The MENA region’s top golfing talent proved they can mix it with some of the biggest names in world golf after a strong showing on the opening day of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank International, which got underway at Riyadh Golf Club on Wednesday.
LIV Golf’s Caleb Surratt and Adrian Meronk of Poland took the headlines overall after superb nine-under rounds of 62, to stay one ahead of Thomas Pieters of Belgium and two in front of Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
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But a strong regional contingent that included seven Saudi golfers, three Moroccans, one Egyptian and a UAE representative, impressed on day one, highlighting the opportunities that The International Series is committed to offering local talent.
Adam Bresnu, the young Moroccan amateur, was the pick of the bunch. The 20-year-old once again showed that the region has some serious talent by finishing the first round in T9 on five under – just four behind the big guns.
At last year’s event, Bresnu finished T6 overall, and this year the Texas Tech student was at it again with a flawless round that included five birdies.
When asked if he could replicate his heroics of last year, Bresnu said: “My goal is to win. I travelled three days. It's not to make the cut, it's literally to win. Of course I'll take making the cut - that is good. Top five is good. But I want to win."
He added: "I like the course to be honest. I love Saudi Arabia. It's always a pleasure to come here. I have a lot of friends here. It's great.
"I feel like I'm home to be honest. Whenever I go to Arab countries, it's like home to me. So I think it impacts my game and helps me a lot. This tournament is unreal. What Golf Saudi does for us Arab golfers, it's really good. Happy to be here."
Compatriot Reda El Hali was another Moroccan amateur who enjoyed a good day. Starting off in the opening group, he carded a two-under 69 that featured an impressive five birdies. It could have been even better but for three dropped shots that kept him seven off the pace at T42.
Talking about his experience of playing in the same field as big names such as former world No.1 Dustin Johnson and last season’s Rankings champion Joaquin Niemann on The International Series, the Odessa College student said: "It is good experience for me to play with the good players and see how they work in workout or how they play, how they practice and everything. It's going to be good for me this week."
Saudi's first ever pro golfer Othman Almulla got the US5$ million showpiece underway in group one this morning alongside El Hali, and although he started off with a bogey five on the first, he hit back with five birdies to negate another two bogeys for a two-under 69.
Fellow Saudi Faisal Salhab also managed a two-under round while compatriot Saud Al Sharif finished level par, in an impressive collective display that showed the progress being made by the Kingdom’s talent on The International Series.
Othman said: "It was a really great day out there. I didn't have the greatest start. It's not a great tee shot on one, where I made bogey. I had to settle a tiny bit. Obviously, it's a big moment playing at home, but I've been doing some really good work with my sports performance coach and my coach, and I'm playing some really good golf.
“I know we always say 'could have been a little bit lower’, but I had a lot of great opportunities to make a lot more birdies.
"I'm really happy with where I'm sitting. Obviously, it's a big one playing in Saudi and to put a good one on the board for the first round is really good."
Faisal played down the pressure of playing in front of home fans and carrying the hopes of the Arab world, saying: "I think we're happy to play at home. That's the secret. I think we're happy to be at home. We're happy to be playing in front of the home crowd. It's great to see our golf course in such good condition, and we want to do well. This is a big one for us.
"The course conditions are excellent. So hopefully another good one tomorrow and onto the weekend."
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of a set of elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings Winner & Runner-Up promotion to the LIV Golf League.
