2020 Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic begins today

A WEEKLY PREVIEW AND REVIEW OF THE UAE, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL GOLF SCENE

Today at 10 am and this afternoon at 4.30 pm sees respective shotguns of 56 players (54 Pros and 2 amateurs), compete in the 2020 Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic. The tournament will be played over 54 holes, with the first two rounds in Pro-Am format, with one Pro and 3 Amateurs, half under floodlights and half not, with the final round on Friday, November 6, with 56 players only, over the 6,289 yards, Par 72 Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club.

The Pros will be playing for a €260,000 ($285,000) prizefund over the three rounds. Question from Fairway Views: When will all the Professional Tournaments in this region agree to having US$ for all prizefunds?

Players to watch will be defending champion Nuria Iturrioz (Spain), who won last year with rounds of 67, 68 and 71 for a 10-under par total of 206 over the same course and format.

The best in the world are competing, including current 9th in the current Women’s World Rankings Minjee Lee (Aus) and Lydia Ko (NZ), currently 39th and former World No. 1. For those players with local connections, the tournament welcomes the first Arab lady professional on the Ladies European Tour (LET), and the first Arab lady to compete in the Olympics, Maha Haddioui (Morocco), a regular visitor to both Dubai and the region.

Alison Muirhead (Scotland), living much of her life to the left of the Par 3, 11th hole on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf, and 14-year Chiara Noja (Eng) now recently moved to Dubai from the UK to help develop her game all year round, have both received invitations to play from the Tournament organisers and promoters, Falcon & Associates. Marquee players to complete the field include; current Solheim Cup players Charley Hull (Eng and 30th in the World Rankings), Georgia Hall (Eng and 38th in the World Rankings) and Celine Boutier (Fra and 53rd in the World Rankings) as well as Solheim Cup Captain, 2019 and 2021, Catriona Matthew (Scotland).

It is great to welcome to Dubai and the tournament, legends of the game; Dame Laura Davies (Eng) and Trish Johnson (Eng), entered in the Life Members Category.

Sadly, due to Covid-19 there will be no spectators allowed to attend this 2020 edition of the tournament.

This Dubai ladies tournament on the LET was first played here in 2006, in a more traditional 4 round format. It boasts a wonderful history and a legendary list of former champions including Annika Sorenstam (Swe) in 2006 and 2007, Lexi Thompson (USA) in 2011 and Shanshan Feng (Chi) in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

We welcome all the lady golfers and all the ‘ Tournament Bubble’ of officials, sponsors, volunteers, TV and media to Dubai and wish them all the best and look forward to crowning the 2020 Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic Champion late on Friday night in this unique day / night professional tournament in the world of golf.

Good luck also to all the amateur players in the 36-hole Pro-Am competition. Stay safe all and enjoy your week! How to connect and watch:

LET live scoring / www.ladieseuropeantour.com

You can watch the action live from Wednesday–Friday at 15:00 – 18:00 GMT (19:00 – 22:00 UAE time) above on the LET website www.ladieseuropeantour.com

Live on Dubai Sports Channel 2 (UAE Time): Wednesday 19.00–22.00; Thursday 19.00–22.00; Friday 19.00–22.00

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