Ahmad Al Musharrakh - An Emirati Golf Star On The Rise

Ahmad Al Musharrakh                      Image Credit: Grace Paras/ANM

He was recently referred to as "the Emirati answer to Tiger Woods", however, when we wrote about Ahmad Al Musharrakh in 2010,  he was getting ready for his first Abu Dhabi Championship appearance, and as he tells it, "still very inexperienced".

Now, two years later, as the 2012 Abu Dhabi Championship gets underway, the 21 year-old is the UAE's top ranked national players, and determined to make history.

Al Musharrekh, who secured an invitation to the tournament from Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, is confident he can become the first Emirati to make the cut at this event... and from there he aims to "move up the leaderboard and really compete" ...with what may well be the strongest field ever assembled for a Middle East tournament; a field that includes Abu Dhabi debutante, Tiger Woods, who Al Musharrekh lists as his favorite player.

With its many spectacular courses, the UAE is considered to be at the forefront of golf development in the Middle East and tourists from all over the world flock to the area's stellar courses, but the question of whether the local population is embracing the sport continues to be asked.  This puts additional pressure on Al Musharrekh.  A good showing at a high profile event like the Abu Dhabi Championship would undoubtedly inspire people from all over the Middle East and North Africa to try their hands at the game.  Those who currently play would be motivated to take their games to the next level.