Minister of Defense celebrates graduation of King Abdulaziz military college cadets    Health Ministry reports 15 food poisoning cases linked to one establishment in Riyadh    TGA introduces uniform for bus drivers    Ministry uncovers misuse of mosque utilities during inspection    Saudi Arabia supports UNRWA's efforts for Palestinian refugees, urges donor commitment    Supreme Court appears ready to reject Trump's immunity claims    Indian voters battle extreme temperatures as intense heat wave hits region    Choose between stability and 'downward spiral', China tells Blinken    'Zarqa Al Yamama': Riyadh premieres first Saudi opera    Lt. Gen. Al-Bassami: 28 Public Security units in Saudi Arabia to exchange information on human trafficking    Al-Ahsa Airport to double capacity to accommodate 100 million passengers a year    L'Oréal dermatology conference emphasizes sustainability in Riyadh edition    Riyadh Season announces first overseas event with boxing gala in Los Angeles    Saudi Arabia marks 8th anniversary of Vision 2030, showcasing monumental progress and strategic achievements    Al Hilal's comeback effort falls short in AFC Champions League semi-finals    Belgian man whose body produces alcohol in rare condition acquitted of drunk driving    Australian police launch manhunt for Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger    Spice Girls reunite at Posh's 50th birthday    Swedish rider Eckermann wins 2024 Show Jumping World Cup in Riyadh    Aspiring fencer Josh Brayden aims for Olympic glory    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Special Olympics star Sumadiaa plays dream round with Harrington
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 21 - 01 - 2021

Emirati Special Olympics golfer Ali Sumadiaa had the experience of a lifetime on Wednesday when he partnered Major winner and Ryder Cup Europe Captain Pádraig Harrington at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Pro-Am tournament at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The Pro-Am tournament gives keen amateur golfers the opportunity to play alongside some of the biggest names in golf as a curtain raiser to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship — the first Rolex Series tournament of the season — that will take place between Jan. 21-24.
Sumadiaa was playing as part of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council team and shot three birdies during his round in his first Pro-Am event. The 16-year-old Emirati took up golf two years ago and went on to represent the United Arab Emirates in the Special Olympics hosted in Abu Dhabi in 2019 just two months after taking up the sport.
Harrington has had a long affiliation with the Special Olympics and had been a Global Ambassador for the organization since 2010.
Speaking about his experience today, Sumadiaa said: "I'm really proud and happy to play with Pádraig, it was a dream and I hope to come back next year to play with him again. I had three birdies and it was a lot of fun out there. Pádraig's very good.
"I was impressed by his use of the driver and he has a great swing. I want to be able to swing like him one day. He gave me some good tips for the bunkers and where to place my weight for the shot."
After the round, Harrington added: "I had great fun today with Ali. Every time you're involved with the Special Olympics athletes, they're always a joy to be a round and incredibly enthusiastic. Ali played well, he is a good strong player, and he had a few birdies today.
"He told me he's won a silver medal and is going for gold next time and it's certainly a possibility. I'd actually like to take some of his enthusiasm into the tournament with my own golf."
Harrington is part of a star-studded field competing for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, including Major winners Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, as well as 2020 Champion Lee Westwood.
Previous winners Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, as well as World No. 9 Tyrrell Hatton will all battle it out at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to lift one of the most sought-after trophies on the European Tour.
With qualification for the Ryder Cup later this year up for grabs, Team Europe Captain Harrington will be keeping a keen eye on the other top Europeans in the field this week, including DP World Tour Championship winner Matt Fitzpatrick and Ryder Cup specialist Ian Poulter.
First staged in 2006, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is hosted at the iconic Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the 16th consecutive year from Jan. 21-24, 2021, with a prize fund of $8 million and 8,000 Race to Dubai points available. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.