Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
When Adrian Otaegui, winner of five titles on the European Tour, will tee off next at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa on December 5, the flag against his name will that be of the UAE, making him the second golfer from the country to play on the now rechristened DP World Tour.
Otageui’s change of status became public on Tuesday in Dubai where the UAE Golf Federation announced that Otageui will represent the UAE as a professional golfer at all international competitions starting next month.
The European Tour website also made the switch from Spain to UAE in the nationality column on the player’s profile page by Tuesday evening. The Nedbank Challenge is the third event of the new season which kickstarted on November 21.
He is the second golfer to switch their international allegiance to the UAE in as many years after English-born Challenge Tour member Joshua Grenville-Wood opted to become an Emirati.
Born in San Sebastian, the 32-year-old turned professional in 2011 and has won five titles since as he has secured places on the Order of Merit which is named Race to Dubai. He is a resident of the UAE for 13 years and counting.
Speaking at a press conference in Dubai on Tuesday, he said: “The UAE is my home. I love its culture and how it has become one of the most innovative nations in the past 50 years. My goal is to represent the UAE globally, win an Olympic medal, and raise its flag on the podium.”
View this post on Instagram
Otaegui will collaborate with the Emirates Golf Federation to provide training and technical support to players. “At the same time, I feel that young Emirati golfers need a role model to inspire them to develop and enhance their skills,” he added.
“I am excited to contribute to the growth of golf in the UAE and assist the UAE Golf Federation in establishing an elite programme to create future champions.”
Otaegui finished 34th on last season’s Race to Dubai Rankings as he played his way to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
At the age of 19, in 2011, he earned a spot in the European Tour and went on to win five tournaments within the DP World Tour. These include the Paul Lawrie Match Play in Germany in 2017, the Belgian Knockout in 2018, the Scottish Championship in 2020, the Andalucía Valderrama Masters in 2022, and the Volvo China Open in May this year.
Speaking on the occasion, the UAE Golf Federation Vice President, Major General Pilot (Ret.) Abdullah Al Hashmi said: “This is a remarkable achievement not only for Adrian but also for golf in the UAE. We will continue to develop and promote this sport to the highest international standards.
“Adrian has long been an ambassador for Emirati golf, and his integrity on and off the course is the standard we aim to instil in all players. We wish Adrian, his family, and his team the best of luck and look forward to more accomplishments in the near future.”
