Now, with a number of events under their belts, including the Asian Tour International Series, both Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif took time out to speak to Golf Digest Middle East about their progress on tour among some of the best players in the world.

Q: Can you describe both what is similar — and what is different — about your lives in general now you are professional?

Faisal: I’m very lucky to have teammates that share the same schedule, so it still feels like we get to share moments and learn from each other and help each other as well.  It is a lot more than the independent “You eat what you kill”, and I am very fortunate to have support from Golf Saudi.

Saud: The similarities I think have been there since amateur days as Faisal and I travelled the world together competing on international stages, and that hasn’t changed yet, thankfully. We have built a brotherhood relationship for years and years to come.

Q: When you reflect on your introduction to golf, at what point did it become your aspiration to turn professional?

FS: When I first joined the national team. The more tournaments I competed in, and the exposure I got to the game, the more my aspiration to grow to progress in the game. As a kid I always used to watch golf on TV. I stayed up at night to watch all the majors and I found the players inspiring, hoping to be like them one day.

SAS: Ever since I got introduced to the game from the age of 10 I knew I had the potential to work hard and be the best version of myself on the golf course and outside, so to myself it was clear ever since the get-go.

Q: What advice would you give an aspiring young golfer, especially in a market in Saudi Arabia where the sport is yet to be fully established?

FS: Luckily in Saudi there are a lot of great programmes that are being established to fully support the next generation of golfers. My personal advice is to start with no expectations, enjoy the game, and when you feel like you’re ready to take it to the next level, there will be the right support system.

SAS: My advice will be no matter where you are or what your resources are with determination and a dream comes a bright future, and that comes with loving what you do and being able to go that extra mile each day for it.

Q: Aside from golf, how do practice weeks differ from tournament weeks?

FS: The weeks that are just practice, I usually go to the gym, play some other sports and try to generally stay active and healthy. 

SAS: I try to keep my technical in check on off weeks with Jamie [McConnell], and still challenge myself in that pressured atmosphere of a golf tournament even in practice with drills, you have to practise under pressure to be able to perform under pressure.

Q: What challenges do an international schedule present for travelling tour professionals? In particular, how do you manage your health and fitness?

FS: I am still learning how to cope and deal with all the travel, as at times it can be a bit overwhelming. Even when I was an amateur we would play on schedules that expected us to travel a lot. Having those teammates that travel and have the same schedule as you make it less lonely and we can rely on each other, some people are more organised than others.

SAS: I try to make sure I tick a lot of boxes when it comes to nutrition, make sure I consume enough calories when travelling and obviously staying hydrated is key.

Q: How do courses and conditions differ around the world where you have competed? Is it important to you to play in other regions? If so, why is that?

FS: Different regions have different types of golf courses. Some courses are tighter than others, and weather can play a role as well. That is why it’s important to play on different courses to challenge myself.

SAS: It is important by all means. To be a complete global-performing professional you have to develop that skill of being able to perform under any given circumstance, rain, wind, hot, humid and different ground surfaces around the world, and luckily the busy worldwide schedule we have presents us with these different playing conditions to be able to learn from.

Q: How significant is The International Series to you when setting your schedule? 

FS: They are the biggest events in my schedule. I always want to be playing at my best during those weeks as they are largest events on my circuit and have the highest quality field and the points are very meaningful towards gaining a full card.

Q: What has been your impression of International Series events so far and which events, if any, are you looking forward to?

FS: Overall, they are very well organised, courses and locations are great. The facilities are well prepped.

SAS: Again, The International Series is the platform for us right now to make strides towards our golf games, and it helps bring out the best of our golf. The addition of the St Andrews Bay Championship is extremely cool.

Q: What is your proudest moment in golf since turning professional and why?

FS: Turning professional in Saudi Arabia is definitely my biggest highlight, and one of the proudest moments was grinding it out in Oman, at the first International Series event of the year, to make the cut on a tough course.

SAS: Probably making my first cut back in February this year at International Series Qatar, with it being my second tournament as a pro, and being in the lead during round one too was indeed a proud moment.

Q: What targets have you set yourself for the remainder of 2023? And beyond?

FS: For 2023, with the remaining events that I have is to settle myself as a professional and make cuts and strive for bigger goals as I achieve my stepping-stone goals.

SAS: I am optimistic, feel like it will be good year to hopefully take as a learning experience, and am confident that I will be successful in some events.  Who knows?

