Young, aspiring golfers in the UAE are set to be provided with exciting new opportunities thanks to Dubai resident and seven-time DP World Tour winner Tommy Fleetwood.
Fleetwood, who finished in third place at last month’s Masters Tournament, has partnered with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to support three International Pathway Series events annually in the UAE and Europe.
The series aims to make college golf scholarship exposure more accessible to international members of AJGA, which has grown to 60 different countries and represents nearly 10% of their overall membership.
“It’s a great privilege to be hosting the UAE’s first AJGA events,” said Fleetwood.
“The Tommy Fleetwood Academy has gone from strength to strength over the last eighteen months thanks to our partner DP World and the DP World Golf Performance Centre.
“Their support of these three events in the UAE now bridges the link between junior golfers and elite amateurs, giving everyone in the region a chance at every level, whether that’s starting golf for the first time or playing in a professional tournament.
“The AJGA series is a globally recognized pathway for elite amateur golfers to progress and compete at the highest level and we are so proud to be announcing this partnership.”
Fleetwood has long been a believer of giving back to the game that has given him so much.
Five years ago, the 33-year-old launched the Tommy Fleetwood Academy in Southport before opening a second academy with DP World as part of the DP World Golf Performance Centre, at Jumeriah Golf Estates in 2022.
“I think it's just great for the region to have the opportunity,” he added.
“Golf is growing all the time in the UAE, and I'm lucky to be a part of it now with the Academy.
“We've been lucky in we've been talking about trying to make this partnership happen for quite a while, and we've finally been able to do it. I think it's very exciting for everyone in the region.
“I'm lucky that I'm somebody that's been able to partner up and do it, but it's more for the players over there in the Middle East and Europe and having the opportunity. Hopefully it's the start of something long term and very special.”
Daniel Van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer of Group Communications, DP World added, “The AJGA and Tommy partnership is an important initiative, and we are proud to continue investing and working with Tommy, who is a passionate advocate of nurturing and growing the game’s future stars, for the betterment of golf and sport more broadly. This partnership forms part of a wider investment DP World has in golf and Tommy and we are delighted to be partnering with him again.”
