Legend Norman excited about future of Oman golf

MUSCAT: As Oman gears up to host the NBO Oman Open at Almouj Golf from February 15 to 18, golfing legend and world-renowned course designer Greg Norman has offered his best wishes for the event and the host country.

The course has played host to the European Challenge Tour over the past five years, the last three years as the season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, with the top 15 players on the Road to Oman Rankings earning their playing privileges to play on the following year’s European Tour International Schedule.

The Australian, popularly known as the Great White Shark, heralded the introduction of a new European Tour event in the Middle East as another milestone in the global journey of the game.

“I’m pleased that the European Tour has chosen the magnificent course I designed at Muscat to host another event in the region and I’m pleased with the recognition my layout has received from the Challenge Tour players over the last five years,” said the two-time Major champion and former world No.1

Norman, who has designed numerous Championship courses around the world, including the Ayla course at Aqaba, Jordan, and the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, host to the European Tour’s DP World Tour Championship, the final event in the seasonlong Race to Dubai, described his Muscat creation as: “One of the finest golf courses I have ever produced anywhere in the world.”

The Great White Shark made several visits to the spectacular course on the shores of the Gulf of Oman, fine-tuning each of the 18 holes before the opening of the course in 2012.

The Australian, winner of two Open Championships and 91 tournaments worldwide commented: “The original site was a featureless strip of scrub alongside the Indian Ocean and I was proud that we manage to create such a spectacular, environment-friendly course from very little.

“Being only 15 minutes from Oman International Airport and Muscat City Centre the course could not have been more conveniently positioned and with its spectacular setting alongside the ocean with Al Hajar Mountains in the background, inland it has all the advantages it could wish for.

“When the course was completed I said that I had created a magnificent championship-standard golf course worthy of hosting a prestigious world-class tournament, perhaps a European Tour event, in the near future. Well, my prophesy has come to fruition and I wish the Sultanate of Oman, the National Bank of Oman, the Oman Golf Committee and, of course, the European Tour and the players a memorable tournament.”

While offering his best wishes for the NBO Oman Open, Greg Norman spoke about the ‘magnificent’ Almouj Course he designed and said Oman has an exciting future as a golf tourism destination

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