Manama: The first round of the 17th HM King Hamad Trophy is set to begin tomorrow at the Royal Golf Club. This three-day event, organized by the Bahrain Golf Association, will feature both professional and amateur golfers, marking it as one of the region's key international golf tournaments.
According to Bahrain News Agency, a total of 96 players from 20 countries across the Arab, Asian, and European regions will participate, including 32 world-ranked professionals. The tournament will see past champions, such as defending champion Thomas Selman from the United Kingdom and Morocco's Ahmed Marjan, the only Arab golfer to have won the title. Other professional golfers like Luke Joy, Jamie Elson, and Cole Madey are also set to compete.
The tournament has gained considerable attention this year with the announcement that the winner will earn an invitation to the Bahrain leg of the DP World Tour (European Tour), providing an added incentive for participants.
The Bahrain Golf Association has finalized all necessary preparations, including scheduling, hospitality, accommodation, and transport, in coordination with the Royal Golf Club for technical arrangements on the course. Players from Bahrain's national team across various age groups will also participate, offering them valuable experience competing alongside elite professionals.
The championship, held annually with the support of Beyon Bahrain, has been sponsored for 17 consecutive years since its inception in 2007. Additional support comes from national companies sponsoring individual holes, such as Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Foulath Holding, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Khaleeji Bank, Kingdom Group, Crown Industries, Bapco Energies, Al Sharif Group, the Economic Development Board, Bahrain Scrapmould, APM Terminals, and Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC). Their continued support has been crucial for the development of the championship and the growth of golf in Bahrain.