Ahmed Skaik isn't just playing to win — he's playing to build a future and a legacy

Khaleej Times

15-04-2025

Ahmed Skaik doesn't sound like someone who has been waiting for success. He talks like someone who is ready for it.
There's a quiet conviction in his voice, a sense that the work has been done — not just on his swing, but in how he sees himself.
After years of chasing form, navigating injuries, and dealing with the mental pressure that elite athletes quietly carry, the 27-year-old Emirati golfer has reached a point of clarity in his career.
'I feel mentally much stronger,' he says. 'Everything I've been working on — physically, emotionally, even spiritually — is starting to come together.'
Self-belief
The results reflect that self-belief. While much has been said about his historic performance at the UAE Challenge — where he became the first Emirati golfer to make the cut in a European Tour-sanctioned event — for Skaik, it was simply another confirmation that he's heading in the right direction.
He recalls the nerves standing on the 18th tee in Ajman, remembering the triple bogey from the day before. But this time, he steadied himself and hit a perfect tee-shot and then flushed his second shot 270 yards downwind that hit to 17 feet from the pin, from where he bravely holed it.
'I just said to myself, You've done this before. You can do it again.,' he said. 'That hole was everything. It tested me. And I passed. That moment… I really wanted it,'
For Skaik it just isn't about golf. It's about moving forward with clarity about what he wants - to turn professional later this year. And the decision isn't being rushed by results or headlines. It's coming from something more grounded — a readiness he feels every time he steps onto the course.
'I've tried to get here many times, and I've come up short. But I needed those experiences,' he says. 'I've grown from them. I'm ready now.'
Restructuring Process
In recent months, Skaik has restructured everything around him. A focused training regime, regular physio, proper rest and recovery, healthy meals — and a team that helps him stay balanced. He's found that small changes, about getting the basics right, every single day.
'It's the things people don't always see,' he explains. 'The stretches before and after a round, the cold therapy, eating right — it makes me feel better every day.'
More importantly, he's found belief again. For a while, it was missing. Injuries had taken their toll. So had the mental grind of tough competition. But now, there's a rhythm to his game — and to his life. His ball-striking has improved, but so has his mindset.
'It's not just about technique,' he says. 'I'm trusting myself more. I tell myself: Commit to the shot. You belong here,' And that voice is getting stronger.
Future Targets
Looking ahead, Skaik is targeting the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship this October — a landmark tournament on home soil. Whether he wins or not, it will trigger the period when he officially turns pro. After that, he plans to attempt both the European and Asian Tour Q Schools, stepping fully into the next phase of his journey.
'I love this game. I want it to be my future,' he says. 'And I think I'm ready to earn that.'
But as he pushes forward, Skaik is also aware of the space he now occupies — as a pioneer, and perhaps more importantly, as a role model in the UAE. The messages come in weekly, sometimes daily — from Emirati kids, Arab expats, and aspiring golfers of all backgrounds. He sees it as both a responsibility and a reward.
'It makes me proud. It reminds me that this is bigger than me,' he says. 'And it tells me I'm doing the right things.'
There's a phrase he repeats often, one that sums up the balance he's trying to strike: 'It's good to be a killer on the golf course — and a good human being on the outside.'
That balance — fierce competitor meets grounded person — is what's guiding him now. Not just toward trophies, but toward a lasting legacy for golf in the UAE.