Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Leading professionals set to inspire and grow the game at Saudi International


Leading professionals set to inspire and grow the game at Saudi International

1 / 2
The 2020 Saudi International will boast the strongest golf line-up on the Middle East swing with world number one Brooks Koepka, above, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Henrik Stenson just some of the global stars playing. (Supplied)
Short Url

https://arab.news/n42uk

Updated 22 January 2020
Follow

Leading professionals set to inspire and grow the game at Saudi International

  • Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki — ‘Anybody can play golf — young or old Saudis can take it up at any stage bringing families and strangers together through sport’
  • Golf Saudi will ensure that 50% of the Saudi population has access to golf facilities within a one-hour drive by 2030
Updated 22 January 2020

JEDDAH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki is predicting a very bright future for golf in Saudi Arabia as the country prepares to once again welcome the world’s top stars to the Kingdom at the end of the month.

After a knockout 2019 of sport for Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom is teeing up more game-changing events this year with golf’s Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, returning to Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) from January 30 — February 2nd.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki, the chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA) of Saudi Arabia, believes the European Tour event, billed as ‘The Ultimate Day Out’, will inspire a new generation of golfing talent and in turn get more Saudis participating in sport.

“Having young Saudi golfers compete against the world’s best creates new role models for sports fans in Saudi Arabia and it’s an exciting time for golf to really take off in the country.

“We are seeing more and more young people take an interest in golf, whether its watching or picking up a club for the first time through the efforts of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi. It’s an addictive game that really hooks people in.”

The 2020 Saudi International will boast the strongest golf line-up on the Middle East swing with world number one Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Henrik Stenson just some of the global stars playing.

They will be joined by Saudi’s top players including Othman Almulla, Saud Alsharif and Faisal Al Salhab who will also be in KAEC competing.

Sporting participation continues to flourish throughout the Kingdom, with young children looking to emulate the football stars of the MBS League (Saudi Pro League) and an increase of female participation in athletics — 76% of under-15s have become ‘active or semi-active’ due to Physical Education in schools.

Golf Saudi will ensure that 50% of the Saudi population has access to golf facilities within a one-hour drive by 2030 with 1 million Saudi nationals also set to try golf for the first time in the next decade.

HRH Prince Abdualziz added: “Anybody can play golf — young or old Saudis can take it up at any stage bringing families and strangers together through sport.”

“A full family could take up golf together, a father, mother, son and daughter can all play against each other in the same game, or groups of friends can get involved at local clubs.

“Just look at the Championships at the end of the month where we will see our bright hope 20-year-old Saud Alsharif facing legends of the global game like Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, who have been playing golf for decades – it’s incredible how diverse the sport is and how much you can learn from it.”

“Sport has a unique power to educate people, golf teaches so many values which you can take from the course into everyday life, whether it’s a classroom or a working environment – characteristics like discipline, concentration and resilience.”

Echoing the Prince is top golfing amateur Turki Al Hussain, part of the Saudi National team, who took the sport up at a young age and now combines his golf alongside a job in the banking sector.

“When I was young I was playing tennis and my father said ‘why not try golf so you can play both’ so I started playing twice a week and then I met the Saudi team coach and he asked me to join and then I kept going.

“I have seen many young people playing golf, men and women and I think golf is becoming big with more courses. Golf is a good sport to be in with a good environment and it’s a chance to meet other people.”

Fans of all ages can enjoy the Saudi International four-day sporting spectacular which promises fun for all the family and ‘The Ultimate Day Out’. The tournament is placing a special focus on developing the country’s future golfing pedigree, and is encouraging children, men and women to come along and give golf a try.

While the live golf will take center-stage, the off-course spectator village will run in tandem throughout and be packed with interactive, family fun experiences, plus a delicious selection of food trucks and pop-ups.

Once the sun sets, three days of golf will be followed by unforgettable live concerts. Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, Belgian born DJ duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Grammy Award–winning DJ Zedd, flamenco favorites the Gipsy Kings and Puerto Rican music sensation Luis Fonsi – the man behind global megahit ‘Despacito’ — will all take to the stage across tournament weekend.

Tickets are now on sale for the Saudi International, priced at 50 SAR per day or 160 SAR for a full tournament pass (four days). Exclusive concert tickets will be available soon.

For more tournament information, visit www.saudiinternational.com

Topics: Saudi International Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki

Related

Sport
Ryder Cup legend Garcia has Saudi International in his sights
Lifestyle
From Bryan Adams to Dimitri Vegas, Saudi international unveils stellar lineup of performers

Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s claims of not paying dues

Updated 16 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s claims of not paying dues

  • Jason Gillespie recently said PCB had not paid him his dues for his nine-month coaching stint
  • PCB says Gillespie “abruptly” left his position without giving a four-month notice period
Updated 16 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently rejected claims by former head coach Jason Gillespie that he had not been paid his dues, clarifying that the ex-Australian cricketer breached the terms of his contract and left his position “abruptly.” 

