To reach Oman for the International Final of the Audi quattro Cup Circuit, you need to win much more than just a tournament. You must first pass the local test at your club, then the Territorial Final, and finally prevail in the National Final. Only one Spanish pair earns that golden passport each season to compete in the International Final, where champions from all over the world compete. In 2024, it was Miquel Riera and Alejo Farriols who achieved the feat, and TenGolf has been able to speak with them.
The tournament in Oman is already a challenge in itself, but what awaits on the other side of the journey is something that, according to those who have experienced it, is never forgotten. “In Oman, they welcome you at the airport, Audi staff accompanied us on the flight, and from that moment you feel as if you are representing your country in the Olympic Games,” recalls Miquel. “Everyone identifies you by your flag, even the buggies carry your flag. It’s a unique feeling. You stop being Miquel or Alejo to become Team Spain. I’ve competed a lot, and I hadn’t experienced this before.”
Riera’s adventure began long before setting foot on Omani soil. His golf story starts as a child: until the age of ten, he was one of the best players in his category in Catalonia, but at that age, he swapped clubs for a racket and focused on tennis, even earning a scholarship at Illinois State University. “It lasted a year, I burned out, and when I returned to Spain, I reconnected with golf,” he says. After nine years apart, the reunion was idyllic.
A member of the Real Club de Golf El Prat, he admits he plays little in federated tournaments and prefers social plans with friends, in a close but very competitive environment. The Audi quattro Cup fits perfectly with that philosophy: “I try to play a lot in pairs, and if I can do it with a friend, even better. This circuit gives me that and, moreover, a very high level of organisation.”
The Catalan speaks from experience. It wasn’t the first time Miquel tasted great success in an International Final of this circuit. In 2017, he won the international phase of the then Audi Canal Plus Tour, which was played on courses like Magnolia Lane, Palm Springs, or TPC Sawgrass, and that triumph led him to a pro-am in Mayakoba alongside Scott Brown. Quite something.
In the case of Alejo Farriols, his path to Oman is a very different but equally special story. He didn’t start playing until 2016, and in fact, at first, he wasn’t attracted to it at all. “My father used to take me when I was little, but I hated it; I was into contact sports: football, tennis, paddle, skiing… and it seemed incredibly boring,” he recalls. Everything changed one day when a friend invited him to join him on the course. “I said yes, hit a perfect ball in the centre of the clubface, and from that moment it was an addiction. A 100% addiction.” From there, while in college, he bought his first seven clubs and started playing relentlessly.
The background of both made a perfect combination in the quattro Cup. Miquel brings experience and expertise in this type of international competition, while Alejo brings freshness, enthusiasm, and an overwhelming passion for golf. Together they found a balance that allowed them to overcome each phase in Spain and shine in the international event.
“I like that in the Audi quattro Cup, you play with a handicap adjusted based on your results in the circuit. That ensures that whoever wins, truly wins, and avoids issues with people having mismatched handicaps. In the National Final, we arrived late to the tee and had a two-stroke penalty… but that motivated me even more. I like to compete, and we were able to overcome an adverse situation,” says Riera.
If there’s a phrase that sums up what it’s like to experience this circuit, they don’t hesitate: “We have felt like true professionals.” From the treatment, the preparation of the course, the atmosphere… everything is designed for players to experience something unique. “You breathe golf from the moment you arrive. The experience makes you feel special. There is no other amateur circuit that combines the competitive component with an organisation of this level so well.”
The National Final has undoubtedly been another of the strong points that this circuit has historically taken great care of. “There’s a lot of talk about the International Final, and rightly so, but the level of detail in the National is also impressive. The course is prepared with care, and even though it’s a more accessible course, it’s prepared to be challenging. It’s like a professional tournament. From how they welcome you to the possibility of hitting balls whenever you want. It’s not a stableford where anyone can surprise: here, you have to play very well to win.”
The final phase is another story. Reaching Oman is entering another world. “Organisationally, it’s impeccable. There are almost more people from the organisation than players,” explains Miquel. Welcome dinner, flags waving, two categories (first and second), and rivals from all continents. “You meet people from many cultures, and that enriches a lot.”
The course for the International Final is as spectacular as it is demanding: “Very narrow, if you miss the fairway, you’re in trouble. Being medal and with the adjusted handicap, it gives options to low handicaps, but it also requires consistency.” The Spanish pair finished in a commendable third place, with the pride of having represented the country with honour.
For Miquel and Alejo, beyond the result and a memorable competition, they closed the trip to Oman 2025 with the excitement of having competed in a memorable event and the certainty of having experienced something that will be hard to repeat…
