Golf champions Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson to return for Saudi International tournament

World number one Brooks Koepka has confirmed their return to the Saudi International golf tournament. (Supplied)
Updated 08 October 2019
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Golf champions Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson to return for Saudi International tournament

  • Johnson and Koepka will return to the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Jan. 30, 2020
  • Koepka praised the tournament, calling it the “best” he has played in the region

JEDDAH: Defending champion Dustin Johnson and world No. 1 Brooks Koepka have confirmed their return to the Saudi International, a European Tour event, which takes place in King Abdullah Economic City at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. 

World No. 3 Johnson, raced to a two-shot victory to claim his first regular European Tour title at the inaugural championship earlier this year, using it as a springboard for further dominant displays this season.

After winning in Saudi Arabia, the 35-year-old American captured his sixth World Golf Championship by four strokes at the WGC-Mexico Championship, recorded runner-up finishes at the Masters and the PGA Championship and chalked up three further top 10 finishes.

He will be joined in the Kingdom by Koepka, who will return to Royal Greens Golf & Country Club after another stellar season that has seen him claim a fourth major title at the US PGA Championship, in addition to a maiden WGC title at the Fed-Ex St. Jude Classic.

The tournament, which will feature on the European Tour schedule for the second year in 2020, continues to showcase its intent to become a leading event on the golfing calendar. Johnson and Koepka are the first global stars to join the field, which will compete for a prize fund of $3.5 million.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Golf Saudi, said: “Dustin and Brooks are two of the best players in the world and we are extremely pleased to welcome them back to the Kingdom. Last year was the first step toward realizing our dream of opening Saudi Arabia up to the world and showcasing the beginnings of our vision for the country. Royal Greens Golf & Country Club proved to be an impressive host venue last year and we are excited to be welcoming back more of the world’s best players to King Abdullah Economic City in January.”

Johnson, who fired a course-record round of 61 en-route to victory, said: “I really enjoyed my trip to Saudi Arabia early this year and my game certainly suited the layout at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. I have very good memories from the week and look forward to defending my title next year. It’s great to see how Golf Saudi has strengthened its commitment to create a world-class golf event and its plans to grow golf in the region are in full swing. It’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Koepka, a four-time major champion, said: “I’m excited to be returning to Saudi Arabia, after an enjoyable visit early this year. The golf course is one of the best I’ve played in the region, with incredible scenery, including some breathtaking views of the Red Sea. The event is an opportunity to showcase the work being done to grow the game of golf in the Kingdom, which was evidenced by the enthusiastic fans last year. It is great to be involved with the initiative and I look forward to seeing the progress Golf Saudi has made in the past year.”

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club lies along the spectacular Red Sea coastline and boasts a championship golf course, state-of-the-art clubhouse and world-class practice facilities, alongside stunning residential and recreational facilities.

Aiming to attract the best players in the world, the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers will place a special focus on families, community, charity and junior development as the Kingdom looks to develop its golfing pedigree.


Kane scores as Bayern deliver comeback romp over Leipzig

Updated 17 January 2026
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Kane scores as Bayern deliver comeback romp over Leipzig

  • The victory restores Bayern’s 11-point lead atop the ladder over second-placed Borussia Dortmund
  • Leipzig took a first-half lead through Romulo, but Bayern kicked into gear after the break

LEIPZIG, Germany: Harry Kane scored his 21st goal of the Bundesliga season as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 5-1 at RB Leipzig on Saturday.
The victory restores Bayern’s 11-point lead atop the ladder over second-placed Borussia Dortmund, while continuing their record-breaking campaign.
Unbeaten Bayern have dropped just four points on their way to a record-equalling tally of 50 after 18 games. Bayern’s total of 71 goals scored is also a record at this stage of a German league season.
Leipzig took a first-half lead through Romulo, but Bayern kicked into gear after the break, Serge Gnabry, Kane, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Michael Olize all scoring.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said Leipzig were “twice as good as we were” in the opening half, adding “but in the second-half — my god, the boys delivered.
“We weren’t afraid and we really went for it.”
Leipzig goalscorer Romulo said “we played 75 minutes really on top, then I don’t know what happened, we turned off our minds. We have to learn something out of that.”
Leipzig were strong early and broke through after 20 minutes when Romulo snuck past Bayern’s Tah to poke in an Antonio Nusa pass from close range.
The hosts were undone in the simplest fashion just after half-time. Dayot Upamecano picked Christoph Baumgartner’s pocket and fed Gnabry, who guided the ball into the bottom corner.
Bayern took the lead after 67 minutes, once again thanks to a Leipzig mistake.
Olize’s floated cross looked harmless until Ridle Baku lost his footing, allowing an unmarked Kane time and space to blast home.
With Leipzig’s resistance broken, Tah, Pavlovic and Olize all scored in the final 10 minutes, while Jamal Musiala returned late off the bench after a six-month injury absence.

- Can rescues Dortmund -
Earlier, an Emre Can penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time saved Borussia Dortmund’s blushes in a 3-2 home win against lowly St. Pauli.
In the dying moments, VAR found a foul on Germany forward Maximilian Beier, bringing Dortmund captain Can to the spot.
“What a rollercoaster ride,” Can told Sky Germany.
“We need to do much better to settle things down and to convert our chances,” he added.
The hosts overcame a poor first half when Julian Brandt tapped in from close range just before the break. Having created the opener, Karim Adeyemi gave Dortmund a two-goal buffer in the 54th minute, converting a Fabio Silva assist.
Rock-bottom St. Pauli had won just once since September but fought back into the game when James Sands and Ricky-Jade Jones scored inside 10 minutes midway through the second half to stun the hosts.
Deep into stoppage time, Jones caught Beier on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Can to convert nervelessly from the spot.
Elsewhere, Hoffenheim’s Wouter Burger scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over flailing Bayer Leverkusen to climb past Leipzig into third in the table.
Burger swung in an excellent free-kick after nine minutes to give the hosts the three points.
“That was an important one,” Burger said of his free-kick. “I was practicing them a bit this morning.”
Relegation candidates last season, Hoffenheim are on track to qualify for Europe’s top competition for just the second time in their history, having last done so under now-Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann in 2017/18.
Leverkusen have now lost four of their past six, falling three points behind the Champions League placings.
Cologne beat Mainz 2-1 at home, Wolfsburg played out a 1-1 home draw with Heidenheim and hosts Hamburg were held to a scoreless draw by Borussia Moenchengladbach.