KAEC, Saudi Arabia: Pro golfer and broadcaster Inci Mehmet can’t wait for the start of the first women’s golf tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Arab News caught up with Mehmet, from the UK, after Tuesday’s practice round ahead of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International that is part of the country’s professional women’s golf week.
The Ladies European Tour event offering prize money of $1 million and featuring a full field of 110 players will be held from Nov. 12-15 at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, followed by the Saudi Ladies Team International from Nov. 17-19 in a safe biosecure environment inside the King Abdullah Economic City.
“I’m very excited to be here in Saudi Arabia. For me, the most exciting thing is that we are making history. It will be an honor for whoever tees up for the first time on the first hole — something very special,” she told Arab News.
“Hopefully the season has changed in Saudi Arabia — something that is cool,” said the 23-year-old former junior standout who earned her LET playing card in 2017.
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Mehmet, who represented Surrey and England in tournaments around the world as a junior player, said she didn’t know what to expect in Saudi Arabia.
“First of all, the hotels are all beautiful, and the golf course is stunning as well. It’s playing tough at the outset but quite forgiving off the tee,” she said.
“The real challenge depends on the greens and its surroundings as well. It’s important to keep yourself well hydrated. I will be drinking plenty of water at lots of water stations out there.
“The most important thing in golf is to make the right decisions and really commit to it, and take your time on and around the green,” said Mehmet, whose family background is Turkish and Korean.
Pairings have not been made, but according to Mehmet, a commentator for Sky Sports, players she would like to be with in a group include Laura Davies — “someone we looked up to as a junior” — as well as “my friend” Charlotte Thompson and Swedish major winner Anna Nordqvist.
Mehmet seamlessly goes from the golf course to a studio booth.
She said: “The whole thing is very much an experience, new territory. I think as a player what I’m doing at Sky Sports is give my opinion from a player’s perspective. I’m very lucky that I’ve been there, done that and am still doing it, and that I am able to translate that in the studio.”
In closing, Mehmet said: “The opportunity all of us players have here this week is to provide young women with a platform — someone to look up to and believe that if we can do it, they can do it, too.”
