TOKYO: While the star-studded LIV Golf League has the attention of the golf world with some spectacular tournaments and big names, the Saudi-sponsored group is also making an impact on a broader scale with its involvement in the Asian Tour and its flagship International Series.
This year’s International Series kicked off in Japan and offers a pathway to the LIV Golf League. Three Saudi golfers are hoping to show their game on this year’s tour and bring further joy to Saudi golf fans. And they are proud to be flying the flag for their home country, which, they say, is doing a lot to grow the game.
“It’s incredible what’s been happening with the game itself with LIV and now the Asian Tour, as well as the developments that are happening in Saudi,” Khaled Attieh told Arab News Japan. “Growing up in Saudi, it’s great to see. It was not always easy to have access to facilities; now we have access to world-class facilities. So, it’s great to see that they’re investing in golf and investing in growing the game, and to be part of it.”
Attieh, 31, is hoping he can be an inspiration for the younger generations in Saudi Arabia so that they can compete and make something out of the game.
Shergo Al-Kurdi, 22, is one of those younger players who is taking advantage of what Saudi Arabia has to offer. “With the golf courses and facilities, they have in Saudi Arabia, they definitely have the tools to build the game quite drastically and what they’re doing as well for the youngsters and the juniors is absolutely fantastic,” says Al-Kurdi, who grew up and is based in the UK. “Whenever I go there, it’s always great to see and they’re definitely going in the right direction and climbing upwards.”
The third Saudi playing in Japan this week, Faisal Salhab, agrees with his compatriots and says the courses and facilities are outstanding. “I think what the government is doing and with what Golf Saudi is doing, the whole golf community there is growing,” he said. “People have different options to play golf, and I think it’s going to be very good for the next generation. What they’ve done already with the big tournaments and big names is excellent.”
The International Series offers a direct pathway to LIV, which has taken the initiative to capitalize on the enormous pool of talent in Asia.
“They’ve really supported it a lot,” Salhab says. “They’ve made it a tour to want to play and it’s such a big opportunity for the rest of the world. Asia has some excellent golfers and fantastic golf courses, as well as such a big population. I think what they’re doing is kind of opening that market to make it more of a worldwide game.”
Salhab points out that LIV is going to places that legacy golf tours have never considered and they are bringing the world’s best players to great courses around the world.
“People are now aspiring to play on LIV,” he said. “A lot of people now think LIV is the place to be.”
The top Saudi players also have that ambition, but now they also have the belief that it is possible. Attieh believes that LIV could do even more to help the game develop. “It would be great to have some sort of mentorship, because we have all these great players on LIV like John Ram and Bryson DeChambeau, and it would be great to have some sort of pathway for Saudi golfers who are good enough to compete to be able to learn from these types of players.”
And they can even dream of a Saudi team on LIV. “I think we have to get a little bit better,” he says. “We must keep improving, but that’s possible. I think that we’re doing a great job so far and I think if we keep competing in these events and keep the process in place, we can eventually see a Saudi team.”
The three Saudi players did not qualify for the weekend at the Caledonian Golf Club near Tokyo, but all three are confident in their ability and believe they are improving.
“I’m feeling very confident off the tee and my short game has never been an issue,” says Al-Kurdi, who has made appearances on the DP World Tour and the LIV Golf League. “There’s a lot more to come, I’m sure.”
While Salhab struggled in Thursday’s wet and windy conditions, he was able to make up 10 shots on Friday, when it was sunny. “I really think my games in a good place,” he said, wishing he had more tournament practice before heading to Japan. “This is just the beginning of the year. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
