A Classic battle looms
dubai — A new name, a new trophy and there will be a new winner.
A rebranded Omega Dubai Ladies Classic tees off at the Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club on a cool and pleasant Wednesday morning, and by the end of business on Saturday evening, the 12th instalment of the event will have a sure-shot new winner.
China’s Shanshan Feng, who made the Ladies event her own, winning four of the previous five Ladies Classics, won’t be defending her title as the freshly-minted world No.1 has some important commitments back in her native.
That has meant it is an open field and it could be the most exciting yet in the rich history of the Ladies Classic. Not that, it wasn’t with Feng’s presence, but her absence is perhaps an opportunity for the rest of the field to land the gleaming new Dallah — the Arabic Coffee Pot trophy.
And there are some exciting pairings going into round 1 and 2 of the season-ending event of the Ladies European Tour (LET).
England’s Georgia Hall, who has already sealed the Order of Merit title with six top 10 finishes this season, has been paired with countrywoman Charley Hull, who finished tied second here last year, and America’s Beth Allen, winner of the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Open last season.
It should be an exciting pairing to watch as the three tee off from the first tee on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, South Korea’s In-Kyung Kim, winner here in 2009 and returning to Dubai after a seven-year absence, has been paired with England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and amateur Sophie Lamb. They will tee off from the 10th tee in the morning. Kim, winner of the British Open this year, will be keen to add to the two other titles she has won on the LPGA Tour this season.
India’s Aditi Ashok, aiming for a unique ‘Desert Slam,’ will tee off with Gemma Clews of England and Chinese amateur HE Muni from the first tee.
Aditi, who is coming off an incredible rookie season on the LPGA Tour with starts in all the five Majors, could become the only player to win all the three events on the LET Tour’s ‘Desert Swing’ if she wins in Dubai. The 19-year-old from Bangalore, won the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Open last month and the Qatar Ladies Open last year. Aditi, who has her father as her caddie, made 14 cuts in 21 starts on the LPGA Tour with her best result being tied for eighth at the Marathon Classic.
james@khaleejtimes.com
Chevalier eager to get it done in Dubai