Saturday 23 / November / 2024
Azaan Al Rumhy learnt the nuances of the game on sand courses and drove all the way to the UAE to train under qualified coaches. His efforts paid off and he now holds the honour of being the number one golf player in the Sultanate.
Falling for the Game
I was fascinated by the charisma of Tiger Woods after he won the Masters in 1997. His emergence on the golf scene triggered a passion for golf among many youngsters. I also loved watching my father, Mohammed Al Rumhy, the Oil & Gas Minister and patron of Oman Golf Committee, play on courses around the world. Later on, I too fell for the game and began discovering its benefits. I got a chance to play alongside people from all over the world. Golf taught me how to be disciplined, respectful, and patient.
Early Challenges
It was very challenging in the beginning. We didn’t have a green golf course in Oman at that time, so we played on sand courses, which was not a pleasant experience. We didn’t have the services of trainers or professionals to take lessons from, so we used to drive to Dubai almost every fortnight to play on grass and get better coaching. I struggled a lot while competing outside Oman on grass surface.
Fans’ Support
Golf is yet to become a popular sport in Oman, but it has a huge growth potential. There are people who follow my results whenever I take part in local or international tournaments. It feels great when they congratulate me on winning events.
Most Cherished Victory
Winning the GCC Individual Nett Golf Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2014 was the highpoint in my career. I was only two shots away from winning the overall gross title.
Most Bitter Loss
Losing the Muscat Open last year after having taken the lead by one shot with three holes to play was very disappointing, it would have been my chance to win for the 6th time.
A Sportsman’s Life
I showed sporting prowess at an early age. When I was just six years old, I entered competitive tennis. At ten, I proudly donned Omani colours in the GCC Junior Championship in the UAE. From then onwards, I loved representing my country, and I am pretty sure not many Omani sports persons can say they have played for the country for more than 21 years, like me. We didn’t have many young golfers in the past competing for a place in the national team. Now we are beginning to see some good young golfers challenging to be part of the main national team.
Goals for the Future
I would like to win all the two-day major golf championships in Oman, especially the Muscat Open, Oman Open, and the National Championship. I would also love to do well in the GCC Championship in Doha, Qatar in March and try to finish at the top in the individual category.
Advice for Aspiring Golfers
If you want to be successful, you have to have commitment and dedication and you have to be very patient. Follow the instructions of your coaches before implementing on the course. —[email protected]