The post Saudi duo Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif reflect on their first year as golf professionals — and hint at what lies ahead appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Sometimes we use the phrases ‘brother’ and ‘family’ in a matter-of-fact way. 

Throwaway references to your best chums, the guys you meet at the club or colleagues you tolerate after work. 

Then sometimes you are given a true reminder of what that term actually means when you meet someone like Othman Almulla.

The 36-year-old began his golfing career on the sand courses in Saudi Arabia, using a rubber mat and a set of borrowed clubs, with school grades suffering as he would sneak on to the course whenever he could. 

That dedication and addiction paid off in the long run as he started to turn a few heads in the Middle East and beyond. How could a boy from the sand of Saudi Arabia compete with the best in the world? 

Compete he did, and true to his word and ambition to become a champion, he won the Qatar Open and Saudi Aramco Invitational in 2008 and became the youngest Pan Arab Amateur Golf Tournament champ at 21, sporting his beloved Adidas gear whenever he could on the course.

After years of grafting away, Othman eventually marked his official arrival when he became the first Saudi professional golfer in 2019, aged 32, when the game began its next-generation journey in the Kingdom through Golf Saudi. 

Now a seasoned pro, Othman is not content to rest on his laurels, and has already began nurturing the fruits of his labours — with two little ‘brothers’ ready to carry the torch forward for Saudi Arabian golf.

Not quite old enough to be a ‘father figure’, Othman is content to be the big brother of the Saudi golf family as Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif are emerging as stars in their own making.  

Othman Almulla with his Saudi golfing family Faisal Salhab, left, and Saud Al Sharif. Neville Hopwood

The recent PIF Saudi International saw Faisal and Saud mark their own professional journeys for Saudi golf in a field full of major winners and legendary names such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith.

A big stage indeed.

Saudi’s second and third golf stars have one guy to thank and to aspire to, that big brother Othman, who has guided them through a difficult — and a sometimes solitary — path to the top level in the game, having played together flying the Saudi flag in team events.

“Faisal and Saud, they are my little brothers,” Othman told Golf Digest Middle East. “Golf can be a very individual sport and you are with your own team — physios and coaches, whatever — but you find yourself out there on your own a lot of the time. 

“But to be out on tour with them now as professionals will be super special, we will create the best memories together. My favourite memories in golf so far are with them in team events representing Saudi Arabia around the world in some big championships. The camaraderie and brotherhood has been created over these past years. I think I have been playing with them for almost 10 years and these relationships and friendships are not easy to come by. I truly believe that I am an older brother to them — they really are my two little brothers out here now on the pro circuit and to see them out here chasing a passion that we all share is truly uplifting. 

“I think it is easy to sometimes get stuck in one event, but we now have a very fruitful career ahead of us, all three together and I am very excited about that. This is just the first step, after the partnerships with Golf Saudi and the strides we have taken around the world, and I truly believe the best is yet to come.”

Faisal was quick to praise the ‘big guy’ whom he overshadows, literally, with his bulging biceps, a product of the new revolution taking over golf in the Kingdom. 

“This is another exciting step on our journey and where better to turn professional than in our home country at the Saudi International,” he said.

“It has been a long journey to get to this point but the continued support of Othman and Golf Saudi, the Saudi Golf Federation, my coaching team, and friends and family have made all the difference.

“I want to thank them for everything and hope that I can continue my success in the professional game.”

Othman in action at the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Neville Hopwood

Saud was equally as excited for the future. “Turning professional has been my goal since I first caught the golf bug as a young kid through guys like Othman, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to fully pursue golf as a career,” he said.

“There are so many people to thank but Othman, Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation have been integral to growing the game within the Kingdom and allowing both of us the opportunity to play golf and reach this point.

“I can’t wait to be on the road with Othman and Faisal testing ourselves against the best players and on the best courses, and hope that our story can help others to see and believe they can do the same and follow in our footsteps. As well as winning on the international stage, we each share the dream of inspiring the next generation, and professional golf gives us the platform to do that.”

Hugging his ‘family’, Othman added: “Life on tour is a pretty demanding one, so I’m hoping that I can help the guys avoid some of my mistakes and to do whatever I can to help them overcome some of the early challenges of turning professional.”

The curtain-raiser for Faisal and Saud was not without its tragedy as Othman has to cut short ceremonies at Royal Greens to return to Dammam as his father-in-law passed away on the Tuesday evening. However, he ensured he was back in Jeddah to support his teammates and tee up for the Saudi International by Thursday, with wife Rana’s blessing and encouragement. 

