Top golfers Lowry, Garcia laud high-quality Saudi International

Shane Lowry with his caddy enjoys a day out on the seaside Royal Greens Golf & Country Club course in King Abdullah Economic City. (Getty Images)
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  • European stars 鈥榯rying to globalize game of golf,鈥� support 鈥榚xciting鈥� new events in different markets

JEDDAH: Major winners Sergio Garcia and Shane Lowry have hailed the 鈥渆xciting鈥� growth of golf in the Kingdom on the eve of the Saudi International.

The second edition of the tournament will see the European pair joined by world No. 1 Brooks Koepka, defending champion Dustin Johnson, US stars Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson, England鈥檚 Lee Westwood and Swede Henrik Stenson at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Ten major champions will be among the players competing for $3.5 million in prize money.

Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner and Ryder Cup stalwart, said the Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, was a fast-growing regional event.

鈥淓veryone is really trying hard to make it a great event, it鈥檚 definitely on its way. It just comes down to us to put on a good show.

鈥淭he quality of this event is really good. We鈥檙e excited to be back here in Saudi. I think it鈥檚 very important to support events in new countries. At the end of the day, we are trying to globalize the game of golf.鈥�

The 40-year-old Spaniard added that his game was in a good place for a huge 2020 season for the game, that included the Olympics and a Ryder Cup. 鈥淚 feel like the short game has been quite solid for both weeks. It鈥檚 just a matter of me keeping grinding and improving on every aspect of the game.鈥�

Irish golfer Lowry, the defending Open champion, said the 7,010-yard par 70 layout suited his game, adding that international golf stars were in the fortunate position of having an opportunity to bring the game to new locations and inspire Saudis to take part.

鈥淭he golf course is very good, very much a Middle East-style golf course, and something that I liked the look of straightaway. It鈥檚 in absolutely perfect condition.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always cool and interesting to come to new places. I find the European Tour is always like that. Golf鈥檚 a great game and we鈥檙e very fortunate to do it. People of all standards, ages, sizes get involved and play with other people. That鈥檚 why I love the game,鈥� added Lowry.

黑料社区鈥檚 leading golfers, professional Othman Almulla, and amateurs Saud Al-Sharif and Faisal Salhab will all be teeing it up Thursday.

US player Reed said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a special opportunity for the local players to make an impression with the golfing world watching on. It鈥檚 awesome seeing players from Saudi playing. I hope they play well.

鈥淗opefully someone can make the cut for the weekend, because it鈥檚 always special time to be here at the weekend in a golf tournament,鈥� he added.