The eighth Bahrain Amateur Open begins on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at the Royal Golf Club. Organizers have scheduled the tournament as a three-day event, with the competition concluding on Saturday, 24 October 2026. Approximately 100 golfers are competing in the tournament to determine the winner of this year’s edition. This event brings together a diverse group of amateur athletes who have traveled to the venue to participate in the multi-day competition. The Royal Golf Club provides the setting for the entirety of the tournament, hosting all rounds of play from the opening day through the final conclusion on Saturday.
Former Champions Lead Field
Ahmed Alzayed enters the tournament after previously securing victories at the Bahrain Amateur Open in 2020 and 2022. The field also features Ali Alkowari, who claimed the title during the inaugural edition of the event in 2019. Khalifa Almerisi, the champion from the 2021 tournament, joins these past winners in the competition at the Royal Golf Club. Zubair Firdaus of Malaysia returns to defend his standing as the reigning titleholder. He secured the 2025 Bahrain Amateur Open with a score of seven-under 209. These returning champions represent a significant portion of the competitive field, each having demonstrated prior success at this specific venue during previous iterations of the annual tournament.
Tournament Format and Rules
The Bahrain Amateur Open maintains status as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event. Officials have structured the competition as a 54-hole stroke play tournament. By adhering to the standards set by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the event ensures that the competitive results contribute to the official standing of the participating amateur golfers. The 54-hole format requires participants to maintain consistency over the three days of scheduled play at the Royal Golf Club.
Players must navigate a field reduction following the conclusion of the second round. Organizers will retain only the leading 45 players and ties in the gross competition after 36 holes. Those remaining will advance to play the final round on the third day of the event. This cut mechanism is designed to narrow the field to the top performers who have managed the course conditions effectively throughout the first two days of the tournament.
Prizes and Future Opportunities
Tournament organizers have confirmed that the overall winner of this year’s Bahrain Amateur Open will receive a direct entry into the 19th King Hamad Trophy. This qualification opportunity serves as a key incentive for the field competing at the Royal Golf Club. The inclusion of this prize notes the connection between the amateur tournament and the professional-level King Hamad Trophy.
Separate competitive advantages are available for the event’s top performers in relation to the 2027 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. Both the tournament champion and the highest-finishing Bahraini golfer will secure a place in the field for that professional event. Officials have scheduled the 2027 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship to take place from 28 January 2027 to 31 January 2027. By providing these pathways, the Bahrain Amateur Open offers participants the chance to transition into broader professional golfing opportunities. The tournament remains a focal point for local and international amateur golfers seeking to advance their competitive careers through these specific entry routes.
