ISLAMABAD (TNS) Rising Star: From KPK Fairways to the World Stage — The Remarkable Journey of Saad Habib Malik
At just 19, Saad Habib Malik is not just another golfer. He is Pakistan’s brightest hope on the global stage — a young athlete whose journey from the quiet fairways of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to elite international championships reads like a story of grit, dreams, and relentless ambition.
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The Boy Who Picked Up a Club at Eight
In 2013, an 8-year-old Saad first picked up a golf club at Kabbal Golf Club in Swat, KPK, unaware that this casual pastime would chart the course of his life. Early mornings on dew-kissed greens, hours of practice perfecting his swing, and quiet focus defined the boy who would later take Pakistan’s golf scene by storm.
While his peers played cricket and football, Saad was mastering patience, precision, and strategy — qualities that would later define him on Pakistan’s toughest courses. Even as he pursued A-Levels, balancing books and birdies became second nature. Today, his day begins with fitness at sunrise, followed by six hours of golf training, blending swing refinement, short-game skills, mental focus, and strength conditioning.
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A Meteoric Rise Through Pakistan’s Ranks
Between 2022 and 2026, Saad accumulated 17 major titles, but it’s the manner of his victories that tells the real story:
• 2025; 64th National Amateur Championship: Started the final round in 15th place; finished with a final-round 68 to lift Pakistan’s most prestigious amateur title.
• 34th National Games, DHA Golf & Country Club, Karachi: One of Pakistan’s toughest courses. Saad led his team to a gold medal, showcasing leadership under pressure.
• Multiple Pakistan Junior Championships and Independence Cups: A testament to consistency, resilience, and dominance in domestic competitions.
These victories weren’t just about winning — they were about building the mindset and composure needed to compete on the world stage.
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Making His Mark Abroad
Saad’s talent quickly earned international attention. In 2025, he received a USGA exemption to compete in the 77th US Junior Amateur Championship at Trinity Golf Club, Dallas. Competing alongside Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, Saad measured himself against the world’s elite junior golfers.
He even had the opportunity to play a practice round with Cameron Kuchar, son of PGA Tour star Matt Kuchar, gaining firsthand experience in the professionalism and precision of world-class golf.
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Sri Lanka National Golf Championship 2025: Grit on Foreign Soil
Perhaps the most dramatic proof of Saad’s potential came at the Sri Lanka National Golf Championship 2025.
Training on underdeveloped courses in Hyderabad, he defied expectations by taking Sri Lanka’s top players all the way to sudden death on their home turf. This performance wasn’t just impressive — it was a statement: if a teenager from Sindh Hyderabad could compete at this level with limited resources, the possibilities on the global stage were immense.
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Representing Pakistan Across the Globe
Saad has proudly represented Pakistan internationally in:
Mauritius • Thailand • Vietnam • United Kingdom • Japan • United States • Philippines • Kazakhstan • Sri Lanka • United Arab Emirates
He is currently ranked:
• 239th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR)
• 25th in Asia
His growing international presence reflects not just talent but a steady climb in experience, composure, and competitiveness.
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The American Chapter: NCAA Division I Golf
In Fall 2026, Saad will join NCAA Division I golf at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). There, he will face some of the most competitive young golfers in the world — gaining elite coaching, exposure, and experience that could shape the trajectory of a professional career.
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More Than a Golfer — A Symbol of Possibility
Saad Habib Malik’s journey is more than titles and rankings. It is the story of an 8-year-old boy from Swat who dared to dream, who trained relentlessly despite limited resources, and who consistently proved that talent combined with discipline can break barriers.
From local fairways to global arenas, from comebacks to sudden-death duels abroad, Saad has become a beacon for aspiring Pakistani golfers.
The story is still unfolding. And if his trajectory continues, Pakistan may soon witness one of its own shining on the world’s biggest golfing stages.
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