Tournament in Numbers:
9 major winners with 12 titles
43 Asian Tour winners with more than 100 titles
All of the top 10 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit
14 LIV Golf winners with 21 titles
32 nationalities represented
6th edition, 1st at Riyadh Golf Club
The sixth edition of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers begins a new chapter today at Riyadh Golf Club, following five successful years at Royal Greens Golf Club in King Abdulla Economic City. This tournament serves as the final event of the Asian Tour and International Series season, featuring many of golfs biggest names in the field this week. Among them, defending champion Abraham Ancer, two-time champion and Major winner Dustin Johnson, World no.16 Tyrrell Hatton, International Series leader Peter Uihlein, and three of the record five Saudi national players in this week’s field, Othman Almulla, Faisal Salhab, Shergo Al Kurdi, addressed the media today.
Defending champion Abraham Ancer on his first impressions of the new golf course…
“It’s been a long time since the change of date, but I’m extremely excited, really excited to see the golf course. Played nine holes yesterday, and I’ll play 18 today in the Pro-Am. It seems like it’s a very fun golf course. I talked to some of my buddies that played here in April. They said they made some changes, made it longer. It’s going to be tougher. So definitely looking forward to the challenge.”
Dustin Johnson on being a two-time winner of the PIF Saudi International presented by Softbank Investment Advisers…
“Obviously winning the first ever one was obviously a big deal, but every year feels strong, so it’s big wins. I’ve competed, I think. I’ve had a chance to win most of the years I’ve played in this event.
For me, even coming into this year, it’s a new golf course. Field is still really good and I’d just like to try to put myself in position to have a chance on Sunday.”
Saudi Arabia’s Othman Almulla on the pressure and reward of competing in the PIF Saudi International presented by Softbank…
“I think pressure is a privilege. We’re in a very, very unique situation to be the trailblazers for golf in Saudi Arabia and to be on the front lines of this big ambitious dream of growing golf in the Kingdom and the region. Of course, we’re going to feel pressure, it’s normal. We all really want to do well and to represent ourselves and our country in a way we all can be proud of.”
He continued: “it’s an important week, probably the most most important of the year – but we don’t see it as the end game. The end game is to beat some of the top players in Asia, some of the top players in the world, and this, hopefully, is a step in that direction.”
European Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton on his thoughts of John Catlin and Peter Uihlein, the two contenders for the top spot on the International Series rankings…
“They’re both fantastic players. Pete was the number one amateur player in the world when I was playing amateur golf. He’s certainly played a lot better over the last couple of years, which is obviously good for him. John, he’s played really well when he’s had the opportunity on LIV this year. I know he’s won a few times on the DP World Tour as well. I’m sure it will be an interesting week for them.”
Peter Uihlein on hoping to become this season’s International Series Champion…
“It’s been my goal since after Fox Hills was to try to win the International Series. Mainly because I know everyone who wins the Asian Tour gets into the PGA and The Open. So that’s my goal is to try to win the International Series so I can try to get into those two majors.”
Credit: PIF Saudi International