(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman Air has been appointed as premium sponsor of the inaugural National Bank of Oman (NBO) Golf Classic tournament, following a signing ceremony held in Muscat on Monday. Oman's National Airline recognises the benefit of supporting the event to be held at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, Oman, from October 24-27.
The European Challenge Tour event will be the first professional golf tournament to be staged in Oman and the first Challenge Tour event to be played in the GCC. Wayne Pearce, Oman Air's chief executive officer, said, ''We are delighted to be sponsoring the NBO Golf Classic in the sultanate of Oman, as it will provide us with another opportunity to use a premium event to promote and showcase the sultanate throughout our global network, and to the world at large. ''Oman is increasingly becoming a destination of choice for sports enthusiasts, as international awareness grows of the superb leisure opportunities which are offered throughout the country.
Golf has always been part of that mix, but the recent opening of superb new courses in the sultanate has given a major boost to the sport and Oman Air is in an ideal position, through our global network, to introduce the world's golfers to what Oman has to offer. ''Indeed, we have already begun work with a number of prestigious golf clubs and tour operators around the world to encourage players to come and discover this latest addition to the international golfing circuit.'' Salaam al Shaksy, chief executive officer, NBO, ''We are extremely pleased to welcome Oman Air as the Premium Sponsor of NBO Golf Classic.
The tournament represents a big step towards putting Oman on the World golfing map and we look forward to showcasing both Oman's outstanding golfing facilities and the country's outstanding hospitality and beauty to an international audience. Thanks to their international network and vast array of contacts, Oman Air will play an important role in raising awareness of the event, and of the Sultanate itself, and we look forward to a long and productive partnership.''
Wednesday will see the official curtain-raiser to the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, the tournament Pro-Am. The Pro- Am features 40 professionals who each captain a team of three amateurs in a two-tee start, morning and afternoon. The morning tee times are from 6.40 am – 8.10 am and the afternoon tee times are from 11.10 am – 12.40pm. NBO will take the morning tee times and teams and the afternoon teams will consist of sponsors and supporters including teams representing Oman Air, Oman Oil Company, Shangri-La, ICON PROLAB, Wicked Tents, Titleist and European Challenge Tour.
The Challenge Tour's motto is ‘Where Heroes are Made' and the international stars of the future will be demonstrating their skills in one of the most competitive events of the Tour's season. Major winners like Martin Kaymer, Louise Oosthuizen, Trevor Immelman, Justin Rose and Michael Campbell learned their trade on the Challenge Tour, along with many of today's European Tour players, including Ryder Cup stars like Ian Poulter, Thomas Bjorn, Nicolas Colsaerts and Henrik Stenson, who topped the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2000 and is now leading The European Tour Race to Dubai and, after winning the US PGA Tour's FedExCup Play-Offs, is now fourth in the World Ranking.
The Challenge Tour field is headed by two-times winner this season, Andrea Pavan. The 24 year old Italian is looking forward to taking on the Greg Norman course at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat. ''The closing tournaments of the season are big events and are very important for me,'' he says. ''If I can win a third title I will gain my card for The European Tour automatically but I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm playing well at the moment but performing well in these big tournaments is part of the learning process and I know the pressure will be on in Oman.''
Competition is fierce at the top of the Challenge Tour rankings and this week's field includes two-times winner, Dutchman Daan Huizing as well Adrian Otaegui of Spain and Kazakhstan Open winner Sweden's Johan Carlsson who will all be hoping for a strong result to reign in Pa
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