BAHRAIN: The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship welcomes a stellar field to Royal Golf Club this week as the third edition of the tournament tees off from Thursday, Jan. 29 to Sunday, Feb. 1.

Held under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the $2.75 million DP World Tour event features defending champion Laurie Canter, past winner Dylan Frittelli and major champions Padraig Harrington, Patrick Reed — fresh from his victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic — and Sergio Garcia in a field packed with international talent.

South African Frittelli, who claimed victory when the tournament returned to the DP World Tour in 2024, is relishing the prospect of returning to a venue that holds fond memories.

“I love it,” Frittelli said. “Obviously, I won the tournament two years ago. I’ve got fond memories of the golf course, but I really do enjoy the country as well. I stayed in the city the first year, and then last year I managed to stay on the Arabian Gulf — beautiful ocean, beautiful beach, and wonderful resort.

“I also love the cool aircraft flying over — some military helicopters — I’m an aviation guy, so on the golf course I’m often just staring up at those. It’s a wonderful place and I can’t wait to go back there.”

Jayden Schaper arrives in the Kingdom as the current leader in the Race to Dubai rankings. The 24-year-old South African has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026 season and is eager to continue his momentum on a course he knows well.

“I’ve played there the last two years and it’s a really cool place to be,” Schaper said. “The golf course is just pretty cool. It’s got a lot of character, and the weather conditions are always tougher when you get out there. There’s a lot more slope than what we’re used to, but it’s a good track. The tournament is part of a big few weeks of golf across the Middle East and I’m looking forward to getting back there — Bahrain is definitely a place I’d like to get out and see a bit more of.”

Germany’s Marcel Siem, a six-time DP World Tour winner, is also looking forward to the return to Bahrain — the third of four events in the Middle East as part of the tour’s international swing.

“It’s always a fantastic stretch — the Middle East stretch, Siem said. “It’s easy travelling and having Bahrain the third one in a row, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great golf course. It’s most of the time quite windy there as well, a bit windier than in Dubai.

“The players’ lounge is great, the facilities are great, the golf course itself is really fun to play. It’s a risk and reward golf course, a little bit, which suits me. Really looking forward to it.”

The field includes Spain’s Nacho Elvira, who won the Dubai Invitational two weeks ago, France’s Julien Guerrier, and rising stars such as 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Martin Couvra and Spain’s Angel Hidalgo. Three Bahraini golfers — Ahmed Al-Zayed, Khalifa Al-Maraisi and Ali Al-Kowari — will also compete after earning their places through the national qualifying pathway, showing the growth of the game in the kingdom.