Local players set for unique experience at Bahrain Championship

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies promises to be spectacle of world-class golf as the DP World Tour returns to the Royal Golf Club February 1 to 4.

Golf fans will get a bird’s eye view of star names such as Ryder Cup legend Thomas Bjørn and multiple winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Rasmus Hojgaard and Pablo Larrazabal plying their trade.

But while the big guns go in quest of glory, the tournament will also provide an opportunity for the region’s best homegrown players to gain essential experience playing alongside some of the most talented players on the planet.

Saudi’s Khalid Walid Attieh qualified after an impressive seven-stroke victory in the Bahrain Amateur Open while Fahad Abdulla Sultan Saleh Mubarak also bagged a spot alongside the DP World Tour’s finest after finishing as the leading Bahraini in the same tournament.

“I’m extremely excited to participate in the upcoming Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies at the Royal Golf Club,” said Mubarak.

“I’m proud to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain, and in particular the Bahrain Ministry of Interior, and I cannot wait to enjoy the support of the local crowds.

“I would like to thank the Bahrain Golf Association for awarding me this opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world, and my coach, Jamie Elson, for giving me the confidence to do so. “I would also like to thank and congratulate everybody at the Royal Golf Club who has been working so hard to deliver this event.

The golf course has rapidly improved over the past few months, and it will be a great challenge to play it under tournament conditions. I’m sure the professionals will be hugely impressed with its quality.

“I’m sure this tournament will be a catalyst for the growth of the game here in Bahrain, and, more than anything, I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Mubarak will be joined by Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Rashid, the leading Bahraini at the King Hamad Trophy, and fellow countryman Khalifa Mohamed Khalifa who earned his spot courtesy of a victory at the 2024 National Team Qualifying tournament while UAE professional Joshua Grenville Wood also received an invite to tee it up at the star-studded event.

“I’m very excited to participate in the Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies as an amateur player from the Bahrain National Team,” said Rashid. “I can’t wait to play with the DP World Tour professionals who are coming over to Bahrain.

I would like to thank the Royal Golf Club for hosting such a great tournament and the Bahrain Golf Association for the opportunity they provided to the best Bahraini players in the King Hamad Trophy Championship.

“I’m looking forward to playing at the Royal Golf Club, the course is in great condition.” Daji Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Golf Association said: “This tournament represents a huge opportunity for our National Team players to play alongside some of the best players in the world and have a close look on how these players manage shooting low scores day in-day out.

No doubt that our three Bahraini players have sound games, but this opportunity will help them to enhance their games, learning new skills, especially around the greens, as well as improving their course management. It will also encourage other elite Bahraini golfers to work hard on their games to have the same opportunity in future years.”

General admission to the Bahrain Championship is free of charge for spectators, with over 3,500 people already registered to attend.

There are also a host of premium experiences available and while Early Bird tickets are now sold out, they can still be purchased at a special promotional rate.

All tickets will include access to the tournament’s Village Square, which will boast a wealth of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Little ones will be entertained in the Kids Zone with face painting, glitter stations and roaming entertainers, while live music from local bands, free golf lessons, food trucks and an activation dedicated to Bahraini culture will ensure fans enjoy the off-course action just as much as the thrilling golf on offer at Royal Golf Club.