — a playoff win in the Chevron Championship in Houston back in April, and a six-shot victory in the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath in August.

Minjee Lee. Dylan Buell

Minjee Lee, a former world No.1 amateur who has won multiple major championships in the last two years — the 2021 Evian Championship and 2022 US Women’s Open — said: “Women’s golf is on the rise all around the world and Saudi Arabia is playing a big role by promoting our sport and staging high-profile events. It’s incredibly exciting to be a part of this tournament and hopefully, my recent good form is on full display throughout the weekend so I’m in with a chance of challenging.”

Meanwhile, Hull will be hoping to go one better after finishing runner-up last time out.

“The Aramco Team Series brings something special to the women’s game, and hopefully I can take it to the next level in Riyadh after coming close in London [T2] and Jeddah last year,” said the Solheim Cup star.

The golfers are relishing the prospect of playing in the unique format which has teams and individual components. Vu and Hull are among the many golfers lining up with extensive team experience and the two recently faced off for the US and Europe in this year’s Solheim Cup, which took place at Finca Cortesin in Andalucía, Spain from September 18-24.

Vu said: “The Aramco Team Series events are hugely popular among the players and golf fans, largely attributed to the enjoyable and distinctive format, which allows players from different countries to come together as a team, offering a unique experience that is unmatched elsewhere. I can’t wait to tee it up in Riyadh, it will undoubtedly be exciting to compete simultaneously in team and individual format.”

Charley Hull

Hull added: “The Aramco Team Series format brings a lot of fun, excitement, and team spirit to tournament golf, while it is also a great challenge to place well individually in such a high-caliber field. Without doubt, they are highlights on the international women’s golfing calendar.”

Other stars featuring at Riyadh Golf Club include world No.18 Georgia Hall, another member of the Solheim European team competing in Riyadh. The 27-year-old has eight professional wins to her name and won her maiden major at the AIG Women’s Open in 2018.

Like Hall and Hull, 11-time professional tournament winner Carlota Ciganda, the Spanish world No.30, was a key member of the 2023 European Solheim Cup team that retained the trophy and was deemed by many as the tournament’s best player.

Also joining the Riyadh line-up is American Alison Lee, a Ladies European Tour event winner.

The unique Aramco Team Series – Riyadh format attracts the world’s best female golfing talent, as it gives them the chance to compete both in a team format and individually in an elite tournament atmosphere.

While the top 84 professional golfers team up with amateur players in an exciting four-person team tournament held over the first two days of the event, only the top 60 will make the cut to compete for the individual title and a prize fund of $1 million, as well as Race to Costa Del Sol and Rolex World Ranking points, on the final day.

Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: “The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh is a significant moment in golf and sport in Saudi, and we are immensely proud to be hosting the first ever professional golf tournament in Riyadh. Our investment in this event underpins our commitment and dedication to the women’s game and to women’s sport in general.  More broadly we want to encourage, enable and inspire the next generation of golfers in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Golf Club is the perfect setting for what is sure to be a fitting finale to a thrilling series this season.”

Tickets are now available for purchase, offering sports fans and the general public in Riyadh the chance to attend a historic event.

This event aims to showcase the best in women’s golf over three days while also providing a fun blend of family-friendly activities and entertainment across fitness, fun, and food.

Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh
Dates: October 27-29, 2023
Location: Riyadh Golf Club, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Now 17-year-old Chiara Noja is heading back to Saudi Arabia to defend her crown — this time at Riyadh Golf Club in the capital — in very different circumstances. 

An LPGA bow, major debuts, injuries — and, yes, school studies — have all added to an eventful, jet-setting 12 months for the young German. Golf Digest Middle East caught up with her ahead of her title defence. 

“It’s crazy to think it has been a year already,” Chiara tells us fresh from a few days of preparation at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Florida ahead of her tilt at LPGA Q-School this month. “Obviously this is going to be a cool experience for me as defending champ and an opportunity to reminisce on those great memories. It’s going to be a new course so it’ll be exciting seeing the tournament take shape somewhere new.”

Noja is now well-practised in balancing studies and life on tour, but as she is sitting her GCSEs, fitting in time to get to know the Riyadh layout is trickier than ever.

“I’m going to be flying out later this week to play my practice rounds as I won’t have much time prior due to exams,” she tells us near the end of September. “I guess I will have a little more insight then, but I have heard lots of positive things about it so I’m excited to head over.”

Noja played through the pain barrier with a shoulder problem at her first two majors and missed the cut at both the Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open, but she is glad she got to experience the ‘big-time’ first hand. 

“It was a super cool experience having earned my way into those events, but it obviously was a tough few weeks for me,” she says. “I struggled with injury, and I guess it’s a difficult conversation to have — I knew I was not in a great place but made the choice to try and play regardless. If given the chance would I go back and change that decision? No. Do I think it was a great decision? Maybe not.”

Following the Women’s Open, Noja took some well-earned time off to recuperate ahead of the Q-School and Aramco Team Series stretch this month.

“Yeah, I think it was necessary that I focus on getting better after basically playing in pain for six weeks,” she says. “It was important for me to get healthy before going back out on tour, and I’m glad to be 99 per cent there and use the next few weeks to prep before ATS Hong Kong [October 6-8].

