2 weeks ago
December 4, 2024 - Riyadh: Wei-lun Chang and Sadom Kaewkanjana set the first round pace in the PIF Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers but two home challengers are hot on their heels after an enthralling start to the tournament at Riyadh Golf Club.
Chang from Chinese Taipei was in the very first group of the day, teeing off at 6:30am, but the early start clearly did not worry him as a he rolled in seven birdies in an opening 64, including a beauty from nine feet at the par-five 18th to finish his bogey-free round in style.
None of the field’s big names including twice-winner Dustin Johnson and three-time European Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton could match Chang and it was left to Thailand’s Kaewkanjana to match his seven-under par score with eight birdies and a single bogey.
And in scoring four-under and three-under-par respectively, rising Saudi golf stars Khalid Attieh and Saud Al Sharif sit just a handful of shots behind as they bid to become Saudi Arabia’s best ever performers in the Golf Saudi-organized tournament.
Attieh, whose home course is the Riyadh Golf Club, carded a superb round of 67 that included five birdies. Speaking after his round, he thanked the considerable home support who cheered him on throughout.
“It’s not a lot of weeks that you get home support. You spend a lot of weeks travelling around Asia and it can get lonely sometimes. Having this home support certainly acts as a motivation,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for the Saudi golfers. Some great players are here and so we’re learning a lot. They have a lot more experience than us and it’s nice to see how they conduct themselves both on and off the course. I would like to thank Saudi Golf and the Federation for supporting us through this journey.”
His countryman Saud Al Sharif is well positioned at three-under-par despite two bogeys at the sixth and 10th marring an otherwise sizzling round packed with five birdies.
That was better than many of the far more experienced and decorated of the world class field including Major winners Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen, both a shot behind Al Sharif. Hatton fired a 69, Johnson a 70, while Sergio Garcia, another former Masters champion, carded a level 71.
Co-leader Kaewkanjana is currently ranked 10th in the International Series and says one of his major ambitions from the tournament is a strong finish to move even further up those rankings. Chang, who has yet to win on the Asian Tour, has more modest plans: “I just want to focus on making the halfway cut tomorrow to help me keep my Tour card,” he said.
Yubin Jang and Joaquin Niemann both shot six-under-par 65s to take a share of third place into the second round on Thursday.
A record five Saudi professionals are taking part in the most prestigious event on their home soil for the first time this year and all conducted themselves bravely but with mixed fortunes on the 7,411-yard par 71 course.
Faisal Sahab (score 75), Othman Almulla (76), and Shergo Al Kurdi (77) battled in breezy but sunny conditions on the recently improved course although they will need to be at their best to make the cut on Thursday after round two.
The course and organisation of Saudi Golf and other partners was complimented by lots of the players with leader Chang speaking for them all by simply stating: “Everything is perfect.”
Many of the golf fans then joined music lovers for a sparkling evening of entertainment at Riyadh Golf Club, headlined by leading Egyptian singer-songwriter Mohamed Hamaki and popular Syrian singer Rasha Rizk.
For tickets for PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers, visit PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers | webook.com | webook.com
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