24-year-old will play against the biggest names in golf in KAEC this weekend, but admits he enjoys nothing more than time on the course with his family

Saudi  - February 01, 2021:   For any elite level sportsperson, having the opportunity to play against the world’s best players – many of whom are your own heroes – is the stuff of dreams: memories to last a lifetime.

For Saudi Arabian golfer Faisal Salhab, that dream came true last year, and will again this week when he tees-off in the third annual Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The four-day tournament will pit him against a who’s-who of world golf, including the likes of reigning Masters champion and world number one Dustin Johnson, and big-hitting 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.

However, the memories the 24-year-old will bank at King Abdullah Economic City’s Royal Greens Golf & Country Club once again this year will have stiff competition when it comes to where they rank in the athletic young golfer’s mind.

That’s because to Salhab, his favourite on-course memories come from the endless hours he has spent playing with his four siblings Saud, Najwah, Sarah and Saif, and his parents, Salah & Shafia.  

The Salhabs, who originate from Riyadh, are perhaps Saudi Arabia’s first “golf mad” family. All seven of them play, with Faisal and sister Sarah Salhab both having featured in two of the Kingdom’s major international tournaments: the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and the Saudi Ladies Team International.

It has been a long journey to get to the stage where Faisal is now, but to him it has been a true labour of love – none more so than growing up with the game surrounded by family.

Faisal explained: “Our whole family took up golf at the same time. I was really young, but from what I can remember my dad took it up sometime around 25 years ago. He’d play with my brother and sisters and despite being the youngest, I would always want to go and play too.

“We’ve played golf together ever since. With the pandemic we couldn’t play that much in the last year, but as soon as courses started to reopen, we were out again. Saud and I drove 90 minutes six days in a row just to get to the golf course and play, and as a family we’ve started playing a lot more these last few months again. It’s fun and everyone is getting better, so I can’t wait to keep making these memories.”
Brother Saud shared similar reflections, adding: “I remember as a young child we’d just all go to the driving range together and learn to play. We all started young but Faisal started the youngest out of all of us. When he was two or three he was hitting the ball – we still have videos of that!”

The family’s earliest memories are of playing golf on summer vacations in the likes of Switzerland. At that time, golf barely had any presence within the Kingdom.

That has changed dramatically over the last decade, with Saudi Arabia now home to more than ten top level golf courses and seeing constant growth in player numbers across the country. The Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is now considered one of the most prestigious events in the European Tour, and last year’s debut Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund – and its sister event the Saudi Ladies Team International – was considered a watershed moment for women’s golf.

Faisal’s sister Sarah competed in November’s women’s event, and like her brother, attributes her growing stature as a golfer to the love the whole family share for the game.

“We enjoy playing golf together as a family,” said Sarah. “Some of our best memories are playing together out on the course. It’s such a great bonding experience – and great competition!”

When she competed in the Saudi Ladies Team International, Sarah was caddied for by her sister, Najwah. The pair will be joined by the rest of their family as guests of Faisal when the 24-year-old tees-off in the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers this week.

Brother Saud said: “It’s a joy seeing both my younger siblings doing great and doing it at the highest level. It’s inspiring, I hope they can inspire others the way they inspire me, and I’m really just overjoyed when I see them play. I believe in them.”

For Faisal, he says he has never felt more self-belief than he does now, heading into his second appearance at the $3.5million tournament.

He said: “I am very excited to be playing in the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers again. I feel like this year I’m more ready. Last year was the first time I played and the nerves were there, playing against the best players in the world. It’s exciting to go back and now see what I can do after understanding what I had to work on after last year. Hopefully I can do better this year – hopefully I can do something.

“I’ve just learned to trust my game and trust myself, and this year I hopefully won’t have too many things going on in my head, so if anything I’m more excited to play this year than I was last year. I feel like I’m ready.”

The Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers starts this Thursday, February 4th, and runs until Sunday, February 7th, with all the action broadcast live on KSA Sports.