Former fast bowler Gillespie took up the coaching assignment in April 2024 but stepped down in December due to disagreements with the PCB. Since resigning from the role, Gillespie has been an outspoken critic of the PCB, criticizing the board for what he described was its short-sightedness and accusing current interim white-ball coach Aqib Javed of interfering in his job. 

When asked during a recent interview with a local sports platform about his relationship with the PCB, Gillespie wished the board well but said he was still waiting for it to pay him his dues for the coaching job. 

“The Pakistan Cricket Board refutes claims made by a former head coach on the non-payment of his dues,” the PCB said in a statement on Sunday. “The PCB spokesman states that the former head coach abruptly left his position without giving a four month notice period, which was a clear breach of the contractual terms.”

The board said Gillespie’s coaching contract “explicitly mentioned” a notice period applicable to both parties, adding that the former coach was “fully aware of it.”

Earlier this month, Gillespie’s comments during an interview made headlines when he revealed that his time with the PCB had a negative impact on his passion for coaching cricket. 

“The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest,” Gillespie said. “I’ll get it back, I’m sure I will, but that was really a blow.”

The former fast bowler said he had been disappointed with how his coaching stint with Pakistan ended. 

“It’s had me question whether I want to coach full time again,” he said.

Pakistan cricket analysts and critics have slammed the PCB for appointing a plethora of coaches, selectors and captains over the past few years, blaming the increasing instability within the board as the main reason for the national cricket team’s recent dismal performances. 

Topics: Pakistan Cricket Board Jason Gillespie

Barcelona take a commanding 4-1 lead over Chelsea in Women’s Champions League semifinals series

Updated 21 April 2025
AP
Follow

Barcelona take a commanding 4-1 lead over Chelsea in Women’s Champions League semifinals series

  • Romeu: There’s huge evidence in soccer that you can’t ever rely on a first-leg lead. We are going to have a beautiful battle over there at Stamford Bridge”
  • Chelsea will host the return semifinal leg next Sunday and the winner on aggregate will advance to the final in Lisbon next month
Updated 21 April 2025
AP

BARCELONA, Spain: Barcelona recovered from a missed penalty by Alexia Putellas to take a commanding 4-1 lead over Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League semifinals on Sunday.

Putellas had her penalty kick saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton in the 12th minute but the Catalan club rallied with a pair of goals by substitute Claudia Pina and one each from Ewa Pajor and Irene Paredes.

Sandy Baltimore scored for Chelsea.

“No winning scoreline is enough,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said. “There’s huge evidence in soccer that you can’t ever rely on a first-leg lead. We are going to have a beautiful battle over there at Stamford Bridge.”

Chelsea will host the return semifinal leg next Sunday and the winner on aggregate will advance to the final in Lisbon next month.

It was the eighth straight win for defending champion Barcelona in the European women’s competition. It has scored 40 goals across those eight consecutive wins since losing 2-0 to Manchester City.

Barcelona and Chelsea are meeting in the last four for the third consecutive season. Barcelona has advanced each time.

“I still believe in my team and my players, 100 percent,” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said. “It’ll be difficult, but the main goal is to score early in the return leg. In football everything is possible, so let’s try to win the game and, if we score early, maybe we can put Barcelona under pressure.”

Pajor opened the scoring in the 35th and Pina added to the lead in the 70th, not long after entering the match.

Baltimore pulled the visitors closer four minutes later, but Paredes gave Barcelona a two-goal lead again in the 82nd.

Pina added a fourth in the 90th at the Johan Cruyff stadium.

“When I’m on the bench, we’ve already spent a whole week analyzing a rival like Chelsea,” Pina said. “You have lots of ideas in your head. When the game goes on, you progress those ideas and look at where your teammates are already creating gaps in the opponents’ defense.”

In the other semifinal series, Lyon weathered a second-half rally by Arsenal to claim a 2-1 away win on Saturday, putting the record eight-time champions on course for another Women’s Champions League title match.

