GOLF – HIS Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa played a round of golf yesterday with European Ryder Cup superstar and current world number two Rory McIlroy.
Shaikh Nasser and McIlroy were competing in the Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am at Emirates Golf Club. They were part of a four-member team that also included Tony Maiolo and Dr Pawan Munjal.
“A round to remember at the Dubai Desert Classic – sharing the fairways with one of the game’s greats, Rory McIlroy,” Shaikh Nasser posted on social media with images alongside McIlroy.
McIlroy acknowledged his time with Shaikh Nasser when speaking during a Press conference yesterday ahead of today’s start to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Northern Irishman expressed his delight with the “amazing” development of golf in the Gulf.
“Golf has become such a big thing in this region, even playing with His Highness today, Shaikh Nasser, and talking about the development of golf in Bahrain,” McIlroy said.
“But certainly in the UAE and in Dubai, you just see the amount of kids that are out here watching the tournament year in and year out.
“We played at the Creek last week, we are here this week, we’re in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, and we’re at Jumeirah Golf Estates. So very, very high-level golf comes to this region very often and it’s amazing to see the growth of the game here.
“I got a chance to meet the two junior Desert Classic champions yesterday, and you know, I think coming back to a place for so long and seeing the development of golf in this region has been amazing.
“I would say that’s one of the biggest things – I think junior golf probably wasn’t as big in this part of the world 20 years ago as it is now, and that’s amazing.”
Meanwhile, Shaikh Nasser affirmed that the participation was positive and distinctive amid friendly competition with an elite group of world golf stars. He praised the great efforts made by the UAE in hosting and organising international tournaments, wishing all participants success.
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic is one of the most prominent sporting events, attracting the world’s best golf players.
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