The Moroccan duo of Ahmed Marjan and Younes El Hassani will fly the Arab flag at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, which starts at Emirates Golf Club from February 2.
The two MENA Golf Tour regulars will join a world-class field headlined by 14-time major champion Tiger Woods, the Open champion Henrik Stenson and the Masters winner Danny Willett among other elite golfers, mindful that a good performance could well mark a watershed moment in their careers.
Marjan earned his spot in the starting line-up of the European Tour’s longest-running event in the Middle East for being the No1 Arab golfer on the MENA Golf Tour while El Hassani has been handed a special invitation as part of strong bilateral ties between ‘golf in DUBAi’ and the Hassan II Trophy, which became a full European Tour event in 2010.
Both the Moroccans have previous experience of playing European Tour events, having competed in the Desert Classic and the Hassan II Trophy a couple of times and know what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“We just have to go out there and be positive,” said Marjan, the first professional golfer from the Arab world to win a MENA Golf Tour event, a feat he achieved at the 2014 Ras Al Khaimah Classic.
“I missed the cut at Emirates Golf Club last year by one shot, so obviously the first goal is to try and make it to the weekend. I just need to relax and go out there and not think about everyone else and just play my own game.”
One of the most consistent performers on the MENA Golf Tour, El Hassani believes playing in the Desert Classic represents a great opportunity for him to showcase the rising standards of the game in Morocco.
“The MENA Golf Tour has been the catalyst for putting Arab golf on the international sporting map. People now know we play golf and we are good at it,” said the 43-year-old from Tangiers.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I will definitely try and give my best shot and see where that leaves me. It’s an opportunity money can’t buy. So, it’s perfect, really,” he added.
Tickets for the tournament are on sale and can be bought online on dubaidesertclassic.com