Topics: UEFA Women’s Champions League Women’s Champions League Barcelona Chelsea

Related

Sport
Chelsea to face Barcelona in Women’s Champions League semis after Man City fightback
Sport
Arsenal stage 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid, set up Women’s Champions League semifinal against Lyon

Justin Thomas ends 3-year drought with playoff victory in RBC Heritage

Updated 21 April 2025
AP
Follow

Justin Thomas ends 3-year drought with playoff victory in RBC Heritage

  • In the playoff, Novak missed from just inside 35 feet, setting the stage for Thomas
  • The putt was so pure that Thomas dropped his putter before the ball dropped, stooping over and clutching both arms to celebrate a win that felt long overdue
  • His previous win was the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May of 2022
Updated 21 April 2025
AP

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.:Justin Thomas ended nearly three years without a victory Sunday by making a birdie putt from just outside 20 feet in a playoff at Harbor Town to beat Andrew Novak in the RBC Heritage.

Thomas played bogey-free in dry, fast conditions for a 3-under 68, making a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th that looked like it might be the winner until Novak, who grew up in South Carolina, matched him with a big birdie of his own for a 68.

Novak, who has had three good chances to win in his last 14 tournaments, had an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation that was left all the way.

In the playoff, Novak missed from just inside 35 feet, setting the stage for Thomas. The putt was so pure that Thomas dropped his putter before the ball dropped, stooping over and clutching both arms to celebrate a win that felt long overdue.

His previous win was the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May of 2022. His game slipped and he missed the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in 2023, and he was left off the Presidents Cup team a year ago.

His game was back in order — he cracked the top 10 again — and needed only a victory to confirm his game was back among the elite.

“I didn’t realize how much I missed winning,” Thomas said on the 18th green as he stood next to wife Jill and 5-month-old daughter Molly.

Thomas and Novak finished at 17-under 267, three shots clear of anyone else.

Novak was a runner-up in Bermuda last fall. He was right there at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open. He was in the mix at the Valero Texas Open. And this looked like it might be his moment to break through until Thomas refused to be denied.

“Winning is hard. It’s really, really hard,” Thomas said with a tinge of emotion in his voice. “I’ve worked my butt off and stayed patient, stayed positive.”

He won for the 16th time on the PGA Tour, and to his recollection, he has never had to make a putt of length on the 18th hole to win by a shot.

“That was as fun as I thought it would be,” Thomas said.

They pulled away in the middle of the round from a tight leaderboard — a four-way tie at one point as they were joined by 54-hole leader Si Woo Kim and Maverick McNealy.

Daniel Berger closed with a 65 to tie for third with McNealy (70), Mackenzie Hughes (67) and Brian Harman (69).

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler even got in on the act, just briefly. He started four shots behind and was even for the round through eight holes. But he ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn to pull within two.

Scheffler was running out of hole when he took on a high-risk shot needing eagle to have a legitimate chance. That found the water, leading to double bogey. He still shot 70 and tied for eighth, his third straight top 10 while contending into the final hour.

“I think I’m really close,” Scheffler said. “I feel like I did a lot of things well this week, just a few of the important shots I just didn’t pull off. Outside of that it was a pretty solid week.”

Thomas won the tournament with a birdie in a playoff. He saved his chances toward the end of the front nine when he made four straight putts starting on the fifth hole — 7 feet for birdie, 7 feet for par, 8 feet for par and just inside 15 feet for birdie on No. 8, where he took on the trees with a 7-iron to give himself a chance.

Novak had tree trouble and battled away, getting a few good bounces and a remarkable par save from a sandy lie amidst a forest on No. 11.

He moves high enough in the world ranking — inside the top 35 — that he should be a lock for the US Open and now needs to stay in the top 50 the next month for the British Open.

“I’m not as frustrated as I thought I would be.” Novak said. “I feel like I did a lot of good things. I’m pretty proud of putting myself in that position when I really felt like I wasn’t swinging it that great this week.

“I thought I was a little more comfortable down the stretch than maybe I have been in the past. Justin just went out and won it. There’s nothing you can really do about it.”

Topics: RBC Heritage Justin Thomas

Related

Sport
Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbor Town
Golf
Justin Thomas looking to find results as he defends PGA Championship title

Rune upsets Alcaraz in straight sets to win Barcelona Open

Updated 21 April 2025
AP
Follow

Rune upsets Alcaraz in straight sets to win Barcelona Open

  • Alcaraz will lose his No. 2 ranking to Alexander Zverev, who won his third Munich title on Sunday
  • It was the first ATP tour-level final between two players aged 21-and-under since 2022. Both are 21
Updated 21 April 2025
AP

BARCELONA, Spain: Holger Rune upset home-crowd favorite Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets on Sunday to win the Barcelona Open for his first title since 2023.

Rune defeated the Spaniard 7-6 (6), 6-2 for his first title since winning in Munich two years ago, and fifth overall. It was the Dane’s first ATP 500 title.