“I flew out to Florida to play practice rounds ahead of the LPGA Q-School as the schedule is very tight in October, so it’s good to be able to spend the next few weeks practising skills I may need to cater for those courses. Then it is going to be an exciting week in Saudi.”

The Golf Saudi Ambassador is a champion of bringing the game of golf to new audiences, and is keen to meet aspiring golfers in the Saudi capital. “I think it’s super exciting, obviously with Riyadh there will be a new, and wider, audience that we can cater to and hopefully continue to grow the game of golf in Saudi.

“The ATS events have really solidified themselves within the golfing calendar and that has been awesome to see. The events have grown both geographically, with events expanding and taking place all over the world, and in popularity. The initiatives taken to grow the game are great, and I have been lucky to be able to partake in clinics along the way, and have a first row seat to seeing both kids and adults join us in our love for the game of golf.”

Main image: supplied

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If you have read our previous Discover Golf editions, you should be familiar with how to hold the club, address the ball and swing the club. Now I will take you through some key points to help you use the driver as effectively as possible.

What is a driver?

The driver is the largest of all the clubs in the bag and the go to start most holes that require maximising the distance you can achieve from your swing. This is possible due to its large volume of head size, length of shaft and aided by lower lofts and lighter weight.

Understanding Low Point

Low point, in golf terminology, refers to the point in the swing arc where the clubhead is at its lowest position before it starts its upward trajectory. When hitting the driver, the position of the low point is crucial. A suitable low point helps ensure that you make contact with the ball slightly on the upswing, which is a crucial element for maximising distance and achieving an optimal launch angle.

To establish a consistent low point, focus on maintaining a shallower sweeping movement of the club through the lower part of the swing and avoiding lowering the body dramatically during the downswing, something that can be common when incorrectly trying to ‘keep the head down’ something that should be avoided. When the low point is well-managed, the driver’s loft can be utilised effectively, leading to longer and more controlled drives.

3 Keys to unlock your driver’s potential

1 Using of a tee and tee height?

Using a tee and adjusting tee height when hitting a driver in golf is essential for optimising your performance with this shot. A tee is used to elevate the golf ball above the surface providing us with a guaranteed perfect lie every time. Because of this, it is easier to launch the ball into the air as it provides the opportunity to strike the ball without making contact with the ground and assist with striking the ball more on the upward part of the clubs movement.

A useful starting point is having half of the ball above the height of the driver face, however finding the optimal tee height requires experimentation during your practice sessions. Pay attention to how different tee heights affect your contact and ball flight and adjust accordingly by either increasing the tee height or lowering it.

2 Ball Position

Next up to help create the optimal strike with the driver is the strategic placement of the golf ball in relation to the stance. Altering this will have an effect on the body positioning and if the ball is struck on the up or downswing, greatly affecting your shot outcome.

For drivers, a great place to start is positioning the ball inside of your front heel. This placement ensures that the low point occurs just before the ball, enabling you to hit the ball on the upswing. When the ball is positioned too far forward, closer to the front foot, the low point could happen too early and potential mishits. Conversely, if the ball is too far back in your stance, the low point may occur after the ball, resulting in an overly steep angle of attack and reduced distance.

3 Width of Stance

The width of your stance plays a vital role in achieving the proper swing shape for hitting the driver effectively. A stance that is too narrow, you may have trouble staying balanced, leading to inconsistent shots., while a stance that is too wide might hinder your rotational movement and timing. 

When addressing the ball with the driver, aim for a stance that is wider than shoulder-width. This provides a stable foundation while allowing enough ability to rotate and have the body positioned suitably during the swing. The wider stance also encourages a sweeping motion, which aligns well with the shallow angle of attack required for successful driver shots.

Putting It All Together

As we discussed, the upward strike on the ball typically creates a more optimal outcome. To help with achieving this put the previous points into play and focus on maintaining a shallow, sweeping motion in the downswing. 

Putting this together and discovering the appropriate movement in the body to simulate the correct arc is to try the following drill. 

Simply by placing a headcover (a ball or an additional rubber tee) in front of the tee where your ball would sit creates feedback of where the low point is and increases the likelihood of a more upward strike. Through doing this you will start to gain awareness of the suitable body movement that avoids contacting the object, if you do it is likely that your low point is too low and too left producing a downward impact into the ball. Practise swinging through, clipping the tee, and avoiding hitting the object in front. Avoid excessive attempts to scoop the ball into the air, by shortening your arms as this can lead to inconsistent contact and reduced distance. Practising this aspect of your swing can lead to more consistent and powerful drives off the tee. 

Remember that consistency and improvement in these areas require practice and dedication. As you gain a deeper understanding of how these factors influence your shots, you’ll be better equipped to unleash the full power and potential of the driver in your golf game.

Conor Thornton is a member of the PGA Professionals team at Golf Saudi-managed Riyadh Golf Club

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Having staged two successful editions at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah, the ATS is sharing its joy even further with a stop in Riyadh this time around. 

Not far from the Saudi Arabian capital’s city centre, Riyadh Golf Club opened in 2005 and has built up quite a reputation as one of the finest courses in the Middle East. 

While lush and expansive, this par 72 Golf Saudi course is no pushover, with plenty of water in play and its challenging greens (with a few cunning pin positions) it is sure to test the finest of the women’s game when they come to town.

The monster par 5-second hole has been an early scorecard-wrecker, so players need to be on their game from the outset. Be warned ladies!

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