ABU DHABI // Ahmed Al Musharrekh and Khalid Yousuf, UAE's two top players, will be playing for the carrot of a place at two of next year's majors at this week's Asian Amateur Championship in Singapore.
The pair will tee off at the Island Country Club on Thursday with representatives from 36 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation member countries who will only be vying to win the four-day strokeplay event that carries an invitation to next year's US Masters.
The runner-up will earn a place in International Final Qualifying for the British Open.
"It is definitely a dream for any aspiring golfer to play at the Masters and Open Championship," Saeed Albudoor, the general manager of the Emirates Golf Federation, said.
"That itself will be a great motivation for the players to give off their best during the championship."
The pair go into the event with confidence.
They were part of the national team who finished third at the recent Arab Golf Championship, which followed their exploits in the Nomura Cup where they recorded an all-time high position of 14th.
"This is another opportunity for us to show we are still improving by competing against some of the best amateur players out there," said Al Musharrekh.
"We have been competing more regularly in international tournaments and that has been a big factor in our results and I'm sure the experience of the past two tournaments is going to help us in Singapore.
"Again, the standard of play is high and I hope that can inspire Khalid and me to perform even better."
ncameron@thenational.ae
