Five Things to Know: 2020 Oman Open

Players return to Al Mouj Golf Club for the third edition of the Oman Open. Here are five things to lookout for in Muscat this week.

Al Mouj Golf hosts for the third time

The Oman Open is now entering its third consecutive staging on the Race to Dubai, having provided plenty of drama with victories from Joost Luiten and Kurt Kitayama over the past two editions.

The tournament is once again hosted at the 7,342 yard par-72 Al Mouj Golf course. Opened in September 2012, the Greg Norman-designed course stretches across six kilometres of stunning Indian Ocean coastline and is laid out in a links style, with just one tree standing along the eighth fairway.

The course has been well received by players, with former champion Luiten describing it as one of the “best that we play all season”.

“This course is one of the prettiest and best that we play all season long on the European Tour and it’s a great event,” he said.

“It’s one of those golf courses where you’ve got to drive the ball well. If you start to miss fairways you’re going to struggle because there’s a lot of undulation and some sandy patches.

“It can be punishing so you’ve got to focus on the fairways and greens, once you’re on the greens you can make some birdies.”

In-form Kaymer relishing first start in Oman

Former World Number One Martin Kaymer headlines the field this week, and arrives in Muscat after recording a share of eighth place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and back-to-back top 20s at both the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors.

The 35-year-old has worked hard with his coach over the winter, and is confident that his first win since the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst isn’t far away.

“I think as long as I follow a plan, winning again is just a matter of time,” said Kaymer. “At the end of 2019 I sat down with my coach and we talked about the things that didn’t work out and the things that did, and I need to elevate my game.”

“I feel really close because I have a plan now,” he said. “The last two or three years, I didn't really have a plan of what I wanted to do, where I wanted to be or where I thought my golf should be.”

Kaymer is one of 12 former Ryder Cup players in the field this week, including Paul Lawrie, Thomas Pieters, Stephen Gallacher, Nicolas Colsaerts and David Howell.

Challenge Tour Roots

Prior to joining the European Tour schedule, Al Mouj had already made a name for itself on the Challenge Tour, hosting three editions of the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final from 2015-17.

Frenchman Clement Sordet, who was one of four players to finish as runner-up to Kitayama last year, has a history of success here, winning the Challenge Tour Grand Final at Al Mouj in 2017.

Before its Grand Final responsibility, the Muscat venue previously hosted the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic in 2013 and 2014.

European Tour Debut for Sugrue

British Amateur Champion James Sugrue is set to make his European Tour debut in Oman this week. The Irishman defeated Euan Walker in the final at Portmarnock last year - earning aplace at The Open at Royal Portrush, where he played in the first group of the Championship with 2011 Claret Jug winner Darren Clarke.

“Apart from last year’s Open, the Oman Open will be my first taste of a proper European Tour event, so I’m looking forward to it,” Sugrue said earlier this year. “For me to travel to Muscat and play with veteran players, share the locker room with them, eat with them, it’ll be great. Hopefully as an amateur going over there it might help inspire the up-and-coming players in Oman. It’s a great opportunity for me.”

But he’s not the only player getting their first taste of a European Tour event this week. Bailey Gillearned his place in this week’s tournament after his victory at The Ghala Open on the MENA Tour. Gill triumphed by one stroke at Ghala GC just a fortnight ago after a final round of 65, which included five birdies on his last six holes.

A focus on sustainability with Ocean Tee

The Oman Open will become the first European Tour event to offer competitors bamboo tees. Ocean Tee, the creators of the biodegradable golf tees, have produced bespoke tees packaged in recyclable, custom branded matchboxes.

Oman Golf Committee’s Championships and Technical Director Jamie Wood said: “We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment so working with Ocean Tee makes complete sense. The products are fantastic and give us a relatively low cost way to showcase the Oman Open’s commitment to environmental responsibility.”