Otaegui leads record UAE contingent in Ras Al Khaimah

History will be made at this week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship with a record five players from the UAE competing in a single DP World Tour event.

UAE National Team players Ahmad Skaik, Sam Mullane, and Jonathan Selvaraj, all amateurs, have been invited to the tournament by the Emirates Golf Federation.

The Federation has a long-term partnership with the European Tour Group aimed at developing golf in the UAE over the next decade.

Joining the trio will be Joshua Grenville-Wood, who begun representing the UAE in 2023, and the country’s latest recruit, five-time DP World Tour winner Adrián Otaegui, who is making his second start in the country since making the switch from representing Spain to the UAE.

During today’s practice round at Al Hamra Golf Club, Otaegui played a 18 holes with both Skaik and Mullane ahead of Thursday’s first round.

“I’m very proud to try and help the younger Emiratis and the UAE National Team to develop and just to prepare a little better for these type of tournaments and the international tournaments,” said Otaegui.

“I’ll just do whatever I can to help.”

Three years ago at this very event, Otaegui made nine birdies without a single dropped shot to set a then course record during the second round 63 while playing with Skaik, who is this week playing his ninth DP World Tour event.

“I played with him Adrian when he played really well here in 2022, shot nine under one of the days,” said Skaik.

“It’s good to play with him in a practice round to see what he does, how he prepares. We can learn from that and put it in our game.”

For Mullane, this week is a first, with the youngster playing a DP World Tour event for the very first time. He is the UAE’s leading player on World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) player in the field, currently sitting at 1,506th.

“I’m feeling pretty good for this week, I haven’t got any expectations” said Mullane.

“Playing with Adrian and Ahmad is always very nice. I’m learning a lot from Adrian so far, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

Meanwhile, Grenville-Wood will be looking to emulate his 2024 outing at this venue after finishing in a share of ninth, while Selvaraj is making his second start at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship just weeks after winning the Professional Arab Golf Championship in Morrocco.