Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: Bapco Energies was today named as the Presenting Partner of the Bahrain Championship, set to take place at the Royal Golf Club from February 1-4.
Excitement is building in the Kingdom ahead of the star-studded tournament which marks a return to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the DP World Tour for the first time in 13 years and Bapco Energies’ support of the upcoming event was confirmed during a special signing ceremony attended by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Dr. Nasser Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Fatima bint Jaffer Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Energies, Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji, Secretary General of Bahrain Olympic Committee and Tom Phillips, Head of Middle East, DP World Tour.
“At Bapco Energies, we prioritise community engagement in areas such as sports development and health. As a testament to this, we are proud to sponsor the upcoming Bahrain Championship, anticipating a diverse audience, extensive media coverage, and the participation of elite golfers. Supporting such events aligns seamlessly with our commitment to health and wellbeing,” Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Energies, said.
“We’re extremely proud to bring the DP World Tour back to our country for the Bahrain Championship and hosting an international event of this calibre would not be possible without the drive of our visionary leaders and the support of our key business stakeholders. We thank Bapco Energies for helping us to push forward with our objective of putting Bahrain on the world sporting map,” Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji, Secretary General of Bahrain Olympic Committee, said.
The field for the Bahrain Championship is beginning to take shape with star names such as Ryder Cup legend Thomas Bjørn and multiple DP World Tour winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Rasmus Hojgaard, Pablo Larrazabal and Marcel Siem already confirmed while the latest players to add their names to the field are Jorge Campillo and Nicolas Colsaerts.
Spaniard Campillo is no stranger to success in the Middle East having claimed the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters among his three DP World Tour titles while Colsaerts, who was one of Luke Donald’s assistant captains during Europe’s victorious 2023 Ryder Cup showing, is also a three-time DP World Tour winner.
Regional representation will come from Saudi’s Khalid Walid Attieh, winner of the Bahrain Amateur Open, Fahad Abdulla Sultan Saleh Mubarak who was the leading Bahraini in the same event, and Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Rashid, the leading Bahraini at the King Hamad Trophy.
“We’ve been hugely impressed and encouraged by the manner in which the whole of Bahrain has got behind the tournament and we sincerely thank Bapco Energies for their support of the Bahrain Championship,” Tom Phillips, Head of Middle East, DP World Tour, said.
“With some stellar names confirmed, as well as vital playing opportunities for local players and a wealth of activities and entertainment for fans to enjoy besides the golf, the Bahrain Championship promises to be an exciting spectacle both on and off the course.”
General admission to the Bahrain Championship is free of charge for spectators, with over 3,500 people already registered to attend. There are also a host of premium experiences available and while Early Bird tickets are now sold out, they can still be purchased at a special promotional rate.
All tickets will include access to the tournament’s Village Square, which will boast a wealth of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Little ones will be entertained in the Kids Zone with face painting, glitter stations and roaming entertainers, while live music from local bands, free golf lessons, food trucks and an activation dedicated to Bahrani culture will ensure fans enjoy the off-course action just as much as the thrilling golf on offer at Royal Golf Club.
