Dubai The UAE's top ranked national player, Ahmad Al Musharrakh, is determined to make history and become the first Emirati to make the cut at this month's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, running January 26-29 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Having emerged as the top-ranked Emirati from last year's debut Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Tour, which was played out across four UAE courses, Al Musharrakh, 21, who narrowly missed the cut on his maiden Abu Dhabi performance as an amateur in 2010, secured an invitation to contest the event from Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the championship organiser.
Al Musharrakh said: "It really is an amazing opportunity to be playing in this tournament, I just want to play freely and enjoy the experience. Some of the greatest players in the history of the game are playing so there is definitely going to be some pressure, but my goal is to make the cut and if I do I'll be doing my best to move up the leaderboard and really compete."
The chance to make history is not lost on the confident amateur, who is looking to turn professional this year: "When I played in the championship a few years ago I was still very young and inexperienced, but my game has improved a lot in the past few years and I am lot more confident of making the cut and getting my place in the history books. I feel relaxed and I'm going to go out and have some fun — it's the only way I know."
Arguably the strongest field ever assembled for a Middle East tournament stands in Al Musharrakh's way and headlining the stellar cast is current world number one Luke Donald, defending champion and three-time Abu Dhabi winner Martin Kaymer, and three reigning Major champions — Charl Schwartzel (US Masters), Rory McIlroy (US Open) and Darren Clarke (British Open).
Woods' debut
Fourteen-time Major winner Tiger Woods is also making his Abu Dhabi debut, while former world number one Lee Westwood returns for another shot at the ‘Falcon' trophy.
Using a consistent, globe-trotting season last year as a form guide, Al Musharrakh seems better positioned to challenge the world's best. After representing the UAE in September's Asian Amateur Championship held in Singapore — he produced the best performance by an Emirati on the international circuit by finishing 24th out of the 120-strong field — Al Musharrakh helped the UAE to its finest performance at the Nomura Cup, the top amateur competition in Asia and Australasia.
Buoyed on by their star player, the squad also finished third in the team standings at the Arab Golf Championship in Morocco, while Al Musharrakh also represented the UAE in the Arab Games held in Doha, Qatar, where he won two gold medals, one on his own and one with the UAE team.
UAE team coach Chris Vallender agreed: "He has set his sights on making the cut and he undoubtedly has the talent and the game to do that."
