Leading MENA Golf Tour players have spoken of their delight at the landmark decision of the Governing Board of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to award ranking status to the fast-growing tour, calling it a “major step forward”.
Ahead of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, which starts today at Tower Links Golf Club, England’s Andrew Marshall, a two-time champion on the European Tour, said: “Certainly, it’s a big thing for the Tour. If you play well on a consistent basis, you will be rewarded for your efforts, which is great.
“If you can rack up a couple of good wins along with some top-10 finishes, there is always a chance of breaking into the world’s top 200 which will open the door to more playing opportunities on some major Tours.
“For me, personally, it’s my first season on the tour, but I am really enjoying it. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed and the organisation just great. Unlike some other tours, it’s not that expensive to play.
“With the Tour offering plenty of incentives, including multiple European Tour starts and playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour, it’s an added bonus. It will be great if other tour events in the region also come forward and offer spots to leading MENA Golf Tour players,” added the experienced 42-year-old, who is currently second on the Order of Merit following his second, first and seventh place finishes in the first three events of the season and the highest ranked player in the field at world No. 718.
Marshall’s compatriot and the most prolific winner on the Tour, Zane Scotland felt the world ranking status is massive for the players.
“It has really put the tour on the map in global golf — an apt recognition it deserves with all the good tournaments they have,” said Scotland, who boasts 10 wins and four runner-up finishes and was also the winner of the inaugural event in 2011.
“I have been playing on the tour since day one and know how quickly it has grown over the years. The world ranking status has given me a real drive to grab the points and improve my standings.
“In 2013, I had a great season on the MENA Golf Tour, winning five tournaments but my performance didn’t match up to my world ranking which was around 1,200. With the ranking points now in place, it’s just fantastic.”
Calling it an “awesome” development, Saudi Arabia’s leading amateur Othman Almulla said: “The region’s players should be proactive in grabbing the playing opportunities that the tour offers.
“The experience that you gain from playing alongside an international field is something unique for the region’s players, especially the amateurs. “It is the best thing that can happen to the region’s golf.”
With the ranking system coming into effect this week, the MENA Golf Tour becomes the 19th Eligible Golf Tour from around the world.
In the tournament, Scotland is paired with fellow Englishman and a four-time winner Lee Corfield and Sweden’s Per Barth, who won the Sheikh Maktoum Dubai Open last year, in the day’s first group, going out at 7am while the last three-ball will tee off at 11.30am.