“It was a tough couple of days, but it was important to me to come back,” an emotional Othman said. “It was important to come back and support Saud and Faisal.

“I told my family it was important to come back and put on a brave face. We need to be role models and an inspiration to the Saudi population and that is keeping me strong. 

“I think golf families are the most unsung heroes. My wife is the most supportive and special person I know.” 

When back on the range and greens, Othman attracted more than a few jealous glances as he was sporting a very special set of shoes — the brand new Adidas ZG23s — something even the top pros in the US and across Europe are waiting to get their hands (and feet) on.

“A few of the guys during the pro-am stopped me and said: ‘Whoa, where did you get them?’ I won’t say who, but these are established guys looking at my shoes and casting envious glances, wanting to check them out. 

“I turned pro in 2019, and the guys in Dubai started a conversation in an unofficial capacity as they saw I was always a massive fan of Adidas gear and the relationship started from there. 

“I started wearing some of the best golf gear available and, around two years ago, we got together with an official partnership.  

“I can’t tell you how much I love being an Adidas athlete, as it’s all I remember wearing.”

As understanding as she is, Rana has her limits when it comes to Othman’s attire.  

Neville Hopwood

“My wife gives me a hard time about it as my whole wardrobe is Adidas, and it’s my lifestyle regardless what we are going out to do,” he admitted. 

“To be honest the gear is amazing and that is why I wear it all the time. The shoes are some of the most comfortable involved in the game and the ZG21s, which were the previous versions of the new one, were one of my favourite pairs of golf shoes. 

“The guys began to tease me: ‘Wait to you see what is coming in 2023.’ I was kinda looking around for snippets and previews and couldn’t find anything. Then these arrived at my house and I was like: ‘Wow.’ 

“There are one of the lightest shoes in golf, just like the previous iterations, and it is nice to feel I can go at it as hard as I want I am going to feel super stable and my feet will still be fresh after a round, know what I mean? 

“I won’t go into the tech but all I know is I know they help me play my best golf.” 

The post Brother beyond: Othman Almulla keeps it in the family as Saud and Faisal make professional debuts at Saudi International appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The youngster shot a seven-under 65 on the first day to sit T2, three shots behind leader Joshua Grenville-Wood, who shot a stunning 62 to take a three-stroke lead in the Asian Development Tour event.

Morocco’s Ahmed Marjan and Indonesian Naraajie Ramadhanputra are alongside Saud in joint-second.

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The post Saudi amateur Saud Al Sharif in the hunt at Saudi Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Asian Tour event has already confirmed some big names for its first event in the UK, including Order of Merit leader Sihwan Kim, 2021 No. 1 Joohyung Kim, 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and Thai superkid Ratchanon  Chantananuwat.

The $2 million tournament has now confirmed the Saudi trio as part of the line-up after they played their part in helping Saudi Arabia win the 40th edition of the Arab Golf Championship. It will be a second appearance on the Asian Tour for all three following their participation in the Saudi International in February.

“I’m excited to be competing in the International Series event being held at Slaley Hall,” Almulla said. “To have these opportunities to compete on the world stage against some of the best players in the world is a privilege I cherish. I’m lucky to have the support and guidance of Golf Saudi to help me succeed in my professional golfing career.”

Salhab added: “I’m proud to be competing against some of the best golfers in the world, participating in such tournaments will only make my game better.

“Golf Saudi has done an amazing job in growing the game of golf within the Kingdom and being in this tournament reflects their massive support for us as players. Representing my country internationally means a lot to me and I hope I can do it in the best way.”

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The post Saudi Arabia players Othman Almulla, Faisal Salhab and Saud Al-Sharif set for International Series England appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It has been quite a 12 months for golf in Saudi Arabia as we are already beginning to see some fruit from the investment, training, infrastructure improvements and dedication that Golf Saudi has put into the sport over the past year.

This weekend we saw Othman Almulla, the Kingdom’s first professional golfer, make it through to the weekend of the inaugural Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup — something of a groundbreaking tournament in itself.

This comes on the back of a strong showing from Saudi Arabia at last month’s GCC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi — and an impressive 2021-22 season overall — for the Kingdom’s top players.

The National Team finished second in the six-team GCC event over three rounds at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course.

Faisal Salhab was the stand-out performer for Saudi Arabia, taking second spot in the individual standings to go with his team runners-up medal. Qatar came out on top in that event, while Saleh Al Kaabi of Qatar took individual honours by four shots from Salhab.

