The eyes of the sporting world seem to be on Riyadh this weekend.
In addition to the $1 million ARAMCO Team Series – Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club there is the Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou – styled as ‘Battle of the Baddest,’ which takes place tonight at 10 pm at Boulevard Hall, which is expected to have a capacity crowd of 26,000.
Also, football, as the national sport, takes centre stage with the Saudi Pro League having a busy weekend with Al Feiha versus Christiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr at the King Fahd International Stadium – kicking off at 6 pm KSA time. Al Nassr currently sits in fourth place in the League with Ronaldo having scored 34 goals in 38 games since joining the Saudi Pro League club.
Ronaldo attended the launch earlier this week of the Esports Football World Cup scheduled to be held in Riyadh next year.
Many of the players, caddies, officials and media will be having an evening out at these sporting events – showcasing the tremendous investment and strides to attract top sport to the Kingdom. It is great to see a city come alive with both Saudi Nationals and Ex-pats.
On the golf course Alison Lee (US) seems to have taken the tournament by the scruff of the neck with her second 61 in two days – to be 22 under par after 36 holes – requiring a re-write of all the LET record books.
Lee takes a six shot lead into the final round.
The second round saw the conclusion of the 36-hole Team event – which was won by Team Carlota Ciganda (Spain) on 43 under par.
The Team Event saw three professionals and one amateur in each Team with the best two scores on each hole counting towards the team score.
Playing in the team event was 13 year-old Maya Palanza Gaudin – who now represents the UAE and considers Abu Dhabi as her home.
Maya has a remarkable story with UAE and global connections that seems to get richer by the day.
Caddying for Maya was Lead Instructor at the JA Academy at JA The Resort, Jebel Ali, Dubai, Yasin Ali – who is also her coach.
Maya, as we all remember, won the ‘Drive, Chip and Putt’ in her age division at The Masters on the Sunday before the Major week in April.
An invite for this week was recently received from the organisers – and Maya, the family and Yas had no hesitation in accepting to play alongside some of the best women golfers in the world.
Her team of Pauline Roussin (Fr), Linnea Johansson (Swe) and Marta Sanz Barrio (Spain), shot a 36-hole Team total of 30 under par to finish in tenth place.
Her father Stephen who walked every inch of two loops of the 6,398 yards par 72 layout said on completion of the round, ‘Maya played well and thoroughly enjoyed her two rounds of golf as well as the week – we must thank the organisers for thinking of Maya. However, we keep telling her this week is all about experience – the pros have all been so kind and generous with their time in helping her out. Maya is now understanding how hard the women pros work at their games – whether it is on the range or in the gym as well as off-course. It has been a real eye opener for Maya.’
Tomorrow’s (Sunday) final round is for pros only – after the 36-hole cut to 65 players and ties – who will be playing for the $500,000 Individual prizefund.
