CAIRO: European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will make his first playing appearance in Egypt next month when he stars in the 2009 Egyptian Open, the oldest professional golf tournament in the Middle East.
To be staged at Cairo’s Mirage City Golf Course Nov. 5-8, the $200,000 tournament, which will comprise a majority of European Challenge Tour players, will give Montgomerie his first taste of golf in Egypt, a country with more than 20 grass courses and boasting a rich golfing heritage.
“Everyone in the Egyptian Golf Federation is thrilled with the news that Colin Montgomerie will be joining us to give his support to the Egyptian Open,” said Egyptian Golf Federation Golf Manager Gerard Bent.
“As well as being the captain of the European Ryder Cup side, Colin is an eight-time Order of Merit winner and one of the biggest names in world golf so our appreciation goes out to the Egyptian Tourism Authority who have worked with Colin to make his visit possible.”
The new-look Egyptian Open will offer Montgomerie an insight into a country that is enjoying a golfing renaissance. In December 2005, Egypt won The Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award, voted for by the Golf Travel Writers Association, comprising 60 leading golf travel journalists from 15 countries. Since then, the sport has continued to grow with new course and resorts catering to an increasing demand from golfers from around the globe.
The Egyptian Open — an event first contested back in the 1920s — is the latest step in promoting the country’s golfing attractions to a worldwide audience. The tournament is set to receive full European Challenge Tour status from 2010.
“Although I’ve been to European Tour events and oversee some of my golf course design projects in the Middle East, this will be my first playing visit to Egypt so I’m very much looking forward to seeing how golf is developing both in Cairo and throughout the country, especially as I have my first Egyptian course design project under way at Citystars at Sharm el Sheikh,” said Montgomerie, who will tee off in the tournament’s Pro-Am on Nov. 4 before the event itself tees off the following day.
The Scot, who was in European Tour action at last week’s Portuguese Masters, is weighing up his options and assessing players for next year’s Ryder Cup, to be staged at Celtic Manor in Wales. The Egyptian Open will also give Montgomerie the opportunity to play alongside many up-and-coming pros who will be hoping to feature on his 2010 European Ryder Cup team, as well as some of the Middle East’s brightest golfing talent.
“As well as the European Challenge Tour players, we will also have Egyptian-based professionals, as well as local and regional amateurs and invites participating through the Egyptian Golf Federation invite category,” added Bent.
Colin Montgomerie’s appearance will no doubt be one of the highlights of the one-hour Egyptian Open TV package aired worldwide through distribution by The European Challenge Tour.