There was also an impressive performance from Saudi junior Ali Babtain, taking second position in the individual competition in the UAE, six strokes behind Kuwait’s Salem Alabkal.

The game in Saudi Arabia continues to grow on both a professional and amateur level and this season has already produced a number of impressive results.

Faisal Salhab in action at the Saudi Open

Leading Saudi amateur golfer Faisal Salhab was crowned champion of the sixth edition of the Saudi Open in December, booking a spot at the Saudi International alongside Saud Al Sharif and Almullah, allowing the trio to gain priceless experience alongside some of the best golfers on the planet.

Another highlight towards the end of last year was Al Sharif’s triumphs in the MENA event in Bahrain and then the Jordan Open Golf Championship, prevailing against 85 golfers from 11 countries over three days in Aqaba.

Saud Al Sharif with coach Jamie McConnell

Jamie McConnell, Director of Instruction at Claude Harmon Performance Academy Dubai, coaches amateurs Faisal and Saud — along with helping pro Othman — and is impressed at the advancements he has witnessed in his players and the Saudi game.

“We began working with the Saudi National Team three years ago, with a small group of young, eager men arriving to our academy keen to get to work,” he told Golf Digest Middle East. “At that point the team had a minimal amount of high-level tournament experience and the highest ranked player in the team was approximately 3,000th in the world amateur rankings.

“Our plan was introduce them to regular instruction and long-term planning to help them develop their game, while also exposing them to as many high-level tournaments as possible. This plan would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Golf Saudi who have backed and encouraged the team throughout.

“This support has allowed the team members to compete in tournaments that range from Elite amateur events to some of the highest ranked professional events in the world.

“We have seen Faisal and Saud really separate themselves from the rest of the team and achieve some amazing results in the process. Saud was the first out of the blocks by taking the Amateur win on the MENA tour which took place in Bahrain, and backed this up with another win in Jordan amateur a few months later. Meanwhile Faisal followed swiftly in Saud’s footsteps with a win at the Saudi Invitational and the Pan Arab Championships.

“These results culminated in both players breaking into the top 500 players in the world, and Faisal reaching No. 75 in the WAGR rankings. In a three-year period this is a particularly impressive feat and I think it is safe to say that it is only the beginning.”

The players are also keen to express their gratitude for the support.

“It is a great honour to win this title, especially in light of the great competition and the high-level of competition on show from this weekend’s golfers, which makes this achievement even more extra special for me,” Salhab said after his impressive Saudi Open performance, breaking the course record at Riyadh Golf Club in the process.

“This is all thanks to the continuous support us National Team players receive, whether that’s from the Saudi Golf Federation or Golf Saudi, their backing enhances our chances of performing to the best of our abilities.”

Mohammed Al-Issa, Executive Manager of the Saudi Golf Federation, observed: “We are of course delighted by Faisal’s victory, which confirms the great progress the Saudi National Team has made in recent years.”

As McConnell said, this looks like it is only the beginning.

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The post Saudi golf continues to thrive thanks to support appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

 The 25-year-old has risen to No. 70 in the official World Amateur Golf Rankings on the back of victories at the 6th Saudi Open and 40th Pan Arab Championships in Cairo.

Salhab’s victory in the individual standings at Dreamland Golf Resort in Egypt also spearheaded Saudi Arabia to just its second teams gold medal– by a whopping eight strokes over Qatar.

The victory at the Saudi Open, which included a course record 66 around Riyadh Golf Club, earned Salhab an invite to the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Though he missed the cut by six strokes after rounds of 75-75, the experience gained teeing it up in a field including the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Bubba Watson and eventual champion Harold Varner III cannot be underestimated.

It was Salhab’s third Asian Tour start in as many months and he has been the leading Saudi amateur at each stop: 113th at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship and T109th  at both the Laguna Phuket Championship and the Saudi International. 

 

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A stroke average of 74.83 in his six Asian Tour rounds thus far is a benchmark to work with, just as the eye-catching performances of Ratchanon Chantananuwat are something to aspire to. The Thai 14-year-old amateur has impressively made the cut in all five of his Asian Tour starts thus far, including both Phuket events and the Saudi International where he finished T71.

Salhab is grateful to Golf Saudi for the opportunities to learn at the highest level. 

 “This is all thanks to the continuous support us National Team players receive, whether that’s from the Saudi Golf Federation or Golf Saudi, their backing enhances our chances of performing to the best of our abilities.”

