Dubai: Ahmad Al Musharrakh believes fitness gained during military service will give him a boost for next week’s Dubai Creek Open, round 10 of the 18 stage Mena Golf Tour, from September 5-7.
Al Musharrakh, 25, is the UAE’s only golf professional but took a recent break in play to complete national service, which is mandatory for all Emiratis aged 18-30.
“I’m more focused, more disciplined and have a kind of quiet confidence about myself that I never had before,” he said. “I’m excited to be back and playing some serious golf to knock off the rust, if there is any. The swing feels good. The confidence is there as I have shot many rounds in the 60s and it’s just a question of getting more consistent.
“The goal is to eventually get into contention week in and week out and then, hopefully, start winning golf tournaments,” he added.
Golf runs in the Al Musharrakh family, as his father Mohammad and two brothers Abdullah and Hassan have all represented the UAE, but only Ahmad has chosen to make a career out of the game after amateur victories in the 2011 Arab Games and 2012 GCC Championships. He now wants to win an event on the Mena Tour to elevate his career and inspire other Emiratis to follow his lead.
“The MENA tour is getting bigger and better every year,” he said. “The level of competition is becoming more intense, but I am confident I can embrace the challenges and opportunities with the right training and experience.
“It will be great to resume my golfing career on a course where I had my first golf lesson as a six-year-old boy back in 1994.
“I hope I can live up to expectations. But at the end of the day, it’s the score on your card that counts and not the local knowledge.
“With world ranking points on offer, I think more and more players from the Arab world would be encouraged to turn professional and contribute to the overall development of the game.
“Even in the UAE we have some very good golfers with a competitive passion for the game and I do hope they will think about making a career out of doing something they love.”