“It means the world, it was such a great match,” Rune said. “In the beginning, I was a little bit stressed, because Carlos obviously plays big-time tennis. I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm. After he broke me, I got more into the match and played my tennis. The first set was a big battle, it was super important to win it and gain the momentum. I’m so proud of myself.”

Alcaraz was coming off a nine-match winning streak that included his first Monte Carlo Masters title last weekend. He was searching for his third title of the year and 19th of his career. He won the Barcelona Open in 2022 and 2023.

Rune, runner-up to Jack Draper at Indian Wells, rallied from a break down in the opener and converted his fourth set point. He cruised in the second set against Alcaraz, who twice needed treatment on his upper right leg.

“I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave,” Rune said.

Alcaraz will lose his No. 2 ranking to Alexander Zverev, who won his third Munich title on Sunday.

“Congratulations Holger on an amazing week,” Alcaraz said. “Coming here and showing a great effort to make the people enjoy watching tennis, I appreciate that. We’ve been seeing each other since (we were) 12 years old. Time flies. I’m really happy to see us in this position, how far we’ve (come). Keep going.”

It was the first ATP tour-level final between two players aged 21-and-under since 2022. Both are 21.

By reaching the final in Barcelona, Rune secured a return to the top 10. He will move up to No. 9. The sixth seed in Barcelona, Rune had been forced to retire from his Monte Carlo opener with food poisoning.

The Madrid Open starts Monday.

Topics: Barcelona Open Holger Rune Carlos Alcaraz

Related

Tennis
Nadal returns to action with easy win over Cobolli in first round of Barcelona Open
Tennis
Alcaraz cruises to opening victory at Barcelona Open

Leverkusen’s hopes of a 2nd consecutive Bundesliga title fade with draw at St. Pauli

Updated 21 April 2025
AP
Follow

Leverkusen’s hopes of a 2nd consecutive Bundesliga title fade with draw at St. Pauli

  • Patrik Schick put Leverkusen ahead in the first half but Carlo Boukhalfa equalized in the 78th to leave the defending champion eight points behind Bayern Munich with four rounds remaining
Updated 21 April 2025
AP

AUGSBURG, Germany: Bayer Leverkusen’s hopes of a second consecutive Bundesliga title faded with a 1-1 draw at St. Pauli on Sunday.
Patrik Schick put Leverkusen ahead in the first half but Carlo Boukhalfa equalized in the 78th to leave the defending champion eight points behind Bayern Munich with four rounds remaining.
Bayern, which beat Heidenheim 4-0 on Saturday, could clinch the title on Saturday if it beats Mainz and Leverkusen loses to Augsberg.
Last season, Leverkusen completed an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga season for its first Germany league title — and also went unbeaten to lift the German Cup.
Dortmund wins after Champions League elimination
Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-2 in Dortmund’s first game since its Champions League elimination.
Dortmund scored three goals in the space of nine minutes to turn the game around just before halftime.
Fresh off scoring a hat trick against Barcelona on Tuesday, Serhou Guirassy leveled the score in the 41st off Pascal Gross’ cross following Ko Itakura’s opener for Moenchengladbach.
Felix Nmecha made it 2-1 off a cross from Yan Couto soon after. Daniel Svensson added a third in the fifth minute of first-half added time with a looping header on the rebound when a Guirassy shot was saved.
Kevin Stoger pulled one back for Moenchengladbach with a second-half penalty.
On-loan Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka played a prominent role in the buildup to all three of Dortmund’s goals after missing the Barcelona loss with injury.
Augsburg rescues a point
A last-second clearance from Cédric Zesiger rescued a point for Augsburg in a 0-0 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt that set back both teams’ efforts to qualify for European competition next season.
Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff seemed certain to score after dribbling past defender Zesiger and goalkeeper Finn Dahmen but Zesiger sprinted back and slid to block Knauff’s shot in front of an unguarded net.
Augsburg nearly took the win in the final minutes but Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp reacted quickly to push Phillip Tietz’s shot around the post.
Frankfurt stays third but has won just four of 12 Bundesliga games since forward Omar Marmoush left for Manchester City in January as teams behind have gained ground. Augsburg is 10th and in a midtable battle for the lower European places.

Topics: Bundesliga Bayer Leverkusen St. Pauli

Related

Sport
Bayern fail to make most of Leverkusen slip with Dortmund draw
Sport
Bayern survive St. Pauli scare to stay on course for Bundesliga title

Latest updates

Pakistan to start vaccination process for Hajj pilgrims from today
Russia launches missiles, drones as Putin’s Easter ceasefire ends, Ukraine says
Vance in India for tough talks on trade
Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s claims of not paying dues
COMSTECH to host sixth OIC steering committee meeting in Islamabad from Apr. 22-24 

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.