Saudi golfer Faisal Salhab making mark on global amateur stage

RIYADH: Faisal Salhab, Golf Saudi’s highest-ranked amateur golfer, has continued to showcase his world-class ability with two top performances in England.

A tied 15th position in the Tillman Trophy at Castle Royle Golf and Country Club, and then a 16th-place finish in the world-renowned Walton Heath Trophy, have helped him prepare positively for a busy Asian Tour swing as part of the upcoming International Series.

Salhab, victorious in two events during 2021 in the Middle East and North Africa region, has started to make waves on the international stage. Shooting a low score of 65 (six under-par) in the opening round at Castle Royle, showed that the 25-year-old had found the sweet spot when it came to his game and was now ready to compete for his first win on another continent.

Both events showcased world-class amateurs, with more than 110 players in each tournament (132 competing for the Tillman Trophy and 113 for the Walton Heath Trophy). Golf courses throughout Europe are very different to those in the MENA region and Salhab’s two strong performances in England demonstrated how his skills were not only developing but becoming transferrable across a wide range of layouts and courses.

The Walton Heath Trophy and Tillman Trophy have historically had exceptional winners, including Masters champion Danny Willett and golf legend Ernie Els. Both tournaments provided a stern test of Salhab’s game and bode well for the remainder of the year.

In the build-up to his next two tournaments on the Asian Tour, 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 more of a