RIYADH: Golf Saudi is probably the best in the world at what it does in terms of impact, influence and resources, Scott O’Neil, the CEO of LIV Golf, told Arab News during an exclusive interview at Riyadh’s ongoing tournament.
The highly anticipated launch of the 2025 LIV Golf League is taking place at Riyadh until Feb. 8 and the PIF Saudi Ladies International from Feb. 13-15.
LIV Golf was held in Jeddah in previous years, but O’Neil said the decision had been taken to have the event in Riyadh as it is “the center of commerce” and “one of the most important cities in the world.”
He added: “So, whenever you get a chance to take the best players in the world to one of the best cities in the world (you do), and we’ve had incredible corporate support.
“This is a city that understands hospitality and understands big events and how to make stars feel like stars.”
Known as “The Oasis of the Capital,” Riyadh Golf Club is one of the greenest spots in the city, surrounded by lush landscapes.
O’Neil sees a bright future for the Kingdom’s golf sector and highlights the variety of venues dedicated to golf in Diriyah, NEOM, and Qiddiya, and its role in increasing physical activity, a pillar in the Kingdom’s Quality of Life Program. He said: “As one of the world’s great teachers (golf), teaching all these incredible values, but also getting us all up and moving, as a sport of movement, this is wonderful.
“We’re very engaged in the impact we could have, both in terms of sustainability and the impact with children. So I think we're very consistent and hopefully we can do our part.”
Saudi golfer Khalid Walid Attieh, the first amateur player from the country to make the cut in an elite professional tournament, told Arab News about his insights into the future of golf in the Kingdom.
He said: “Being a pioneer in golf, I’ve seen the game grow in Saudi over the last few years, but also the view of the game from the Saudi people and the infrastructure that has been implemented by Golf Saudi and the Saudi Federation.
“They really have created a beautiful atmosphere for people to come and start playing golf, whether it’s just for social or juniors.”
The PIF Saudi Ladies International will have top players competing for a share of $5 million prize money — the biggest non-Major prize fund on the Ladies European Tour.
The season-opening $20-million LIV Golf Riyadh includes US megastars Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Golf Saudi ambassador Dustin Johnson.
The Riyadh tournaments also feature fan zones, food festivals, and fairs. Each day of the tournament also features musical performances from Backstreet Boys, DJ Snake, and Egyptian pop star Tamer Hosny.
Golf Saudi is the best in the world, says LIV Golf CEO
https://arab.news/8zqxh
Golf Saudi is the best in the world, says LIV Golf CEO
- Scott O’Neil speaks to Arab News in exclusive interview
Saudi Arabia back on track for World Cup after victory over 10-man China
- Salem Al-Dawsari’s goal early in the second half moved Herve Renard’s men into 3rd spot in their qualifying group, a point behind 2nd-place Australia
- The Aussies’ 5-1 win over Indonesia earlier in the day put more pressure on the Saudis, who had picked up only 2 points from their past 4 games
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia defeated 10-man China 1-0 in Riyadh on Thursday to get their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign back on track.
Salem Al-Dawsari’s goal early in the second half moved Herve Renard’s men into third place in Group C, a point behind Australia in the battle for the second automatic qualification spot, and three clear of Indonesia, Bahrain and China.
Japan defeated Bahrain 2-0 to remain nine points clear at the top of the group with three games to play, and become the first nation to clinch qualification for the tournament.
Australia’s 5-1 win over Indonesia earlier in the day had piled more pressure on the Saudis, who knew that after collecting just two points from their past four qualification games, and with a trip to a dominant Japan coming up on Tuesday, only a victory would do.
As expected, the Green Falcons made most of the running, and midway through the first half they came within millimeters of taking the lead. Al-Dawsari slipped the ball to Nawaf Boushal on the left side of the area and the Al-Nassr star curled a shot that bounced back off the underside of the crossbar.
Eight minutes before the break the home team came even closer. In fact, midfielder Faisal Al-Ghamdi had the ball in the back of the net after bundling a Musab Al-Juwayr cross home from close range. However, the celebrations were cut short as the video assistant referee had spotted a handball by Al-Ghamdi.
China were reduced to 10 men in first-half added time when Lin Liangming was red-carded for a tackle on Hassan Kadesh that resulted in the defender, the two-goal hero of Saudi Arabia’s victory over China in September, being carried from the pitch.
Five minutes after the break, Al-Dawsari broke the deadlock when he scored the team’s first goal for 410 minutes in the qualification campaign. It came after Ayman Yahya’s shot from the left-hand side of the area was palmed away by Wang Dalei only as far as Saud Abdulhamid, who squared the ball to Al-Dawsari. The Al-Hilal star made no mistake as he swept it home from close range.
The home team continued to pour forward in search of a second goal that would surely have killed off the tie. They failed to get it but in the end it did not matter.
The top two teams in the six-team group qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the teams in third and fourth will progress to a play-off phase.
Coventry vote not ‘women versus men’, says outgoing IOC chief Bach
Bach insisted he had “no preferred candidate“
COSTA NAVARINO, Greece: Outgoing International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the election of Kirsty Coventry as his successor should not be reduced to a gender battle of “women versus men.”
Bach played down the importance of the 41-year-old from Zimbabwe, an Olympic gold medallist in swimming, becoming the first woman to be elected head of international sport’s wealthiest organization, defeating six other candidates, all men.
