Staff WriterThe Egyptian Open is back, and it’s about time. After a 15-year absence, one of the oldest national opens in the game is set to make its long-awaited return from 29 October to 1 November, with the pyramids of Giza providing a backdrop that makes Augusta look like a suburban driving range.
First staged in 1921, the Egyptian Open has a roll call of golfing royalty. Past players include Colin Montgomerie—an eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner and former Ryder Cup captain—who once strode these same fairways with that unmistakable Monty glare. This year, the tournament makes its comeback as part of the Asian Development Tour, boasting a tidy $125,000 prize fund.
The Egyptian Golf Federation made the announcement at the historic Mena House course, in sight of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World. And if that wasn’t dramatic enough, they also revealed plans for a new international tournament under the Asian Tour banner, designed to lure world-class players to the region.
A nation steeped in golf’s heritage
Speaking at the press conference, Omar Hisham, President of the Egyptian Golf Federation, struck a tone that mixed pride with ambition.
“We chose to make this announcement from the heart of the pyramids because this place symbolises heritage and tradition, just like the history of golf in Egypt. We have a legacy of over a century that places us among the oldest countries in the world to have played this sport.”
And he’s not wrong. With Egypt’s golf participation jumping 25% in the past year, the federation is determined to put the country back on the world golfing map.
Alongside the Egyptian Open, the federation will host the 104th Egyptian Men’s Amateur Open at Dreamland Golf Club, as well as the Egyptian Open for Juniors and the Amateur Ladies Open at New Giza Golf Club.
Building the game, eyeing the world stage
Hisham was quick to underline just how far Egyptian golf has come in a short space of time.
“We were able to increase the player base by 25%, and we successfully organised the Arab Junior and Ladies Championship at Madinaty Club, which was broadcast to the world and proved our ability to host tournaments with international standards,” he said.
That progress has been fuelled by partnerships with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Arab Golf Federation, and the Asian Tour. But the bigger picture goes beyond fairways and greens.
Golf tourism, Hisham stressed, could make Egypt a global magnet for players and fans alike.
“The ultimate goal is to pave the way for Egyptian players to launch into the global arena. Every tournament gives our players international experience and a better ranking, which brings them closer to participating in the Olympics. We want Egypt’s name to be strongly present on the world golf map,” he said.
A comeback with bite
In a year where LIV and the PGA have traded more barbs than a pair of porcupines, the return of the Egyptian Open is a reminder that golf’s heart still beats strongest in places where history looms larger than any leaderboard.
From its century-old roots to its modern rebirth, the Egyptian Open isn’t just a tournament—it’s a statement. And when October rolls around, the world will once again see golf teeing off in the shadow of the pyramids.
