GOLF – A star-studded 132-player field, headlined by multiple major winner Padraig Harrington and former Masters champion Sergio Garcia, will be hitting the fairways at Royal Golf Club in two weeks’ time for the highly anticipated 2026 edition of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship.
The countdown to this year’s golf spectacle, which will offer $2.75 million in total prize money, officially got underway yesterday in a Press conference held at the tournament venue.
The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, to be held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad, is scheduled for January 29 to February 1, and it will showcase golf stars from more than 25 countries.
In attendance at yesterday’s event, in which a number of details were announced including an incredible economic impact of more than $10.5m generated from last year’s competition, were Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi, Bapco Energies Group CEO Mark Thomas, Royal Golf Club chairman Captain Waleed Al Alawi, BOC secretary general Faris Al Kooheji, and DP World Tour Middle East director Tom Phillips.
“We are very happy with the progress of the Bahrain Championship,” Shaikh Isa told the GDN. “It’s been three years since we first hosted this tournament; we have had some very positive reviews, and I’m sure this edition will be even better.
“Top golfers from all around the world are coming to the kingdom, and this championship showcases Bahrain’s ability to stage top sporting events. We are very proud to be hosting it for a third year.”
The championship will feature a strong Olympic presence, with Harrington, Garcia, Matteo Manassero, Guido Migliozzi, Thomas Detry, Ashun Wu, Bernd Wiesberger, Rafa Cabrera Bello, and Antoine Rozner all having represented their nations at the Olympic Games.
Past Bahrain Championship winner Dylan Frittelli will return to the kingdom, while the field is further strengthened by a strong contingent of multiple DP World Tour winners, including Rolex Series winners Paul Waring, Cabrera Bello, and Wiesberger, alongside Thriston Lawrence, Pablo Larrazabal, and Ewen Ferguson.
The line-up is completed by current Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper and 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Martin Couvra.
“The DP World Tour loves coming back to Bahrain,” Phillips told the GDN. “To be here for the third year and to every year see it grow – grow in terms of prize money, the number of people attending, the strength of the field, and the infrastructure – for us it shows that we are really having the right impact, so we’re excited to be back.
“What we’re really pleased to see since we’ve been coming in the last couple of years is the game of golf growing – whether that’s more people playing or more golf courses being designed and built.
“That is a sign that golf is in a healthy place, and if we’re leaving that legacy behind, that’s very important for us.”
Minister Al Sairafi highlighted Bahrain’s rising profile as an international sports destination, noting that hosting the DP World Tour attracts golf enthusiasts and visitors, supports tourism growth, and strengthens the kingdom’s position as a sports tourism hub.
Thomas added: “It is an honour for Bapco Energies to serve as title sponsor of the Bahrain Championship. As we bring world-class sporting experiences to our community, we are also proud to work with our partners to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, making sustainability a core part of this event’s legacy.”
Three Bahraini amateurs will be competing on home soil in the event. Ahmed Alzayed, winner of the Best Bahraini award in last year’s King Hamad Trophy; Khalifa Almaraisi, the top-ranked Bahrain Golf Association player of 2025; and Ali Alkowari, having won the National Team Qualifying tournament, are all set to tee it up at Royal Golf Club.
“We are delighted to host such a prestigious tournament with a world-class field and local emerging talent at Royal Golf Club,” said Captain Al Alawi. “We have received outstanding feedback from players and visitors, and we are excited to build on that momentum this year and into the future.”
At this year’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, fans will be able to witness all the golfing action with free general admission, while elevated and premium experiences are also available. Off the course, a full programme of fun, including a 100-metre zip line over the top of Royal Golf Club, kids’ entertainment and activities, a traditional Bahraini souq, and a wealth of food and beverage options, will be on offer.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))