JEDDAH, 5 February 2007 — Kingdom No. 1 amateur golfer Othman Almulla is headed back to the US to resume his studies after what he calls an “amazing” playing experience at the Dubai Desert Classic.
“I’m quite happy. I learned a lot and it was an amazing experience even though I didn’t play as well to be able to make the cut,” Almulla told Arab News in an interview from Dubai yesterday.
“It’s interesting. I am now very motivated and I’m going to join big amateur tournaments. I’ve been working on a lot of things and once checked, there’s no limit,” he added.
The Dubai stint obviously steeled the confidence of the 21-year old Almulla of Rolling Hills Saudi Aramco Golf Club in Dhahran.
“I’m really loving it so much for the experience gave me a whole new level. I would like to turn pro after I win the Pan Arab Championship which the Kingdom is hosting in November this year,” said Almulla.
When told that his achievement of being the first Saudi to qualify for this European Tour event might just spark an interest in golf among young Saudis, Almulla said “golf’s fun. It will be the sport of the future in Saudi Arabia.”
“I hope more young Saudis pick up the game of golf. I want Saudi Arabia to be a great golf country but only time will tell,” said the articulate Almulla who credits his swing coach, South African Roan Shuttleworth, for being instrumental in bringing his game to the next level.
Almulla also draws strength from the support of his parents, Ibrahim and Lamya Al-Tuwaijri, who have been at his side from day one. “I would like to thank golf in Dubai for making his dream come true,” said Ibrahim. For Othman part of the thrill in Dubai was another close encounter with his idol, world No. 1 Tiger Woods.
“Great job buddy! Good luck for the week,” Woods was said to have told Othman when the young Saudi teed it up for the start of the biggest test of his career on Thursday. Othman had met in the past with Woods in Germany.
“We are really impressed with his performance and we have every reason to believe that he will go places,” said Vice-Chairman of Golf in Dubai Mohamed Juma Buamaim, who himself was present when Woods offered encouraging words to the Saudi ace.
Dubai is a city of dreams and for Othman a dream city. “Yes, indeed, it’s a dream city for me. What it has given me is something I will cherish for a long time to come,” he said after golf in Dubai - the promoters and organizers of the Dubai Desert Classic - promised to back his career.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better motivation than a word of encouragement from an organization of the stature of golf in Dubai.
Othman leaves today on a 7 p.m. flight to Amsterdam where he will take a connecting flight to Houston on his way to New Mexico where he studies at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. He is enrolled in a course with major in marketing and minor in professional golf management.
Prior to the Dubai Desert Classic Othman won the Saudi qualifier of the 10th Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge at Dirab Golf Club with Mubarak Al-Ghamdi and the Dubai Creek Open that served as the qualifying event of the Desert Classic.
