Amateur Yordan Yanakiev, 17, to become first Bulgarian to compete on DP World Tour in Türkiye

Bulgaria will become the 118th country to be represented on golf’s Global Tour this week when teenager Yordan Yanakiev makes his DP World Tour debut at the Turkish Airlines Open.

Yanakiev, who doesn’t turn 18 until July, takes his place this week in a field that features a Major Champion and Rolex Series winners.

While the likes of Francesco Molinari, Paul Waring and Bernd Wiesberger will be names known to most in the game, it is the opportunities afforded to new potential stars of the future that highlight golf’s ever-growing participation around the world.

Speaking to the DP World Tour on the eve of his history-making appearance, Yanakiev said: "It's a massive honour to represent Bulgaria, being the first to ever do it."

Instead of studying, Yanakiev, who already has eight amateur wins in the junior ranks, is teeing it up in the final event of the Asian Swing on the Race to Dubai.

Getting this opportunity is all part of the journey for him.

'Low expectations' - valued advice from Major champion Molinari

Afforded an invite by the General Manager at National Golf Club, Hasan Ceylan, Yanakiev enjoyed a practice round with Molinari, who is more than familiar with making history.

In 2018, the Italian became the first player from his country to win a Major Championship at The Open, before becoming the first European to win five points in a single Ryder Cup edition.

So, with that in mind, you might imagine the experienced Molinari would be well placed to advise how Yanakiev should go about approaching the week.

And, if by chance, it was during a pre-tournament practice round that Yanakiev enjoyed an "amazing" moment in the company of Molinari.

"I definitely have high expectations for myself. I hope my fellow Bulgarians also have high expectations for me.

But when I played yesterday with a legendary golfer, Francesco Molinari, you know,

"I asked him, 'if you could give me one advice, you know, it's my first DP World Tour start, what would you say?'

"He said to just have low expectaitons. So, I'm really trying to listen to him because I think he knows best."

Yanakiev will have his coach as his caddie and admits it is odd seeing someone who has been integral to his development so far carrying his bag and carrying out duties such as bunker raking on such an elite stage.

"My caddie is my coach, and there's definitely a hierarchy there, so I don't feel very comfortable with him doing everything for me!" he said.

His appearance comes two months on from Celestin Nsazuwera becoming the first player from Rwanda to compete on the DP World Tour at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa.

For Yanakiev, he hopes his participation can serve as a source of inspiration to those in Bulgaria that competing on such an elevated platform is possible.

I hope more people start playing golf in Bulgaria, as it's not very popular sport over there.

I want my country to know that there are golfers, there are good golfers, and I hope they tune in and support me all the way."

The global nature of the DP World Tour is in full evidence, with players from 32 countries, across six continents, in the field.

While it might sound a big number, it’s by no means a record for representation on the DP World Tour with 42 countries at the 2013 Open Championship being the all-time high.

When excluding Major Championships, World Golf Championships and the Rolex Series, the biggest number of countries in a field was 37 at the Joburg Open in 2017.

Most countries represented in a DP World Tour event