Golfing talent from Saudi and the wider MENA region showed they can content with some of the biggest names in world golf on the opening day of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank International, which got underway at Riyadh Golf Club Wednesday.
RELATED: Meronk and Surrat strike early with sizzling 62s at PIF Saudi International
While American youngster Caleb Surratt and Adrian Meronk of Poland took the headlines with sensational nine-under rounds of 62, seven Saudi golfers were mixing it up with the big boys in the final tournament of The International Series, the set of marquee Asian Tour events that offer a pathway onto LIV Golf.
Saudi’s first ever pro golfer, Othman Almulla, got the US$5 million showpiece underway in group one this morning, and although he started off with a bogey five on the first, he hit back with five birdies to negate another two bogeys for a two-under 69.
Othman said: “It was a really great day out there. I didn’t have the greatest start. It’s not a great tee shot on one, where I made bogey. I had to settle a tiny bit. Obviously, it’s a big moment playing at home, but I’ve been doing some really good work with my sports performance coach and my coach, and I’m playing some really good golf.
“I know we always say ‘could have been a little bit lower’, but I had a lot of great opportunities to make a lot more birdies.
“I’m really happy with where I’m sitting. Obviously, it’s a big one playing in Saudi and to put a good one on the board for the first round is really good.”
Who are the Middle Eastern golfers playing in the PIF Saudi International?
Faisal Salhab also managed a two-under round of 69, and played down the pressure of playing in front of home fans, saying: “I think we’re happy to play at home. That’s the secret. I think we’re happy to be at home. We’re happy to be playing in front of the home crowd. It’s great to see our course in such good condition, we want to do well. This is a big one for us.
“The course conditions are excellent. So hopefully another good one tomorrow and onto the weekend.”
Neville Hopwood
Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu created a stir in last year’s edition when he finished T6 at Riyadh Golf Club, and the Texas Tech student was at it again on day one, with a flawless five-under round of 66 to share ninth place, despite his preparation for the tournament being hindered!
He said: “I like the course to be honest. I love Saudi Arabia. It’s always a pleasure to come here. I have a lot of friends here, Saud (Al Sharif), Othman, all of them. It’s great.
“I feel like I’m home to be honest. Whenever I go to Arab countries, it’s like home to me. So I think it impacts my game and helps me a lot. This tournament is unreal. What Golf Saudi does for us Arab golfers, it’s really good. Happy to be here.”
When asked if he was looking to replicate last season’s heroics, the 20-year-old hit back: “My goal is to win. I travelled for three days. It’s not to make the cut, it’s literally to win. Of course I’ll take making the cut – that is good. Top five is good. But I want to win.”
Compatriot Reda El Hali was another Moroccan amateur who enjoyed a good day. Starting off in the same group as Almulla, he also carded a two-under 69 to sit seven off the pace.
The Odessa College student said: “I made five birdies and three bogeys, but for the three bogeys, I did easy up-and-downs. It’s fine, it’s golf. I enjoyed my game, and I’ll take it.”
Talking about his experience of playing with the big names such as Dustin Johnson and Joaquin Niemann on The International Series, he said: “It is good experience for me to play with the good players and see how they work in workout or how they play, how they practice and everything. It’s going to be good for me this week.”
Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2025 PIF Saudi International
The tournament is the final event on The International Series schedule for 2025. It is the last chance for Asian Tour hopefuls to finish in the top two of The International Series Rankings and secure a place on the LIV Golf League.
The leading three players in the rankings, Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, Yosuke Asaji from Japan, and Filipino Miguel Tabuena were paired together in the same group.
Vincent and Tabuena both carded 67s, while Asaji fired a 72.
Vincent leads the Rankings, with 325.59 points, ahead of Asaji in second, on 285.3, with Tabuena third, having earned 232.28 points.
With the winner this week set to earn 324 points, the race is wide open, meaning players further down the Rankings also have a chance to grab one of the places at the very end.
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Main Image: Asian Tour / International Series
