Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup 2017 starts in Antalya

By Servet Tumer

ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup 2017 started Monday in Turkey's Mediterranean city of Antalya.

A total of 104 golfers from 62 countries will compete in the two-day event in order to be one of the six contestants who will attend the Turkish Airlines Open 2017 between Nov. 2 and 5 in Belek town of the province.

Almost 80 golfers, including last year’s Olympic medalists Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, will be competing in Turkish Airlines Open, which is the sixth of eight in the European tour’s Rolex Series tournaments.

Players who made the top 70 in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour are eligible to putt.

Apart from Rose and Stenson, the tournament will also host last year's champion Thorbjorn Olesen, three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, Ryder Cup icon Ian Poulter, Race to Dubai number one Tommy Fleetwood, and English golfer Tyrell Hatton.

A combined prize fund of $7 million will be given at the event, where three Turkish players will also hit the links.

Ali Altuntas will be competing in the event for the fifth time, but for the first time as a professional. Amateur players Leon Kerem Acikalin and Taner Yamac will also compete under the Turkish Golf Federation's quota.