Editor’s Letter

Stars set for Saudi and Scotland showdowns

Some of the top male and female golfers in the world are in for a hectic month ahead as big events hit the United States, Europe and Asia

By Matt Smith

October is sure to be a whirlwind month for some of the biggest names in golf and they will clock up the air miles along the way as huge events loom across the numerous tours.

First up, LIV Golf’s finest are in for a jet-setting few weeks as the inaugural campaign reaches its climax in three different countries from Asia to North America.

Following the curtain-raiser in London and four events in the United States, the series spreads its wings for a double-header in Bangkok and Saudi Arabia to signal the end of the season’s Individual Championship.

Fans at Stonehill Club near Bangkok and Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Jeddah, are in for a treat as the superstars of the fledgling series — including new arrival Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau come to town to decide who will be crowned the best individual player ahead of the Team Championship at Trump National Doral Miami at the end of the month.

The Ladies European Tour also jets off to Jeddah in November for its Aramco Team Series finale, but first up is a mouthwatering trip to New York from October 13-15.

The Korda sisters certainly made a big impact on their Spanish debut as Nelly claimed the individual ATS event at Sotogrande, while Jessica took the team prize.

Both will be back in action at Ferry Point, New York, for the penultimate Aramco tournament, and joining them will be two of Dubai’s own.

New Golf Saudi ambassador Chiara Noja will celebrate gaining her full playing card for the 2023 Ladies European Tour season by teeing it up along with Amelia McKee, another young product of the Dubai golfing scene. The Texanborn New Mexico State University graduate has plenty to celebrate herself as she preparing to get married, and will use the ATS event as final preparation as she goes for LPGA Q-School success later in the month.

The PGA Tour season has had the shortest of turnarounds following Rory McIlroy’s dramatic triumph at the FedEx Cup Championship a few weeks ago.

Following their lopsided win in the President’s Cup, Team USA will be buoyed ahead of next September’s Ryder Cup showdown with Europe at Marco Simeone Golf & Country Club in Rome, with Max Homa in particular

Dubai’s own Amelia McKee will tee it up at the Aramco Team Series event in New York

looking in fi ne form for the new campaign.

The outspoken Golf Twitter favourite shone against the International side at Quail Hollow after he won the PGA Touropening Fortinet Championship in Napa, California, courtesy of Danny Willett’s 18thhole three-putt meltdown.

However, the signs also look promising for Luke Donald’s ‘underdogs’ as a raft of key players are finding form, including Scotland’s Robert McIntyre — who triumphed at the 2023 Ryder Cup venue in the Italian Open.

Shane Lowry’s dramatic triumph at the DP World Tour Championship over a thriving McIlroy will also delight Donald, as will the victory for Guido Migliozzi over young Rasmus Højgaard at the Open de France. Both will now certainly be in the picture for a spot against the Americans in September.

Willett himself, getting back to the form that saw him win the Masters in 2016, will be aiming to bounce back from his Fortinet faux pas at the ever-popular Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he is the defending champion. The unique event is played over three of Scotland’s most famous courses — the Old Course at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie — and always draws some of the biggest names in the game.

Rory is confirmed and will be hungry to add the title to his list of achievements, having had to settle for second spot on no fewer than three occasions.

Joining him will be the likes of US Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick, Lowry, Billy Horschel, McIntyre, Irish Open winner Adrian Meronk, and a host of DPWT’s fi nest including Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Pieters.

Just to add some more spice, some of LIV Golf’s big names are also eligible, and the likes of Talor Gooch and Louis Oosthuizen will be among those looking to spoil/start the party.

With the new season also back in full swing in the UAE, we welcome the return the Golf Digest Middle East Oktoberfest tournament at The Els Club, Dubai.

The individual stableford event has plenty of prizes on off er — including a spot in the Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am — and, if last year was anything to go by, it is a party you don’t want to miss.

crowd favourite

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will see the likes of Shane Lowry tee up at the Old Course in St Andrews

editor-in-chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer

managing partner & group editor

Ian Fairservice

editor Matt Smith art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Luke Tidmarsh, Euan Bowden, Tom Ogilvie, Matthew Brookes, Lea Pouillard, Alex Riggs

chief commercial officer

Anthony Milne publisher David Burke

general manager - production

S. Sunil Kumar production manager Binu Purandaran

THE GOLF DIGEST PUBLICATIONS editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde

director, business development

& partnerships Greg Chatzinoff international editor Ju Kuang Tan

GOLF DIGEST USA editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde general manager Chris Reynolds editorial director Max Adler executive editor Peter Morrice art director Chloe Galkin managing editors Alan P. Pittman, Ryan Herrington (News) chief playing editor Tiger Woods playing editors Phil Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson

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