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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi International in its third year is shaping up to be one of the strongest courses on the European Tour with commitments from Masters champion Dustin Johnson, US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau and a curious one from Paul Casey.
Tournament organizers said on Thursday (Friday in Manila) that seven members of the final European Ryder Cup team will play Saudi International from February 4-7, the same week as the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open.
Johnson won the inaugural edition of Saudi International in 2019 and was runner-up this year behind Graeme McDowell.
DeChambeau also played the first year, while Phil Mickelson signed up again for 2021 after a tie for third place in Saudi Arabia last year.
The surprise was Casey, who made sure to say that he would not be playing when the tournament began in 2019. He pointed to his sponsorship of the United Nations Children’s Fund, which is in his golf bag, and said he would rather “sit one outside. “However, in an interview with the London-based Independent that spring, Casey said:” I would be a hypocrite “if I received money to play for the Saudi International.
Players were criticized for going, especially the first year, because it took place about three months after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote critically about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in columns for The Washington Post.
Johnson said he was going to play golf, not support the government. “I am not a politician. I’m a golfer, ”he said in 2019.
Mickelson was criticized in part for skipping the Phoenix Open, where he is among the biggest draws as a former champion and graduate of Arizona State.
For Europeans, a strong field could go a long way as they try to get the Ryder Cup team to surpass the world ranking points. Europe’s qualification process froze when matches were postponed until September 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It resumes in January.
“With Ryder Cup qualification on the line, I’m obviously looking to start my campaign quickly and to achieve a decent finish or win the Saudi International against such a stellar field would be huge,” said Ian Poulter. “It’s been a really weird year with Covid, so we’re all looking forward to a fresh start in 2021.”
Casey renewed his membership with the European Tour to play in the 2018 Ryder Cup. Others from that winning team in France who have committed to the Saudi International include Poulter, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Henrik Stenson.
The course will have three major reigning champions, with British Open champion Shane Lowry also playing. Patrick Reed is going for the third year in a row. He finished 56th the first year and missed the cut in January. Reed is currently leading the Race to Dubai with the final event two weeks away.
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