Kingdom Braces for Golf’s Grand Return

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The 2026 DP World Tour season is returning to Bahrain for the third edition when the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship takes place at Royal Golf Club from January 29 to February 1, bringing world-class golf, top players and a festival-style atmosphere back to the Kingdom.

Organisers outlined plans for the upcoming edition during a press conference yesterday at Royal Golf Club, attended by a distinguished panel of speakers. The lineup featured Tom Phillips, DP World Tour Director of Middle East; Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive of Bapco Energies; Faris Al Kooheji, Secretary General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; Captain Waleed Al Alawi, Chairman of Bahrain International Golf Course; and Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism. His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, was also in attendance.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Phillips said, “The championship continues to grow year on year, both in quality and profile, and it has firmly established its place on the DP World Tour’s International Swing. We remain committed to developing the tournament in Bahrain and helping grow the game locally.”

Echoing those sentiments, Mark Thomas reflected on the tournament’s growth and improvements to Royal Golf Club. “This is a wonderful golf course, as Captain Waleed mentioned in the press conference. They’ve done a lot of work over the years, and every year the course gets better and better. It’s a really good test, and one our players really enjoy. We want to build our tournaments over many years, attract more spectators year on year, continue increasing the prize money, and ensure the infrastructure and event setup get bigger and better each year. This is our third edition, but we want to keep coming back and help grow the game of golf here in Bahrain” Thomas told TDT.

Al Kooheji highlighted Bahrain’s ambition to increase its representation in golf, revealing that a new development programme will be launched soon to nurture local talent, similar to initiatives seen across other major sports in the Kingdom.

From a hosting perspective, Captain Waleed confirmed that further improvements have been made to the course, building on strong feedback from players in previous editions. Minister Al Sairafi added that the championship continues to deliver significant value to Bahrain’s sports tourism offering.

On the course, the field will be led by three-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington, current Race to Dubai leader Jayden Schaper, and former champion Dylan Frittelli, alongside 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Martin Couvra. Englishman Laurie Canter, who won the 2025 edition, will not defend his title.

General admission is free across all four days, with fans able to enjoy the Championship Village, live entertainment, and premium hospitality options, as Bahrain once again opens its season on the global golfing stage.