Just months into his career as the UAE’s first professional golfer, Ahmed Al Musharrekh will rub shoulders with many of the biggest names in world golf when he becomes the first Arab golf pro to play in the Rolex Pro-Am at next week’s DP World Tour Championship.
To be staged on 20 November on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the Rolex Pro-Am will see Al Musharrekh as pro captain for the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) team in a line-up that features the top 60 players on The European Tour, including the 2012 Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy during the annual curtain raiser for the $8 million tournament.
The 22 year-old won the UAE National Championship in 2008 as has tasted gold medal success at both the Arab Games and the GCC Championships but this will be the biggest test of his professional career as he plays alongside the elite players who have qualified for the final round of The Race to Dubai.
“Ahmed has moved up into the ranks of professional golf so we are delighted to be able to invite him to play – as a pro – in the Rolex Pro-Am at the DP World Tour Championship,” said Nick Tarratt, European Tour International Director, Dubai Office. “He won’t be an amateur enjoying a day out with his friends in the company of a tour pro – he will be the pro playing off the Championship tees and the man responsible for the performance of his team.
“This is a great boost not only for the Emirates Golf Federation who do a magnificent job in encouraging golf at grass roots level here in the UAE but also for Arab golf in the Middle East region. I am sure Ahmed will learn a lot from it and enjoy the experience of mixing with Major winners and Ryder Cup stars both past and present.”
Al Musharrekh is in no doubt as to the challenge that lies ahead in his professional career and is grateful for the opportunity to play in the Rolex Pro-Am.
“It’s a great honour to be invited to play alongside the best of The European Tour,” he said. “I’ve played in a few Pro-Ams over the years as an amateur so this is an exciting step up for me. But I always like to push and challenge myself so I am looking forward to it and to helping the EGF team do well in the Pro-Am.
“It has always been my dream to play professional golf and while I know it won’t be easy I am willing to work hard and commit myself to being the best player I can. Of course, it will be a challenge with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood captaining their teams in the Pro-Am but it’s a great opportunity to gain even more experience and I want to thank everyone for their faith in me and for inviting me to take part.”
The Rolex Pro-Am is seen as the traditional opener to the DP World Tour Championship as event sponsors and supporters are invited to enter a team of three amateurs to join forces with one of the top 60 players
Competing in the Rolex Pro-Am alongside World Number One McIlroy will be all 11 of his victorious Ryder Cup team-mates including Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood.
The Rolex Pro-Am gives the pros the opportunity to get to grips with the Earth course in full championship mode before the tournament itself starts on Thursday (22 November) with $8 million in prize money and a Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of $3.75 million at stake. Free season tickets for the tournament can be obtained by registering online at www.dpwtc.com.
