Ahmed Skik, captain of the national golf team, began his professional career by participating in the Challenge Arriba tournament in Portugal, part of the Mena Golf Tour. In the first round, he delivered a balanced performance with 78 strokes, which is six under par. The tournament features distinguished golfers from various countries worldwide and has a total prize money of $100,000, offering points towards the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Skik embarked on his professional journey with great optimism, choosing the Mena Golf Tour as the starting point. This UAE-led initiative is a leading global golf tour and the only one based in the Middle East, holding official OWGR recognition. It hosts internationally certified tournaments and provides promising opportunities for players to advance to larger tours, such as the DP World Tour and the European Tour. The Challenge Arriba tournament in Portugal is the first event on the 2025-2026 season schedule for the Mena Golf Tour, which will consist of 12 tournaments across countries including Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and concluding in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Skik expressed his aspirations for his professional future, stating in a press interview: 'I have always thought about it and aspired to turn professional, but I waited to conclude a strong season by playing in Asia-Pacific tournaments. I am starting this season as a professional, and I feel that my level is improving gradually. It's great to become a professional, and I'm happy that this is my first tournament.'
