Defending Champion Tiley ready for Rory’s X-Factor
Egyptian Open champion Steven Tiley may have seen off the challenge of Colin Montgomerie in 2009 but the talented Englishman will need to do the same to another Ryder Cup hero in the shape of Rory McIlroy if he is to successfully defend his title when the pair line up at the $250,000 Egyptian Open 2010 presented by SODIC next week.
Twelve months ago, Montgomerie could only finish fifth on his debut appearance in Cairo as Tiley swept aside his challengers to win by four shots at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club.
This year, Tiley – who is part of the same ISM management stable as McIlroy – faces yet another formidable hurdle in the shape of world number nine from Northern Ireland as Cairo makes its official debut on the full European Challenge Tour calendar from October 20-23.
“I think it’s great to have European Tour players playing on the Challenge Tour, especially very high profile players such as Monty and Rory,” said Tiley, who has accepted an invitation from the organising Egyptian Golf Federation to defend the oldest trophy in Middle East golf. “It really makes the challenge tour profile grow – the more publicity it gets the bigger it will become.”
The 28 year-old from Kent earned his own fair share of the headlines when he flirted with the top of the leader-board following an opening round 66 at this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews.
“The Open was a great experience – just like winning the Egyptian Open that will also never be forgotten. I did what I set out to achieve, which was to get some sponsorship and then some coverage for my career. Both my manager Chubby Chandler and I agreed that was just the thing my career needed.”
Since The Open, Tiley has enjoyed back-to-back top ten finishes on the European Challenge Tour in France – where he was second – and Kazakhstan. However, he is excited at the thought of returning to the scene of one of his most important victories and experiencing the challenging desert winds.
“It was very windy last year but I believe that was a major factor in me winning,” he added. “I grew up playing at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal back home in Kent so I grew up in the wind. I just imagined I was playing back home so it will only help my game returning to Cairo as the familiar surroundings should help. I was delighted when the same venue was announced earlier in the year.”
While last year’s tournament enjoyed European Challenge Tour support, the Egyptian Open 2010 presented by SODIC is the first golf tournament in Egypt ever to offer world ranking points and is the last chance for the Challenge Tour pros to book their places at the season-end Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in Italy.
“Obviously Rory McIlroy should be on everyone’s list of players to watch especially after The Ryder Cup win but there are so many good players on the Challenge Tour you can’t really pick out names as anyone can win, which is the excitement this tour has over most others,” said Tiley.
“But two players who have caught my eye are Thorbjorn Olesen and Rob Dinwiddie. Thorbjorn finished second to me in Cairo last year, is young and will be a class act, while I think Rob is due a good week as he is a great player and definitely one too watch.”
The Egyptian Open 2010 presented by SODIC also enjoys support from the Egyptian Tourist Authority, Mercedes, Egypt Air, JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club, Julius Bär Advisory SAE, Dell, Drexel, Club Car, Hydroturf, Toro, Microsoft, Global Brands, Toshiba, Heineken, Coca Cola, Dockland, Titleist and ECCO. Entrance is free of charge to the general public.
Caption: Steven Tiley will be back to defend the 89 year-old trophy at the Egyptian Open 2010 presented by SODIC from October 20-23
