Skaik makes Emirati golf history at UAE Challenge

It seemed inevitable given the strides Emirati golf has taken in recent years, and now, history has been made – an Emirati has finally made the cut in a European Tour group-sanctioned event.

And who better to achieve this milestone than Ahmad Skaik, the country's long-standing leading light in the game.

The 27-year-old has already etched his name into UAE golf history. He is only the second UAE national to make the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, boasts multiple President’s Cup titles, and holds the record for the lowest DP World Tour round by an Emirati, set during the 2021 AVIV Championship.

Yet one significant achievement had eluded him: making the cut in a European Tour Group-sanctioned event.

Despite several close calls, Skaik hadn’t broken through - until now at the Challenge Tour's UAE Challenge.

Playing on an invite from the Emirates Golf Federation, his tournament began with a 73 on Thursday, which would have been so much better had a triple bogey on the ninth not marred an otherwise promising round.

But on Friday, Skaik surged back, carding a scintillating five-under 67 - his lowest round in a European Tour group event. The performance took him to four-under-par overall, well inside the cut line, and secured his place in the weekend of an elite-level professional tournament for the first time in his career.

It could have been a totally different story, however, as for much of the second round it seemed Skaik was headed for disappointment once again. With three holes to play, he sat at even par, outside the cut line. But then, something clicked.

Perhaps it was the memory of his record-breaking 18-under-par performance at the GCC Championship in February, which set a new tournament benchmark, or the support of his peers at the Emirates Golf Federation, who were supporting him throughout his round.

Whatever the spark, it ignited a remarkable finish: birdie-birdie-eagle to take Skaik from outside the cutline to inside on four under.

“It was a very good round,” said Skaik.

“I didn’t hit the ball great in the beginning. I made birdie at the first, then bogeyed the next, birdied six, then bogeyed seven, so I was up and down. But I just stayed patient, kept trying, and on the back nine I started hitting the ball better, closer to the hole - and then the putts dropped on the last few holes.”

His eagle on the par-five 18th was particularly sweet, considering he had triple-bogeyed the same hole the previous day. This time, a solid drive, a precise 3-iron to 12 feet, and a confident putt secured the eagle and capped his incredible turnaround.

“I told my dad yesterday, I’m going to make birdie on the last to make the cut, because I triple-bogeyed it,” he said. “So I’ll take eagle for sure! It’s very tough to make eagle, with that side slope off the green. I just thought, I don’t want to miss it right. I hit a really good three iron—and the putt dropped!”

At the time of writing, the second round was still underway, with the cut projected at three-under-par. JC Ritchie and Oihan Guillamoundeguy lead the tournament at 10-under.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Skaik is eager to make more history.

“I’ve never made it to the weekend in a Challenge Tour or DP World Tour event, so it’s exciting. I want to go double digits under par - that’s my goal.”

The UAE’s Joshua Grenville-Wood also secured a spot in the weekend, finishing at six-under-par after 36 holes. While both Grenville-Wood and Adrian Otaegui have previously made the cut in European Tour Group events, it’s important to note that they are considered representatives of the UAE rather than Emiratis by nationality, setting Skaik apart with his historic achievement.