World-class field taking shape for third Saudi International

The third staging of the Saudi International is shaping up to have one of the strongest-ever fields for a regular event on the European Tour.

Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose celebrate winning the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Current major champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Shane Lowry had already confirmed their appearance in the event in February along with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed.

Now they have been joined in the line up at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on the Red Sea coast by a posse of European Ryder Cup stars.

Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Rafa Cabrera-Bella are all set to tee up in an event that will also feature defending champion Graeme McDowell.

The strength of the field means huge ranking points will be on offer for Europe’s leading golfers as they look to get their 2021 qualifying efforts off to a fast start as they seek to secure a coveted place on the 2021 European Ryder Cup team.

Fleetwood, one of the heroes in Thomas Bjorn’s winning team in France in 2018, is song those making their debut in the Saudi event, which is powered by Softbank Investment Advisers.

“From all I’ve heard from the lads who played there the last couple of years, the Saudi International is already established itself as one of the leading events on the European Tour both in terms of set up and facilities as well as quality of the field, which is really impressive this year,” said the six-time European Tour winner.

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