London, England: Faisal Salhab, Golf Saudi’s highest ranked amateur golfer, has continued to showcase his talent with two encouraging performances in England.
A tie for 15th in the Tilmann Trophy at Castle Royle Golf & Country Club, followed by a 16th place finish in the Walton Heath Trophy have helped Salhab prepare positively for a busy Asian Tour swing as part of the upcoming International Series.
Victorious in two events during 2021 in the MENA region, Salhab has started to make waves on the international stage. Shooting a low score of 65 (six-under) in the opening round at Castle Royle, the 25-year-old believes he’s now ready to compete for his first win on another continent.
The Walton Heath Trophy and Tillman Trophy have historically had exceptional winners, including Major champions Ernie Els and Danny Willett.
Reflecting on his recent performances, Salhab said: “The preparation that I’ve done in the UK has given me a lot more confidence in my game. By playing on different courses, I’ve had to adapt to the variety of conditions which, in turn, has made me a more of a complete player.
“I am now focused and looking forward to competing at these next few tournaments in Asia.”
Grant Smith, one of the National Team Coaches for Golf Saudi, is convinced that Salhab is now ready to take the next step in his career.
Smith said: “Both Faisal and Saud (Alsharif) have a tremendous amount of talent and they both proved that by competing in these high-calibre tournaments in new and challenging conditions.
“It was great to witness the hard work and preparation that was put in transcending into some really positive results. They can be extremely proud of how they are representing themselves and their country on the international stage.”
During the same visit to England, 22-year-old Alsharif tied for 36th place at Castle Royle. Alsharif, who won the Jordan Open in 2021, is excited for what lies ahead in the final third of 2022.
He said: “I have taken away many positives from my experience playing in these UK tournaments over the summer. It was a challenge not only for my physical game but also my mind.
“I proved to myself that I was able to post a good score when I needed to in order to make the cut by fighting for every shot until the final putt was sunk. I’m excited to take this mentality forward into the next events we have lined up.”
Salhab and Alsharif will both compete in the forthcoming Asian Tour International Series events in Singapore and Korea.
“Golf Saudi continues to support the development of amateurs in the Kingdom, and will work tirelessly in this regard, enabling talents such as Salhab and Alsharif to fulfil their dreams as professional golfers,” said a spokesperson for Golf Saudi, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.