Sunday 05 / May / 2024
Muscat: With more than 7,000 players expected to be in action and 80 qualifying rounds to be held across seven countries, the second edition of Oman Golf Trophy 2024 is all set to break new frontiers in promoting the Sultanate of Oman as a sports destination.
Buoyed by the success of the inaugural edition held in Italy and Oman from 2022 to 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organisers of the Oman Golf Trophy, have joined hands with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman Golf Association and other stakeholders to expand the event.
From a total of 800 players and two nations in the first edition, the 2024 event will see the participation of 7,400 players and across seven nations with a total of 80 qualifying rounds from April-October to finalise the players who would qualify for the grand finale to be played at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat, from December 9-12.
The details of the second Oman Golf Trophy were revealed at a press conference on Monday at the Royal Opera House Muscat by senior representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Oman Golf Association (OGA).
The event was graced by Khalid bin Hashil Al Muselhi, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Administrative and Financial Affairs and Basil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth at the Ministry of Culture Sports and Youth, and Mundhir Al Barwani, OGA President.
The tournament is set to attract a diverse mix of local and international golf enthusiasts, bolstering Oman's standing as a premier sports tourism destination.
The finale of the Oman Golf Trophy 2024 will feature 160 players, who will compete for the prestigious trophy.
Speaking at the launch of the second edition, Al Muslahi said, "The initiative aims to introduce Oman as a tourism destination and to establish a connection with golf enthusiasts, made up of businesspeople and high net worth individuals. It also aims to highlight Oman's potential by attracting investors, business owners, tourists, and media from participating countries, promoting it as an attractive destination for golf and other sports."
On his part, Al Rawas said: “The Oman Golf Trophy is the first championship bearing the name ‘Sultanate of Oman’ to be held abroad. This year's edition will see it expand to seven participating countries in the qualifying rounds, compared to last year, when it was played in Italy and Oman. This presents a significant opportunity to promote investment opportunities, especially in sports tourism, in line with Oman’s Vision 2040.”
Al Barwani, OGA president said, "The Oman Golf Trophy is an initiative from the unified national plan team to promote Oman under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first edition was held in Italy from September to November 2022, with 800 participants in the qualifying rounds. Fourteen players qualified to compete in the final round at the Al Mouj Golf, where Enrico Pardazi won the men's category and Barbara Moratti took the women's title."
He added: “This initiative demonstrates the strength of the partnership between the public and private sectors, working together towards a common goal of promoting Oman. The Oman Golf Trophy is aimed to reach a global audience and convey the message that Oman is an open country welcoming investors, tourists, athletes, adventurers, luxury enthusiasts, and people from all walks of life.”
The qualifying rounds for the December finale in Muscat will be held in Italy (April to October), Austria (April to September), Germany (April to October), South Africa (May to August), India (August to November), France (September to October), and Japan (August to October).
