Defending champion Dylan Frittelli will tee it up alongside Major champions Pádraig Harrington and Jimmy Walker and fellow DP World Tour winners Thorbjørn Olesen and Jorge Campillo in the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship from January 30-February 2, 2025.
Last season, the DP World Tour returned to the Kingdom for the first time since 2011, and in 2025 the event at Royal Golf Club will once again be part of the International Swing on the Race to Dubai, with Bapco Energies, the integrated energy company leading the energy transition in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as new title sponsor. Fans can now secure free general admission tickets here.
South African Frittelli claimed a third DP World Tour win and his first in seven years with a two-stroke victory on a thrilling final day in Bahrain in February. The 34-year-old birdied three of his closing six holes to secure the victory and is looking forward to defending his title.
Frittelli said: “It will be great to be back at Royal Golf Club, and I’m excited to see if I can make it back-to-back wins there. It’s obviously a course that I enjoy playing, and I had such a great experience in Bahrain last year. I can’t wait to return and challenge again for the title.”
Three-time Major winner Harrington has enjoyed a successful 2024, with three victories on the PGA TOUR Champions, as well as top tens in two Senior Majors.
The 2021 Ryder Cup Captain, who also finished in a tie for 22nd at The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2024, returns to Bahrain for the first time since 2011.
Harrington said: “It’s been a respectable year for me, with three wins under my belt, and I feel like I’m playing some good golf. I’m starting off next year with a few weeks in the Middle East, and although it’s been a while since I was last in Bahrain, we are playing on the same course we did in 2011, so it’ll be interesting to see how much it’s changed in that time.”
2016 US PGA Championship winner Walker impressed on the DP World Tour earlier this year with a tied seventh finish in the Amgen Irish Open and will tee it up in Bahrain for the first time in his career.
Walker said: “It’s always exciting to visit a new country, and Bahrain is one that I’ve heard a lot of great things about. I played twice on the DP World Tour last year and had a couple of really positive results, so hopefully I can build on that with a strong performance at Royal Golf Club.”
Olesen won for the first time in the Middle East earlier this year with victory at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, a result that saw him become an eight-time DP World Tour winner.
The Dane will also be experiencing the Kingdom for the first time and is hoping for a strong outing as part of a run of events in the Middle East at the start of 2025 on the Race to Dubai.
Olesen said: “It’ll be my first trip to Bahrain so it will be a new course and a new challenge which is always enjoyable. I’ve played some good golf in the Middle East over the years, and a good result at the beginning of the year can help to set up your season, and that’s what I’ll be aiming for.”
Spaniard Campillo found his best form of 2024 during the ‘Back 9’ on the Race to Dubai, booking his place at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship for a third successive year after a second-place finish on home soil in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.
The three-time DP World Tour winner returns to Royal Golf Club excited to kick-start his 13th straight year on golf’s Global Tour.
Campillo said: “I learned a lot playing at Royal Golf Club last year and I’m looking to use that experience to my advantage this time around. I felt like my game got better the longer last season went on, and I really found something down the final stretch. I’ll be working hard to make sure that continues in Bahrain.”
Golf fans can secure free general admission for all four days of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship here.
There are also a host of premium experiences available, including a Ticket+ option which includes access to a dedicated bar and platform on the 18th hole. The Championship Chalet will return on the 18th which comes with a full programme of entertainment, including live music and a wealth of F&B options for the whole family to enjoy.
Freddie Schmeisser, Championship Director of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, said: “The Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship is not only about showcasing world-class golf but also about providing opportunities for emerging talent from the region and beyond.
“This event is a platform where rising stars can compete alongside some of the best in the game, gaining invaluable experience and exposure. It’s going to be exciting to see the blend of established champions and fresh talent coming together, and we look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike.”
The tournament follows the Team Cup, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic - the first Rolex Series event of the season - and the Ras Al Khaimah Championship as one of eight events on the International Swing.
