Oman to stage 2015 Challenge Tour Grand Final in November
The European Challenge Tour is delighted to announce that its crucial season-ending tournament will this year move to a spectacular new location, when the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final takes place at Almouj Golf, The Wave in Oman’s capital city, Muscat, from November 4-7. NBO (National Bank of Oman) has hosted the penultimate event of the Challenge Tour season for the past two years at the breath-taking Greg Norman-designed course, but its significance will increase to a whole new level when the Grand Final moves to the Omani capital following the signature of a four-year contract. The Grand Final is the final event of the tour’s global 25-tournament season, where the 45 highest-ranked players will battle it out for the top 15 spots in the Rankings and graduation to The European Tour - where they will fulfil their lifelong dreams of playing alongside the biggest stars in world golf, with the hope of one day joining them in the pantheon of sporting greats. Oman has already created history on Europe’s top developmental tour when in 2013 it became the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council to stage a Challenge Tour event, the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, making it a fitting selection for the biggest tournament of the 2015 season. Having last year been described as “one of the best courses we played all year” by three-time European Tour winner Johan Edfors, as well as receiving glowing praise from many others, the links-style Almouj is sure to become one of the most popular venues in the long history of the Challenge Tour’s prestigious season finale. As part of the agreement, NBO will also host the Oman National Amateur Grand Final during the week of the Challenge Tour’s thrilling finale at the same venue, providing inspiration for the country’s up and coming stars while also adding to the atmosphere of Muscat’s festival of golf. It will be the third successive time the Grand Final has taken place in the region - having been held in Dubai for the past two seasons - as NBO continues to build on its vision of growing the game in Oman. Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “For the past two years National Bank of Oman has created one of the most successful and popular tournaments on the Challenge Tour schedule, so it gives us great pleasure to work with them on what is the biggest tournament of our season, the Grand Final. “The players have spoken very highly of Almouj, which is a true Championship course in one of the most beautiful locations we visit, with many of them saying it is the best course they have played on our tour. “We must extend our sincere thanks to National Bank of Oman and its Chairman Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi for showing such vision and commitment in making this significant step up by becoming the host of our most prestigious event and we know they will provide a professionally organised set-up worthy of our Grand Final. “Thanks also go to our Challenge Tour partners Rolex and the R and A, without whom it would not be possible to stage a tournament of such gravitas and prestige.” Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Oman, concluded: “In hosting the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic for the past two years we had the opportunity to show the world what Oman can offer in terms of staging a prestigious world-class sporting event. “The accolades we received over those two tournaments from players and their managers, spectators, dignitaries, VIPs and Tour officials was simply overwhelming. The fact that National Bank of Oman has invested in the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final by committing to the title sponsorship of the tournament for the next three years is another example of the vision of the Bank in widening its horizons and appealing to a completely new global audience. “Our success of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic as the penultimate event on the European Challenge Tour season has led to the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic Grand Final, where the top 15 players on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit after our event, will have earned their place on The European Tour 2016 International Schedule. “The event has certainly been a success story which has earned global recognition not just in becoming the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final but it has also put Oman firmly on the golfing tourism global map."  -
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS