GOLF – The 2026 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship officially got underway last night with a spectacular opening ceremony at Royal Golf Club, setting the stage for four days of world-class golf in the kingdom.
The ceremony marked the start of the third edition of the prestigious DP World Tour event, which is being held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad.
In attendance during the inauguration were His Majesty’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) chairman, and Bapco Energies chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and SCYS first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Also on hand were Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, a number of high-ranking officials from the government and the kingdom’s sports bodies, and DP World Tour Middle East director Tom Phillips.
Shaikh Khalid delivered a welcome address during which he announced that the BOC and the DP World Tour have signed a 10-year agreement that secures the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour until at least 2036.
Phillips also gave a speech, in which he praised the event’s outstanding level of organisation and the great participation of golfers in the tournament.
Also during last night’s ceremony, the Nasser Golf Academy, founded by Shaikh Nasser, who is a keen golfer, was officially launched.
This year’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship features a stellar field of star players, including past winner in the kingdom Dylan Frittelli, Major champion Patrick Reed – fresh from his victory last week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in the UAE – and fellow former Masters champion Sergio Garcia.
Shaikh Nasser was on the course at Royal Golf Club yesterday ahead of his participation in today’s Pro-Am. Shaikh Nasser enjoyed a memorable practice round, making his first-ever eagle – a moment that underlines his passion for the game and commitment to growing golf in Bahrain.
Shaikh Nasser will tee it up today alongside DP World Tour professionals in the Pro-Am before the tournament proper begins tomorrow.
Among those taking to the fairways this week are three Bahraini golfers who earned their places through the national qualifying pathway, providing them with invaluable experience of competing alongside the world’s best.
Ali Alkowari returns for a second consecutive year and is relishing the opportunity to test himself against the world’s best once again.
“I cannot describe the feeling of playing here again – it’s really nice,” said Alkowari. “I played it last year and hopefully I’ll be getting on better than last year.
“We trained very well for the competition – it was really tough to get the spot. A four-day qualifier, it was windy – not the same as today’s weather.”
The experience of competing in last year’s edition has given Alkowari renewed confidence heading into tomorrow’s opening round.
“It was really hard playing it for the first time last year,” he explained. “I was nervous, I wasn’t sure about my game, but this year hopefully I’ve got more confidence.
“The course looks really great. Every day we’ve been playing it so we know every single bit of the course.”
On the prospect of sharing the fairways with some of golf’s biggest names, Alkowari said: “We have players like Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed – it’s nice playing in a tournament that they’re playing too. It’s really nice.”
Fellow Bahraini Ahmed Alzayed is also proud to be representing the kingdom for a second time.
“First of all, I’m so proud of myself to be representing Bahrain in this big event,” said Alzayed, who also competed in 2024.
“This is the second time and I feel so happy because we are playing with the best golf players on the Tour. You can see there are so many good players like Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia. That gives us confidence – when we’re playing and learning about how to manage the course with these players.”
Alzayed admitted to nerves in his debut but heads into this week’s tournament with renewed belief.
“The first year it was a big thing for us, representing Bahrain in this big event, playing with the professionals – it’s a different level,” he said. “I was nervous at first, but this year I trust myself. I said I can play as good as I can and we wish all the Bahraini players play good golf and get good results.”
Alzayed’s 2024 experience has also shaped his approach to the course, and he is planning to be more patient this time around.
“I learned from the first year that you have to play it straight first and don’t be too aggressive,” he added. “This is our course and we know how to play it, so I learned I have to be patient and play good golf.
“The last four holes – they’re not difficult, but they’re tricky. You have to be smart. In my opinion, you have to be safe on those holes.”
Khalifa Almeraisi completes the Bahraini trio, showcasing the continued growth of the game in the kingdom.
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