Lahore, Pakistan: Mubariz Ahmad will be aiming to continue his remarkable sequence of home success when he lines up in next week’s Faldo Series Pakistan Championship.
Winner of the event for the past three years, Mubariz is certain to start as an overwhelming favourite in the 54-hole contest at the Defence Raya Golf & Country Club from September 19-21.
Describing himself as a ‘proud ambassador’ for Pakistan, Mubariz is anxious to earn a fourth successive trip to the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at Mission Hills next March.
“Golfers from Pakistan are great ambassadors for the country. We help promote a soft image of Pakistan, trying to break the stereotypical perceptions about the country,” said 19-year-old Mubariz.
Mubariz is not short of international experience, having played for Ames High School in Iowa at the age of 13.
Since then he has gone on to compete in the 2010 British Junior Open and represent Pakistan internationally on six occasions, including the 2012 World Amateur Team Championship.
“It is the education and exposure that matters … and which gives you the vision to reach new heights,” said Mubariz, who has been working on his game since placing third in his country’s National Amateur Open in June.
Having finished 16th at Mission Hills in Shenzhen in the eighth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final six months ago, Mubariz is determined to give himself another shot at regional glory in the World Amateur Golf Ranking event.
However, he will not be taking anything for granted and does not anticipate a procession similar to last year when he ended the Faldo Series Pakistan Championship no fewer than 14 strokes clear of his nearest rival.
Six-time Major championship winner Faldo, Britain’s most successful golfer, said: “Mubariz has a fantastic attitude and is a wonderful role model for young golfers in Pakistan. I’ll be following the scores from the Faldo Series Pakistan Championship with great interest to see if he manages to win for a fourth time in succession, which would be a marvellous achievement.”
It is the second time that the Faldo Series Pakistan Championship has been played at the Defence Raya Golf & Country Club, which was opened in 2009 and provides one of the toughest golfing challenges in Pakistan with significant elevation changes and water coming into play on 10 holes.
Supported by The R&A, ISPS and Mission Hills and endorsed by the Asian Tour and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2014-15 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and is made up of a minimum of 20 championships.