World number one Dustin Johnson heads a field packed with superstar golfers out to compete for a share of $3.5million at this weekend’s Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, running February 4 to 7, 2021.
Johnson, the current US Masters champion will return to the course where he made his debut last year, to face an even stiffer competition, including US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, the winner of last month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Tyrrell Hatton, and defending champion Graeme McDowell.
The yearly event has grown rapidly in global importance and prestige, becoming a key part of the European Tour and attracting such legends and highly esteemed players as Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Patrick Reed, Ernie Els, Kevin Na, Ian Poulter, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood.
The tournament will also offer the chance for golfers to earn all-important Olympic Golf Ranking points prior to the cut off in June 2021. Both the current Gold and Silver medallists, Britain’s Justin Rose, and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, are set to participate.
27-year-old DeChambeau, currently ranked number 8 in the world, is one of the favourites to win, already known for his powerful tee-shots, which are in fact the longest in tour history. Coming off his US Open win, the golfer has continued to transform his physique and up his game in the quest to become number one.
“I feel like I have an even better advantage on the golf course because it is a bit of a bomber’s paradise, and I love that opportunity. When I played there, I finished sixth. I have a lot of great memories about the golf course and the character of the holes and being on the Red Sea, it was pretty unique and something that I want to experience again,” DeChambeau said ahead of the tournament.
“I will tell you, though, that hitting it far there will be an advantage with some of the par 5s and I think it will fit me well, a lot better than the other golf courses.”
Johnson, his 2018 Ryder Cup teammate, bested him at Augusta in 2020, and DeChambeau is relishing in the opportunity to face him again.
“Having a world No. 1 playing puts a little fire my belly,” said DeChambeau. “I want to go over there and play and beat him. I was fortunate enough to clip him by one or two in Kapalua and if I keep doing that, if I keep beating him in every event, eventually the tables will turn.”
Also joining the pack at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City will be Othman Almulla, the Kingdom’s first and only professional golfer, as well as rising amateur stars Faisal Salhab and Saud AlSharif. This will be Almulla’s third and AlSharif and Salhab’s second time in the tournament competing with many of the best players in the world, past, present and future.
The accomplishments of the field are impressive: ten Race to Dubai crowns, 22 Major Championship wins, more than 900 international victories and 29 Ryder Cup players with 90 appearances.
Almulla relishes the challenge that the opportunity presents.
“I’m super excited for the third edition of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. To see the growth of the game in the last three years and to see a world-class event being hosted again in Saudi Arabia with a superstar field is just amazing. It’s a great time for golf in the Kingdom and for Saudi golfers, and for myself and my friends Faisal and Saud it’s another opportunity to put ourselves in a great arena playing against the best players in the world and learning from those experiences,” said the 34 year old Saudi national.
“It’s been an interesting year with everything going on in the world and seasons stopping. That’s given me the chance to actually work on some of the changes I’ve wanted to make on my golf game and become more consistent round by round. So I’m keen to get going and I’m excited to see where my game’s at. I feel really, really good about how I’m hitting the golf ball and it’s time to put a scorecard in my hand and go and play some great golf hopefully!”
South African Tyrrell Hatton, currently ranked 7 in the world, is proud to return to the Kingdom, excited to watch it continue to grow both this year and for years to come.
“It’s impressive to see what Golf Saudi has achieved these past three years. I mean, the success of the two women’s events last year, along with the stellar field gathered for next week’s Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, that’s really put Saudi Arabia on the world’s golfing map. The players enjoy it here and I can only imagine that golf in the Kingdom will continue to go from strength to strength in the coming years,” said Hatton.
The Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers will be broadcast live on KSA Sports.
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