Two of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars have roots that stretch far beyond the fairways of Bethpage – all the way back to the Middle East. Robert MacIntyre and Matt Fitzpatrick, both integral to Luke Donald’s European line-up, cut their professional teeth on the MENA Golf Tour before blossoming into world-class players.

Fitzpatrick’s rise is well documented – a US Amateur champion who soon after teed it up on the MENA Golf Tour circuit to gain competitive experience against a truly international field. The desert starts sharpened his game and helped lay the foundations to become the 2022 US Open champion.

MacIntyre, meanwhile, arrived in the region hungry for opportunities and quickly showcased his free-flowing left-handed swing. The Scotsman’s talent was evident, and the MENA Golf Tour provided him with valuable tournament experience that accelerated his journey towards European and PGA Tour victories.

For the MENA Golf Tour, their presence in Rome (and now New York) is a proud reminder of the circuit’s role in developing future champions. From Dubai to the world stage, MacIntyre and Fitzpatrick prove that the path to golf’s biggest team event can start in the Middle East.

Don’t forget to mark the date when entries open for the 2025/2026 MENA Golf Tour season:

OCTOBER 3rd. 09:00 GMT