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STA. ROSA, Laguna: Faisal Salhab has commented that he had a lovely junior experience growing up and playing in ����ֱ��. These days, he and Khaled Attieh have their hands full as part of the Asian Tour caravan that has taken them to multiple countries in the region.

Such is the transformation of the Saudi duo who have both graced the pages of Arab News since they were children. Attieh still remembers the lengthy interview he gave to Arab News when he was still a bubbly 12-year-old, and says he still has a copy of the paper, while Salhab shot his first eagle at Dirab Golf Club in Riyadh as a 13-year old, a feat that was documented by Arab News.

“It’s crazy, unbelievable. (It’s) good to see you,” Salhab, 26, excitedly said on Friday after Arab News caught up with him at the driving range of Sta. Elena Golf Club, the location for the International Series Philippines, presented by BingoPlus.

Attieh, now 31, returned a wide smile and waved his hand after he realized who called him from behind.

There are five Saudis playing on the Asian Tour, including the reputed poster boy of Saudi golf, Othman Almulla.

Salhab and Attieh might have failed to make the cut at the elevated Asian Tour event but they will be moving on richer in experience and looking forward to a repeat visit to the Philippines given the chance.

They said: “This is our first time visiting the Philippines. Beautiful people; beautiful golf course; very good hospitality, and happy to be here. From what we have seen this will not be our last time to be here.”

Salhab said: “Sta. Elena is a gorgeous golf course. Tough fairways and greens. We are lucky to miss the rain.”

Salhab, who lives in Riyadh, shared that Golf Saudi’s new push is internal growth.

The Jeddah-based Attieh, who is the youngest amateur Arab golfer to have qualified for the Dubai Desert Classic, was 8 over after two rounds of the tournament at Sta. Elena following scores of 77 and 75, while Salhab was +11 (77, 78).

The Saudi pair, who are both explosive hitters, had made a number of cuts on the Saudi-backed Asian Tour and arrived in the Philippines from Macau.

They fly next to Hong Kong and Singapore before returning to ����ֱ��.

Salhab said it had been tough on the golf tour, but he has learned to embrace it as it is a job they both have to do. 

LONDON: Liverpool will likely be without striker Alexander Isak, manager Arne Slot said, when they travel to Brentford on Saturday looking to turn around their three-game Premier League losing streak.
The Sweden striker is “not too bad” but is a “question mark” after sustaining a groin injury in Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who missed the Frankfurt match with an ankle issue, is also a doubt.
Slot defended forward Mohamed Salah, who finished as the Premier League’s top scorer last season but has become a target for some fan criticism for his recent drop in form.
“Players miss chances and he is a human being. We are not used to him missing chances,” Slot said of Salah, who has three goals in 12 games this season, across all competitions.
“The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool. The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He’s done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the coming weeks and months.
“Quite a few changes in the squad means everyone needs to find new connections.”
The Reds are third in the table after losses to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United, and Slot said his side must adapt to a changing tactical landscape, pointing to a shift in how opponents are approaching games against them.
“I try to tell (the players) that the main, main, main, main difference between this season and last season is the playing styles we face,” Slot told reporters on Friday. “We had to defend 178 long balls in (the first) seven games, and then the United game, we had to defend 59 long balls. That’s different than the first half of last season.”
Slot believes the key to breaking down these low-block, direct teams lies in moments of individual brilliance or set pieces.
“The way to unlock it is a moment of magic, which we had in the first half of (last) season, a lot with Mo (Salah), or a set piece, which we had at Frankfurt as well,” he said. “Two set pieces (goals from corners) unlocked the game for us.”
He also defended his comments about United’s tactics, saying they were meant as a compliment.
“When I tried to explain this in the media, it was actually more of a compliment for the other manager (Ruben Amorim), that he found the right answer to our playing style,” Slot said. “But I think if I’m correct, that wasn’t how people looked at it.”
Jeremie Frimpong, who reaggravated a hamstring injury on Wednesday, will be out for the next couple of games at least, Slot said, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains out.