 Saud Al Sharif is up to 371st in the WAGR chiefly on the back of his Jordan Open victory late last year. Al Sharif went on to finish 141st, 130th and 115th at Blue Canyon, Laguna Phuket and Royal Greens respectively. 

 Jamie McConnell, the Director of Instruction at the Claude Harmon Performance Academy Dubai, coaches Al Sharif and is pleased with the progress of the entire Saudi national team.

 “The team have been working exceptionally hard over the last few months with some fantastic results including three victories from Saud and Faisal which was fantastic to see, and more than earned through their hard work and dedication,” said McConnell.

 “I think this year the biggest help has been the schedule that they have been able to play. Mixing a full summer of amateur events with some more recent Asian Tour events allows them to really feel what it is like to play, travel and adapt to different scenarios, climates and courses. This is a huge part of learning to compete at the highest level and I must compliment Golf Saudi on not only backing them to play in these events, but also opening the doors required to do so.”

“The next few months will involve a sit-down review of what we have been through and achieved over the last few months, while also reflecting on what needs to be improved before what will be a hectic period in the late spring and through the summer.” 

The Kingdom’s leading amateurs have pushed Saudi’s pioneering professional Othman Almulla all winter long with the world’s 1697th ranked player recording 113th, 126th and T100 finishes at the two Phuket events and the Saudi International respectively.

Like the amateurs, Almulla continues to work tirelessly towards his dream and posted a poignant message during the Saudi International entitled “keep going”.

 “It will take time; it will take pain; it will break you down and force you to become stronger. But everything you are going through right now will take you to places you could have never imagined. Have faith in your journey and trust in yourself because one day, you will get there. – Walk the Earth.”

golfsaudi.com

The post Faisal Salhab spearheads promising performance surge by Saudi amateurs  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The national amateur team representative captured the 6th Saudi Open on Saturday and did so in some style. A course-record six-under 66 helped him finish 11-under for the 54-hole event at Riyadh Golf Club and win by a whopping five strokes from the Kingdom’s top-ranked amateur Saud Al Sharif who finished T-2 alongside Spaniard Gabriel Sanz and Qatari Ali Al-Shahrani.

The event was open to all professional and amateur golfers in the Middle East and North Africa and saw 88 players from 27 countries compete. The lure was a start in the Feb. 3-6 2022 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, coincidently the start of the 2022 Asian Tour season.

That start is now Salhab’s and means he will tee it up in the same field as 25 of the world’s leading players including two-time defending champion Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Bubba Watson.

RELATED: Schauffele, Scott, Watson and Dufner join returning superstars in star-studded Saudi Int. field

It will be another step up again from his invites to the Asian Tour’s Phuket Series as part of a Saudi delegation.

Salhab in action during the Asian Tour’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship in late November. (Photo Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)

Salhab improved on a +9 (81-72) performance at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship where he finished T-134th in the 144-strong field by placing 109th at the Laguna Phuket Championship the following week with a +6 (73-73) return.

He was the leading Saudi amateur at both Thai events which marked the Asian Tour’s return to action after a 20-month COVID-19 enforced hiatus and saw the pros jockeying to finish inside the top-30 of the Order of Merit to earn starts at the Saudi International.

That race will conclude with a Singapore double-header next month but Salhab needn’t worry about that after securing his place at Riyadh Golf Club. Like all the Saudi players, his development is being fast-tracked by the Asian Tour experiences and there looks likely to be more starts to come after Saudi-financed LIV Golf Investments pumping $200 million into 10 new premier Asian Tour events from 2022.

“It is a great honour to win this title, especially in light of the great competition and the high-level of competition on show from this weekend’s golfers, which makes this achievement even more extra special for me,” Salhab said afterwards.

“This is all thanks to the continuous support us National Team players receive, whether that’s from the Saudi Golf Federation or Golf Saudi, their backing enhances our chances of performing to the best of our abilities. A special thanks must also go to the Golf Saudi agronomy team who have prepared the course here at Riyadh Golf Club incredibly well. Finally, it was fantastic to see so many other players from around the Middle East come to Riyadh to compete, underlining the reputation of the Saudi Open.”

Mohammed Al-Issa, Executive Manager of the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “We have seen some remarkable performances over the past three days. The great concentration and focus of the players contributed to an incredibly exciting competition. We are of course delighted by Faisal’s victory, which confirms the great progress the Saudi National Team has made in recent years. We want to see our players continue to win trophies in 2022, and we will watch Faisal’s progress closely at next year’s Saudi International and we already excited about hosting the seventh edition of the Saudi Open and to welcoming back all of our competitors to the Kingdom once again.”

