From 1st to 3rd February the tournament returns to the DPWorld Tour calendar after 13 years (in 2011, when the Englishman Paul Casey won)
Exactly one month is left until the Bahrain Grand Prix which will kick off the 2024 Formula 1 season. In Manama, the capital of the small Arab state, many billboards commemorate the event and everyone is ready for the orange invasion of Max Verstappen’s fans. First, however, there is another sporting event to celebrate, less noisy, but still deeply felt by the Al Khalifa royal family: the other day there was also one of the king’s sons – Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad – at the Royal Golf Club where from tomorrow (Thursday 1st) to Sunday the “Bahrain Championship” will take place, which returns to the DPWorld Tour calendar after 13 years. Eight of the nine Italian players with “card” take part: Guido Migliozzi, Edoardo Molinari, Lorenzo Scalise, Andrea Pavan, Matteo Manassero, Francesco Laporta, Filippo Celli and Renato Paratore. The only absentee is Francesco Molinari who is taking a break after a long series of races between Dubai and America.
the favourites
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The last time it was played here was in 2011 when the Englishman Paul Casey won. On this occasion, Edoardo Molinari, recently confirmed as vice-captain in Team Europe for the 2025 Ryder Cup, placed eighth, followed by Manassero (13th) and his brother Francesco (20th).
This time among the favorites are the Dane Rasmus Hojgaard and the Frenchman Frederic Lacroix (who placed third in Ras Al Khaimah last week), the Germans Maximilian Kieffer and Yannik Paul, the Japanese Keita Nakajima, the Englishman Callum Shinkwin and the South African Brandon Stone. Also watch out for Scotsman Grant Forrest who is reported to be in good shape.