Legendary South African golfer Gary Player says he is excited to bring his first Gary Player Invitational event to be held in the UAE, getting underway at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on Monday.
The nine-time major winner brings his pro-am tournament to the UAE capital with a host of top golfers and other sporting celebrities in town. You can watch the action free of charge with the competition pairing celebrities and professional golfers from the PGA and Champions Tours with businessmen and other local participants.
The pro-am will be followed by an invitation-only gala dinner this evening at the Park Hyatt, Abu Dhabi with proceeds going to provide funding for the Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO).
The field of professionals taking part in the event include Bernd Wiesberger, Paul McGinley, Pablo Larrazabal, Matteo Manassero, Melissa Reid, Emma Cabrera Bello, as well as the first Emirati professional golfer, Ahmed Al Musharrekh.
Some of the famous names from other sports include ex-Renault and McLaren Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen, retired Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene and former England Test cricketer Jonathan Trott.
“I’m very excited about bringing this to the UAE for the first time,” said the man nicknamed the Black Knight, who’s first Gary Player Invitational was played in his native South Africa 17 years ago. The event has since gone from strength to strength, with editions also played in the USA, UK, China and Japan.
“It’s a magnificent course. It’s beautiful. I’m surprised they’ve not played a tournament on it. People have got to see this magnificent course on the ocean,” Player, who designed the Saadiyat course which opened in 2010, added.
“What will be fascinating is that anyone who hasn’t been here before will be shocked at what a magnificent place it is. To see this beautiful golf course and what’s surrounding them will be a big shock. It’s very exciting because this is something that is really going to do well.
“There’s cricketers, F1 drivers, golfers and lady pros playing, a lot of young pros too, businessmen, celebrities, it’s wonderful.
“We’ve always had a great assortment of countries and it goes from strength to strength. We started in South Africa, now in New York, London, China, Japan and now here. Everyone’s requesting us because we’re making a difference to tens of thousands of lives and it’s encouraging.”
The Invitational is the first of a new five-year cooperation between the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Black Knight International, and Player is looking to create a lasting legacy in the Emirates.
“I realise by coming and getting involved here, it can be good for me but also from a tourism point of view,” added the 80-year-old. “This kind of thing will encourage people to come here because Abu Dhabi is still relatively unknown. When people on television see a golf course like this with holes on the ocean, they’ll say ‘where is this place’ and so I can act as a bit of an ambassador for the country. It’s a great country and great people, there’s so many things to see and I can play a role and contribute to the country.
“I want to raise a lot of money and the more we can raise the more we can help change people’s lives. We want to influence and change a lot of lives. That’s my great dream.”
What: Gary Player Invitational
When: Monday from 11:00-16:00
Where: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Contact: Visit www.gpievents.com or contact 055 801 1743
