The UAE Golf Federation has officially announced that global golf star Adrian Otaegui will represent the United Arab Emirates as a professional golfer in all international professional tours, starting in December with his participation in the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa from 5-8 December.
The announcement was made during a press conference held on Tuesday morning at the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee in Dubai.
The event was attended by H.E. Major General Pilot (Ret.) Abdullah Al Hashmi, Vice President of the Golf Federation; H.E. Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Golf Federation; H.E. Mohammed bin Darwish, Executive Director of the National Olympic Committee; Adrian Otaegui, UAE Golf Player; and members of the media.
Adrian Otaegui has achieved significant milestones in his golfing career, starting with his victories as an amateur. These include winning the British Boys Championship in 2010 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 2008, 2010, and 2011. He also claimed the Paris Open Professional Championship in 2010 as an amateur.
At the age of 19, in 2011, he earned a spot in the DP World Tour and went on to win five tournaments. These include the Paul Lawrie Match Play in Germany in 2017, the Belgian Knockout in 2018, the Scottish Championship in 2020, the Andalucía Valderrama Masters in 2022, and the Volvo China Open in 2024.
Having resided in the UAE for 13 years, Otaegui was appointed an ambassador for the UAE Golf Federation and the national team. He collaborates with the Federation to provide training and technical support to players. Furthermore, he is a partner in the UAE Golfers of Determination Programme, which was announced during the DP World Tour Championship in November 2021.
Adrian Otaegui expressed his pride and joy in representing the UAE, aspiring to achieve the best results for the nation in various international sporting arenas, particularly the Olympics. He stated, "The UAE is my home. I love its culture and how it has become one of the most innovative nations in the past 50 years. My goal is to represent the UAE globally, win an Olympic medal, and raise its flag on the podium." He added, "At the same time, I feel that young Emirati golfers need a role model to inspire them to develop and enhance their skills. I am excited to contribute to the growth of golf in the UAE and assist the UAE Golf Federation in establishing an elite programme to create future champions."
H.E. Major General Pilot (Ret.) Abdullah Al Hashmi commended this initiative, emphasising its role in elevating golf to greater heights in the UAE. He stated, "This is a remarkable achievement not only for Adrian but also for golf in the UAE. We will continue to develop and promote this sport to the highest international standards. Adrian has long been an ambassador for Emirati golf, and his integrity on and off the course is the standard we aim to instil in all players. We wish Adrian, his family, and his team the best of luck and look forward to more accomplishments in the near future."
Al Hashmi also expressed his delight at welcoming the talented Adrian Otaegui to the UAE Golf Team, praising the extensive media attention and support for golf events. He added, "On behalf of the UAE Golf Federation, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Board of Directors, and the UAE golf community, in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee, we extend our gratitude to the media for their continued support. Their attention highlights the achievements of UAE sports and presents them in the best possible manner."
H.E. Mohammed bin Darwish applauded the efforts of the UAE Golf Federation in continually nurturing skilled players to represent the nation in major sporting events. He highlighted the Federation's clear vision and methodology for developing talent across all age groups in both men's and women's national teams. He also extended his best wishes to Adrian Otaegui, acknowledging his impressive record of achievements in golf and expressing optimism for his future contributions in representing the UAE.
