2010 Ryder Cup winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland will headline a strong field of European Challenge Tour champions and promising local and regional talent when the 2010 Egyptian Open presented by SODIC is held in Cairo from October 20th – 23rd.
Colm Moriarty of Team Ireland and Gary Murphy are also set to tee off on Wednesday at the JW Marriott Mirage City course.
Steven Tiley of England saw off the challenge of Colin Montgomerie last year and knows he will need to do the same to another Ryder Cup hero this year if he is to successfully defend his title and win the $250,000 winners cheque.
Twelve months ago, Europe’s triumphant Ryder Cup Captain Montgomerie finished fifth on his debut appearance in the $250,000 event, as Tiley swept aside his challengers to win by four shots at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club.
Also confirmed in the 114-man line-up is England’s lowest handicapper Jack Senior (+5), who secured his place with victory in the Egyptian Amateur Open - the qualifier for the Egyptian Open presented by SODIC - and Egyptian number one Amr Abou El Ella.
Senior is one of several qualifiers from the Egyptian Amateur Open who will join McIlroy when the tournament gets under way at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club. Others qualifying for the penultimate European Challenge Tour event of the season are Egyptian Amateur Open runner-up Mickel Andersson of Sweden, plus Egyptian amateurs Soliman El Assar and Abdel Monem El Shafei, while Mamdouh El Sheikh qualified from his position in the Egyptian Golf Federation Order of Merit.
It may be the oldest tournament in the region, but this year’s Egyptian Open presented by SODIC will be the first time the event has offered World Ranking points, as the cream of the Challenge Tour are afforded their final opportunity to secure a spot in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy the following week.
As well as the four days of tournament play, the traditional pre-event Pro Am will be held on October 19th, when Titleist and ECCO will join tournament sponsors in offering great prizes.
