How Has The Middle East Swing Grown The Game?

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That’s the question Alistair Tait raises as we begin week two of the grow the pocketbook swing. The one where players inevitably wheel out the GOG slogan to ward off questions about taking the Crown Prince’s money in Saudi Arabia as part of week three.

But with the return to the well-established Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Tait notes several elements, but this barometer for the grow the game set sticks out: elite player development.

There are just four UAE players ranked in the Official World Golf Ranking. Three of them are amateurs. They are all ranked 2,079th, the lowest ranking on the OWGR.
 
The single pro in the ranking, Ahmed Al Musharrekh, played nine times on the Meena Tour last season. He missed the cut in seven, was disqualified in another and finished T44 in the Al Ain Open. He earned $408 from that performance, the only money he made on the Meena Tour last year.
 
In case you think there are players coming through the amateur ranks who will soon take their place in the world order, think again. There are only two UAE players ranked on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Ahmad Skaik holds the distinction as the UAE’s leading amateur at world number 3,230. Saif Thabet sits in 6,478th place.