The Saudi Open is part of a series of events that Golf Saudi holds annually to develop raise awareness of the game in the Kingdom as well as developing home-grown future talent.

Kurtis Clement, Faisal Salhab, Abdulaziz Al Anezi and Mohammed Al-Issa.

The post Amateur Faisal Salhab wins start alongside golf’s biggest stars at Saudi International appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Like most everyone else, at Golf Digest Middle East we’re genuinely excited to see Tiger Woods back on his feet, lighting up social media again – all it took was one swing – and even planting the seeds of a top-level comeback.

About the only thing that would make his annual Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas better would be if the Big Cat was playing himself this week. With that said, the revelations about the seriousness of his Feb. 23 car accident — “I’m lucky to be alive” and “Yeah, it [amputation of his injured leg] was on the table.” — means no one is getting ahead of themselves.

There are still a plethora of PGA Tour superstars teeing it up in New Providence – McIlroy, Koepka, Thomas, Morikawa, DeChambeau etc. etc. – so by all means, enjoy the limited field show and repeated sightings of Tiger.

But if you’re not quite ready for the start of golf’s made-for-TV silly season, there’s a strong argument – and Middle East motives – to switch attention 14,000-odd km away to the $1 million Laguna Phuket Championship.

With the worrying Omicron-enforced demise of the DP World Tour’s South African swing, the second leg of the Asian Tour Phuket Series is the only main tour in full-field action this week.

After its own pandemic enforced shutdown – 20 long and frustrating months – the Asian Tour returned to action with Chan Shih-chang’s victory at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship last week. But it’s what happened on Monday, namely the release of the 25-star players headed to February’s Saudi International – Johnson, DeChambeau, Schauffele, Mickelson, Watson etc. etc. – that has really upped the ante.

To catch you up, the Saudi International has become the Asian Tour’s $5 million, “flagship” season-opener and the 144-players in Phuket this week are all striving to make it to Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Feb. To achieve that a top-30 finish in the final Asian Tour Order of Merit is required so with just three events of this severely disrupted season to play – at Laguna Golf Phuket from tomorrow and a Singapore double-header next month– there’s a lot on the line.

There’s also the prospect of a 2022 schedule not only bolstered by the Saudi International but also 10-new premier events made possible by a $200 million investment by the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Investments.

But that is for next season. Right now, the inaugural Laguna Phuket Championship has plenty of storylines to draw your attention. Here’s eight, with the prospect of more to emerge as the Middle East discovers more about the emboldened circuit on its geographical back doorstep:

Suttijet Kooratanapisan returns to his beloved Laguna Golf Phuket.

The Asian Tour’s original Mr. 59 returns

Suttijet Kooratanapisan is one of 58 Thais in the field but the only one who can claim to be the first Asian Tour player to shoot golf’s mythical number – 59 . The now 34-year-old achieved the feat on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) at the 2017 Singha Phuket Open, notably on the same layout to be used this week, Laguna Golf Phuket. Another Thai, Naras Luangphetcharaporn, is the only other player to shoot 59 in official Asian Tour competition ‒ at the circuit’s 2019 Q-School. There was also lift, clean and place rules in play then but hey, 59 is 59 no matter how you slice and dice it.
“I remember hole No. 7 was a par-5 last time, now it’s a par-4. I loved that because when I shot 59, I made eagle there,” said Kooratanapisan who has one ADT title to his name but is still searching for main tour breakthrough. “This week is a lot harder though as the rough is very long and the fairways are very narrow. It’s not the same as last time. My goal this week is just to play under par every day. Right now my putting is so good.”

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Have we mentioned the precociously talented Thai teen Ratchanon Chantananuwat?

Why yes, yes we have – here and here in the past week – and right here again. So what’s all the fuss about? For starters, the Bangkok schoolboy became the third-youngest player in Asian Tour history to make the cut at last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship. Then he stormed home with a Sunday 65 to finish his Asian Tour debut T-15. Not bad for a 14-year-old. It would be something else if he can make it back-to-back cuts but perhaps no surprise either given he finished second in the Singha Laguna Phuket Open – an All Thailand Golf Tour event – at Laguna Golf Phuket recently. Whatever happens, Chantananuwa looks set to play a big part in the Asian Tour’s suddenly bright future.

