Attieh’s Oman heroics are further evidence of golfing talent in the MENA region

Khalid Walid Attieh made history in Oman this weekend by becoming the first Saudi amateur to make the cut in a professional golf tournament, emphasising the impact The International Series is having on golf in the region.

Attieh’s one-under round of 71 was enough to earn a priceless place in Saturday’s third round at a star-studded International Series Oman, just a week after winning the Oman Masters and earning one of six local invites offered to the Oman Golf Association by The International Series.

A one-over third round of 73 left him in a group on T61 going into Sunday’s final round.

Attieh was one of four Saudi players in the field along with Othman Almulla, Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Salhab, while Omani amateurs Azzan Al Rumhy and Ahmed Al Wahaibi also gained invaluable experience over the first two days in their home event at Al Mouj Golf.

Dubai-based youngster Joshua Grenville-Wood, Jordanian-English golfer Shergo Al Kurdi and the Moroccan duo of Ayoub L’guirati and Ayoub Id-Omar completed a healthy representation of the region in the US$2 million event, the first of the season on The International Series.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Khalid has given us an excellent example of the hidden talent that exists in the region that we may otherwise never have witnessed if it wasn’t for the local spots that The International Series offers.

“While the series is an open, merit-based pathway onto the LIV Golf League, it is also about giving local talent a platform to play against elite-level golfers, an opportunity they might not have anywhere else.

“By competing against some of the best players in the world, Khalid has proved that the emerging talent in the region is getting better every year.”

There have been encouraging signs of growth across the region on The International Series. In 2022, home favourite L’guirati finished T28 in the inaugural International Series Morocco, and he backed that up with a T37 in Egypt the following week, behind Al Kurdi who finished T27 and amateur compatriot El Mehdi Fakori, who came home T33.  

Singh added: “We would love to see a breakthrough from one of the regional players on The International Series - to come through the series, win some money and gain some real opportunities. We know there is a lot of potential in the region, as evidenced by the performances this week.”