Bahrain all set for top-class golf!

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A grand opening ceremony was held last night for the Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies, being held under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

HM the King delegated His Majesty’s humanitarian work and youth affairs representative and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa to attend the inauguration, held at The Royal Golf Club.

Also in attendance was SCYS first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) president and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, along with a number of high-ranking officials.

The opening kicked off the event in style, marking the return to the Kingdom of the DP World Tour for the first time in 13 years.

HH Shaikh Nasser said that hosting the prestigious tournament and the DP World Tour is evidence of the distinguished position the Kingdom occupies as a world-class destination for sporting events.

HH Shaikh Nasser added that the competition is an embodiment of the directives of HM the King to host various major international sporting occasions.

HH Shaikh Nasser noted that, by holding such events featuring elite golfers from around the world, the game of golf in the Kingdom will benefit greatly in popularity as well as enhance the experience of local players in developing their game.

HH Shaikh Nasser expressed his sincere thanks to the organising partners, the Ministry of Tourism, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, the GSA, the BOC, Bapco Energies and all other relevant parties.

Appreciation

HH Shaikh Khalid expressed his highest thanks and appreciation to HM the King for his generous support of the tournament, which is an extension of the unwavering care given by HM the King to sports in Bahrain.

HH Shaikh Khalid stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to attract the largest sporting events in various sports, in keeping with royal directives aimed at strengthening the country’s position on the global stage.

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley also attended the opening ceremony, which featured a colourful programme showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bahrain.

A long list of some of the world’s biggest stars in golf are set to compete in the Kingdom over four days, starting tomorrow and continuing until Sunday.

The Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies has a prize fund of $2.5 million, with 500 Race to Dubai ranking points on offer for the winner.

It is the fourth of eight events on the International Swing, the second of five Global Swings as part of the 2024 Race to Dubai.

The last time the DP World Tour visited Bahrain was in 2011, when Paul Casey claimed a oneshot victory over Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Volvo Golf Champions.

Stars taking part in this year’s tournament include former Ryder Cup Captain and 15-time DP World Tour winner Thomas Bjorn; fellow Dane Rasmus Hojgaard who has four DP World Tour wins to his name; the Spanish trio of Jorge Campillo, Pablo Larrazabal and Adrian Otaegui who have 16 DP World Tour wins between them; and South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli, a PGA Tour and two-time DP World Tour winner.

Bahrain also has three participants, including Fahad Abdulla Sultan Mubarak, Ahmed Al Zayed and Khalifa Al Meraisi.