“I don’t think we should reduce this election to the fact that there were six men and one woman. I don’t think it was a vote on women versus men or vice versa,” he said.
The German said the victory in the very first round of voting with 49 of the 97 votes gave Coventry “a very strong mandate” and was “a great signal of unity,” adding: “She can count on the support of the membership.”
Bach insisted he had “no preferred candidate” but recalled that he had said during last year’s Paris Olympics it was time for a new leader who reflected a new era.
He will remain in office until June to oversee the hand-over to Coventry, a process he said would start on Friday when he will have breakfast with her to discuss the transition.
Coventry garnered 21 more votes than second-placed Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior while Sebastian Coe, the double 1,500m Olympic champion and head of World Athletics, received just eight.
Russia hopes for ‘return to Olympic fold’ under Coventry
- “We look forward to a stronger, more independent, and more prosperous Olympic movement under a new leader, and to Russia returning to the Olympic podium,” Degtyaryov said
- One of the major problems Coventry will face will be the return to the Olympic fold of exiled Russia
MOSCOW: Russia hoped for a return from sporting exile on Thursday, believing the historic election of Kirsty Coventry as International Olympic Committee president will lead to a “stronger, more independent Olympic movement.”
“We look forward to a stronger, more independent, and more prosperous Olympic movement under a new leader, and to Russia returning to the Olympic podium,” Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyaryov, who is also head of the Russian Olympic committee, wrote on his Telegram account.
One of the major problems Coventry will face will be the return to the Olympic fold of exiled Russia.
In Paris last year their athletes were forced to compete under a neutral banner, owing to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“On behalf of the Russian Olympic Committee, I congratulate Kirsty Coventry on her election as President of the International Olympic Committee!,” added Degtyaryov.
“Her brilliant sporting career, Olympic victories, records, and contribution to the development of sport have made her one of the favorites in this campaign.”
Russia dogged outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach’s tenure first with the doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and then Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
MLB star Mookie Betts to own first franchise team from new World Bowling League
- WBL reveals Team OMG as its first team, with others to be announced soon
- “Bowling has always been my home away from the diamond,” said Betts
LOS ANGELES: The World Bowling League has revealed its first franchise team, Team OMG, owned by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar and world-class bowler Mookie Betts, who will be joined by his lifelong friend and business partner with The One Marketing Group, Cam Lewis.
The announcement marks the official launch of the WBL’s franchise lineup, setting the stage for a new era in the sport of bowling.
The WBL, announced in 2024, combines new rules, mixed-gender teams, iconic locations and dynamic team-based gameplay to reimagine the sport of bowling, which is already played by hundreds of millions of people across the world. The WBL, via multiple broadcasting deals in place, will look to deliver fast-paced bowling action across key markets worldwide and provide a global stage for the world’s best bowlers.
Betts is a three-time World Series champion, eight-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove Award-winner, seven-time Silver Slugger Award-winner and MVP-winner. He is also a lifelong bowling enthusiast who is ready to lead his team into a new era for the sport.
“Bowling has always been my home away from the diamond,” said Betts. “It’s a sport of precision, mindset and community – values I’ve carried my entire career. With Team OMG, we want to inspire bowlers and fans everywhere, showing them that bowling has the excitement and the commercial appeal to compete with the world’s best sports leagues. We’re excited to partner with Adi and the World Bowling League, and look forward to bowling along with our team in New York, Dubai, Singapore and more exciting locations.”
The WBL is owned and operated by League Sports Co., a pioneering sports tech holding company that is committed to pushing the boundaries of sports and entertainment. LSC invests in and operates cutting-edge sports brands and adapts them to the ever-evolving digital era.
“We are here to break boundaries, unite communities and bring bowling into the spotlight,” said LSC Founder and CEO Adi K Mishra. “Mookie Betts and Team OMG embody everything this league stands for — focus, energy and relentless dedication. Mookie is a world-class athlete and a true ambassador for bowling. His passion for the game and his vision for its future align perfectly with what we’re building at the World Bowling League.”
At Team OMG, Betts and business partner Cam Lewis are dedicated to building a culture, community and winning mentality. While setting the tone for the league’s future, Team OMG aims to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans to view bowling in a whole new light. Team OMG’s announcement marks the beginning of a series of exciting franchises in the WBL. With more teams backed by celebrities and iconic sports figures as well as partnerships with global brands to be announced soon, the WBL is poised to make history and redefine the sport.
Summer fight night sees UFC return to Abu Dhabi
- The event will take place at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, in July
- UFC’s return to the UAE capital follows two spectacular events last year
ABU DHABI: The world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, Ultimate Fighting Championship, has announced its return to Abu Dhabi this summer.
The summer fight night, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism, will take place at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on July 26.
UFC’s return to the UAE capital follows two spectacular events last year.
In August, fans were treated to an elite bantamweight showdown at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov, where Umar Nurmagomedov secured a hard-fought victory over Cory Sandhagen with a five-round decision. Then, in October, UFC 308: Topuria vs Holloway saw Spain’s Ilia Topuria defend his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout over top contender Max Holloway.
With 20 events held in the emirate since 2010, UFC has become a mainstay in the region’s sports and entertainment calendar through its long-term partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi.
The upcoming fight card for Yas Island will be announced in the coming weeks.
