When the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship tees off on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club this month it will be an extra special occasion for Dubai’s very own Ahmad Skaik. He’ll be joined by compatriots Sam Mullane, Jonathan Selvaraj, Abdulla Kalbat and Rayan Ahmed, giving the UAE its strongest-ever presence in the field.
For the UAE’s No.1 amateur, this will be his sixth appearance at the prestigious event – and, as he tells Worldwide Golf’s Rick Bevan ahead of the eagerly anticipated showcase, the chance to perform on home soil is one he’s relishing.
“This will be my sixth one, a lot of years have passed, and I feel like my game is on a completely different level in every way,” says Skaik when we catch up ahead of the Emirates Golf Club showdown. “Ball striking, distance, short game, even my mindset – I’m in a much better place now and ready to give it my all.”
Skaik’s breakthrough at the Championship came in 2021 at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, where he became just the second Emirati to make the cut.
“It gave me a lot of confidence because if you play the same event and miss the cut multiple times, it’s always in your mind. To finally break it and make the cut was a stepping point for me, and I took that confidence into other events.”
That same path has now been followed by his teammate Rayan Ahmed, who made the cut last year in Japan. “It was good to see Rayan do that,” says the 27-year-old, who finished third in the Jordan Open last month behind teammate Sam Mullane who came second. “Hopefully all five of us perform this year and make the cut.”
Representing the UAE on the international stage has become part of Skaik’s identity. But while much of the noise centres around the weight of expectation on his shoulders, he sees it differently.
“It’s a privilege for me to represent the UAE,” he says. “I don’t really look at it as pressure or weight on my shoulders. I play for myself first and then for everyone else. I just focus on what I’m doing, and what comes after – the praise, the support – is all a bonus.”
The Majlis Course is familiar territory, although Skaik admits it has taken time to click.
“I love the course, but it never really suited my eye,” he smiles. “I’ve been practicing a lot there lately, and I’m getting the hang of it off the tee. The Majlis is tough – the rough can be thick, there are doglegs where a good tee shot can still run into trouble, and if the greens get firm and fast, it’s a real test.”
But Skaik will have a secret weapon in his armoury when the action gets underway from October 23-26. “To play such a big event in front of family and friends will be very special. I got a lot of support at Dubai Creek, and I hope we get the same this time – and hopefully a win with that.”
This year’s field includes five UAE players, a record number, and Skaik believes it’s the perfect platform to promote the game to the next generation of inspiring golfers.
“Usually it’s two spots, but because we’re hosting there are five,” he says. “That’s massive for golf in the UAE, especially for the locals. To see us playing at this level can motivate them to put in the work and also get the chance to represent the country on such a big stage.”
For Skaik, his role in the UAE golf ecosystem goes beyond his own scorecard. “I’ve had people come up to me and say they look up to me. That makes me happy, and I always try to be the best version of myself on and off the course – always humble, good attitude, win or lose. The same way I looked up to Khaled Youssef and Ahmed Al Musharrekh when I was starting out.”
The winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur will walk onto the first tee at Augusta National next April and also earn a place in The Open. It’s the stuff golfing dreams are made of, but Skaik has learned not to get ahead of himself.
“Playing The Masters is a dream, but I try not to think about Augusta,” he says. “When you play a tournament, you don’t focus on the trophy – you focus on your best golf in the moment, and whatever that brings, you take.”
“But It’s crazy when you think about the players who have come through here. I played with Min Woo Lee, and now he’s a PGA Tour winner. Matsuyama won two years in a row here and went on to win The Masters. We look up to that and try to follow their path.”
For now, his sights are set firmly on the Majlis month.
“It’s always a tournament I look forward to, and I’m going to give it my all. Prep as much as I can, play the course as much as I can, and do my best. If I win, amazing. If not, that’s what God has planned. But I’ll give everything I’ve got.”