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Jordanian trailblazer Shergo Al Kurdi

Followers of MENA Tour will know how critical the regional development circuit has been in the rise and rise of Jordanian teen Shergo Al Kurdi, including an OWGR feat for Middle East and GCC golfers at the opening event of the 2020 MENA Tour season. What Middle East fans may not know is that Al Kurdi turned professional at last week’s Blue Canyon Phuket Championship. Things didn’t quite go as planned, rounds of 76-74 seeing the 18-year-old miss the cut by seven strokes. But with his pro debut out of the way there will be added resolve this week. The three other MENA Tour regulars in the field be looking for better weeks as well; at +2, Englishman David Langley (76-70) was the best performed at Blue Canyon but still three strokes shy of making the weekend. Compatriot Curtis Knipes (75-73) finished +4, a shot worse than Scot Ryan Lumsden (70-77).

Teenager @SHERGOKURDI shares his thoughts ahead of the Laguna Phuket Championship and talks about his hopes to inspire others ?

The 18-year-old ?? became the first Jordanian to tee up on the Asian Tour last week.?@LagunaGolfHKT #LPC2021 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/jKdJFlAi68

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) December 1, 2021

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Saudi stepping-stones

Faisal Al Salhab, H.R.H. Prince Khalid Saud Al Faisal, Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of Golf Saudi, Saud Al Sharif and Othman Almulla.

Saudi Arabia’s investment in the Asian Tour – separate deals incorporating the Saudi International and the 10 new premier events starting 2022 – will help fast-track the development of the Kingdom’s leading players. It won’t be smooth sailing as the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship highlighted with pro Othman Almulla (+4) the best performer. But the only way to learn how to cope at the highest level is to experience the highest level and amateurs Faisal Al Salhab (81-72), Saud Al Sharif  (78-85) and Abdulraham Al Mansour (81-85) will measure improvement by trying to improve on their respective +9, +19 and +22 aggregates. The Saudi trio join Ratchanon Chantananuwat among six amateurs in this week’s field.

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 Tight at the Top

OOM leader Wade Ormsby finished T-23 last week.

Wade Ormsby won the season-opening Hong Kong Open (way back in Jan. 2020) and led the Order of Merit when the Asian Tour shut-down after the Malaysian Open in March 2020. The Aussie still leads the moneylist (US$237,003 ) after a decent T-23 finish at Blue Canyon but it’s getting tight at the top. Blue Canyon champion Chan Shih-chang ($211,775) is up to second while the monster birdie putt Joohyung Kim binned on the 72nd hole Sunday earned the 19-year-old Korean a share of second place and bumped him up to third overall ($194,628).  Who will lead going into the Christmas break and January’s Singapore double-header? Don’t be surprised if it is Kim who won has kicked on from his Asian Tour breakthrough at the 2019 Panasonic Open in India to become the highest-ranked player this week at No. 130 in the OWGR.

Joohyung Kim.

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A little more Jazz

Jazz Janewattananond.

 If there was a genuine shock at last week’s season resumption it was that Jazz Janewattananond, a former MENA Tour winner and the reigning Asian Tour No.1,  missed the cut by four strokes. Count on the Thai getting his bid to become the first back-to-back OOM winner firmly back on track at Laguna. He enters the week in 7th on the moneylist with $113,000.

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Are you not entertained?

So you haven’t paid much attention to the Asian Tour until now and wonder what’s the standard like? Allow us to present Chan Shih-chang’s tee shot on the tricky par-3 14th at Blue Canyon during last Sunday’s final round as an example of the quality shot-making that marked the week.

Accuracy off the tee ?#BCPC2021 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/DGtgD3aK2F

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) November 28, 2021

It was a pivotal laser beam, setting up the Chinese-Taipei 35-year-old for his third Asian Tour title after a five-year title drought on the circuit. So yes, the quality is world-class. Tune in any way you can. You might just be surprised.

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Speedy Sadom Kaewkanjana

Sadom Kaewkanjana.

It seems everything Sadom Kaewkanjana does he does so quickly. Like securing his Tour card at his first attempt via Q-school before becoming the fastest graduate to win on the Asian Tour (at the 2019 Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open)… in his very first Asian Tour start. A 72nd hole bogey scuppered his chances of a second title last week but the eventually second-placed Thai is in sublime form; he’s returned sub-par scores in his last 20 competitive rounds. And he does it all at an impressively giddy pace, as in one of the fastest pro golfers we’ve witnessed on any tour type-cadence. Pull a club, pick a target and pull the trigger. We love it. And Kaewkanjana’s chances this week.

