RIYADH: The MENA Golf Tour makes its stop in Saudi Arabia for the third time in four years on Monday when the American Express Dirab Golf Championship takes place at Dirab Golf & Country Club on the outskirts of Riyadh.

A field of 60 players from 15 countries broken down into 40 professionals and 20 amateurs tees it up starting with the first group at 8 a.m.

Trevor Varri, the MENA Tour’s South African tournament manager and chief referee, told Arab News the field is the biggest so far assembled since the inaugural American Express Dirab tournament in 2012 won by Pakistani pro Saffiq Masih. American Tommy Mou was the winner in 2013 before the tournament was shelved last year for some reason.

The 54-hole event which is the sixth leg on the MENA Golf Tour offers and a cash pot of $50,000 with $9,000 to the champion in the Professional Division. The MENA Division for amateur players is again likely to be dominated by a slew of Moroccan players who have been making this tour as springboard to Q School for the top tier European Tour.

Order of Merit leader Paul Doherty, a Scottish professional golfer, wanted so bad to come to Riyadh for the event, according to Varri. He was ready to fly in Monday just in time for the first round but could not make it because of visa issue.

In his absence a pair of 20-somethings from the United Kingdom in Luke Joy and Lee Corfield has emerged as the players to watch, Varri said.

Masih is back to try and win a second title on a course he once called home having worked for sometime at Dirab as a golf professional.

Masih said he has had health issues and didn’t do well in the past three MENA Tour events. He played a late afternoon practice round Saturday and felt good about it.

Othman Almulla, meantime, will be leading the 7-man team Saudi charge in the three-day competition that was preceded by Sunday’s practice round and opening ceremony cum gala dinner. Dirab Golf & Country Club Chair Khaled Abunayyan welcomed the players and guests and thanked the major sponsor American Express and co-sponsors Saudi Xerox, Almarai Company, Osim and Marriott Riyadh Hotel for their support of the tournament. Also present were MENA Golf Tour Chair Mohammed Juma Buamaim, and AMEX CEO Pryan Attygale and COO Fahad Al Guthami. Also during the ceremony the MENA Golf Tour flag was raised and commemorative marker unveiled to officially open the tournament.

After three practice rounds, Othman sounded upbeat and suggested a surprise or two will come from the Saudis.

Othman praised the Tour for providing a platform and opportunities for players in the MENA region to develop their golf skills.

That being said, Othman said the Saudi game needs media exposure to grow and become popular with the local population.

Prince Khaled Saud Al Faisal will be making his third start in this tournament. Young guns Faisal Salhab and Ali Al Sakka, Omar Hariri, the grand old man of Saudi golf, 64-year old Ali Balharith, and Abdulrahman Al Othman complete the Saudi lineup.