World No 1 Dustin Johnson and big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau have both once again confirmed their participation in next year’s Saudi International.
The event will take place from 4-7 February at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club as part of the ‘Middle East Swing’ on the European Tour.
Johnson will return on the back of winning the inaugural edition in 2019 before finishing as runner-up to Graeme McDowell earlier this year, while DeChambeau will make his second appearance this time around.
READ: November issue on sale now!
The US Open champion began providing small glimpses of the changes he effected to his swing during a host of events in the Middle East and, alongside Johnson, will head into the 2021 event as clear favourites in a star-studded field.
‘I have undergone a lot of changes since I last visited the Kingdom as I work to fulfil my golf potential and I think you can say the same about golf in Saudi as it continues to develop as Golf Saudi endeavours to grow the game,’ DeChambeau said.
‘I finished a credible T6 in 2019 and I obviously hope to finish a little better this year but I am also really interested to see what has changed and how golf has grown since my last visit.’
McDowell, on the other hand, is quite eager to deliver a strong title defence in what he hopes will be a much better 2021 season compared to the troubles of the Covid-19 pandemic of this year.
ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia to host first Ladies European Tour
‘From the high of winning the 2020 Saudi International in February against such an amazing field, we very quickly had to contend with all that Covid-19 has thrown at us since, so I think I was lucky to be able to hold on to that awesome winning feeling through the darker parts of lockdown,’ McDowell said.
‘I am really looking forward to getting 2020 over and having a fresh start to 2021 and, from what I’ve heard about how the field is shaping up, it sounds like almost everyone has decided to make that fresh start in Saudi Arabia.’