The post Eight (sometimes Middle East) reasons why Phuket, not the Bahamas, deserves your golf attention this week appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The weekend. In professional golf, it’s when the bills get paid, an invisible mark in the calendar that leads to unimaginable riches and potential superstardom or the continued fret of how to pay the mortgage. For Saudi’s pioneering professional Othman Almulla and leading amateur Saud Al Sharif, making the cut at the Saudi International isn’t nearly as critical but the desire to become the first homegrown player to reach the weekend is deeply personal and hugely motivating.

“We are very fortunate to have such a high-profile event in our country and I feel very honoured to be representing Saudi Arabia in a field of such high-quality global golfers,” said Al Sharif.

“This will be my third time playing and each year I gain such invaluable insight into what it takes to be a top golfer.”

RELATED: 3rd Saudi International Preview

With a field headlined by world No.1 Dustin Johnson and the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Tony Finau and Phil Mickelson, not to mention all the European Ryder Cup stars, making the cut at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club is even more difficult than most European Tour events.

Both Almulla and Al Sharif both have a mountain to climb on the evidence of their previous records in King Abdullah Economic City. Almulla carded rounds of 80-81 in 2019 when Johnson won the inaugural title and 75-75 last year when Graeme McDowell reignited his career. Al Sharif also knows the hurdle confronting him after finishing 130th out of 132 players in each of the past two years with rounds of 79-80 in 2019 and 82-73 last year. But there is no lack of effort to reach the summit of his own personal Everest.

“I hope that all the work I have been putting into my game since last year pays off and I can make everyone proud by becoming the first player from the Kingdom to make the cut.”

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Tame the 12th, stroke index 1, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

The post Saudi International: Home grown goals appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Ahead of the 2021 Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, Saudi Arabia National Team coach Jamie McConnell gives exclusive insight into the preparations and form of the three leading Saudi Arabian players competing at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in the $5.3 million European Tour event from Thursday.

Saud Al Sharif

Form
“Saud played the most competitive golf in 2020 out of the three before the first lockdown hit. He won the Amateur prize in Bahrain on the MENA Tour, shooting a phenomenal 66 and also got into a playoff later on in the year in the Bahrain Amateur. It’s been really difficult coaching wise for all the National Team with the restrictions so I’ve been coaching him via Zoom and FaceTime remotely – sending video and training plans to keep him improving and on track. Last week he arrived in Dubai to do a tournament prep week with us and we linked him up with a new caddie, Luke Joy. We pushed him hard to see how we would react and he did brilliantly.  I am excited to see what he does in the tournament.

Strengths
“Ball and distance control is phenomenal. Solid ball striker.”

RELATED: Othman Almulla and Saud Al Sharif will again proudly fly the Saudi flag at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Faisal Salhab

Form
Faisal’s had a really interesting year as has been stuck in Saudi Arabia and been unable to travel and play. We got him a good golf coach from Abu Dhabi called Grant Smith, who joined the Saudi team in Riyadh. Grant’s really inspired him to work harder, practise harder and focus. His invite was quite last minute and he was really working towards 2022 – but we were delighted with the news of his inclusion and he’s really ramped up his preparation since. He’s been at Royal Greens well in advance of the tournament, preparing and building strong momentum for a good showing.

Strengths
Without a doubt, it’s his power. Has a huge amount of swing speed and if he can keep it in play, he will make it a very short golf course indeed.

MORE: How the 3rd Saudi International has already met its remit

Othman Almulla 

Form
“Othman remains the only professional player still in the Kingdom. Like the other guys, he has been working remotely for the year. He went back to Saudi Arabia before the last lockdown and has stayed there since. The last couple of months he has been working hard to make a couple of swing changes which seem to be settling in just in time ahead of this week where his preparation has been really solid. He seems really excited for his career going forward and where he might take his game. Hopefully, this week will give him some momentum for a good year which will pay off in the long run as far for things likes the MENA Tour– it’s an exciting time for him.”

Strengths
An ability to get the ball ‘around’ the course, plays the conditions well and can make a score. He’s very steady and not much phases him out there.

The Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers starts on Thursday with all the action broadcast live on KSA Sports.

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READ MORE:
Bryson DeChambeau’s power could steal the show in Saudi but he’s looking for gains elsewhere
Tame the 12th, stroke index 1, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

The post All you need to know about the three locals teeing it up in this week’s Saudi International appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.