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Omega Dubai Ladies Classic: Georgia Hall, Aditi Ashok, Charley Hull out to challenge the veterans

Sport360 staff

16:40 05/12/2017

​Featuring a blend of youth and experience, the Omega Dubai Ladies Classic promises to deliver another shining example of the winds of change across the Ladies European Tour when the tournament gets underway on Wednesday.

Bursting at the seams with talent, young prodigies such as Georgia Hall, Angel Yin, Aditi Ashok, Charley Hull, Camille Chevalier, Celine Boutier and Klara Spilkova will go out with a slew of seasoned campaigners, providing first class golf entertainment for fans at the Emirates Golf Club.

In a buoyant mood after racking up six top-10s, including a second at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, England’s Hall has already assured herself the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit title.

France’s Chevalier, the winner of the Hero Women’s Indian Open, still has some work to do before sealing the Rookie of the Year honours.

In one of the major highlights of the tournament, In-Kyung Kim will be looking to wrap up her season with another successful shot at the title and become only the third multiple winner of the season-ending Ladies European Tour event in Dubai.

Kim, the winner of the Ricoh Women’s British Open, who first won the event in 2009, will have her work cut out as the 108-player field is packed with potential winners, who will be itching to step up to the plate and challenge the South Korean ace.

The grand dame of the women’s game, Laura Davies, American powerhouse Brittany Lincicome, Hull, Lee-Anne Pace and Catriona Matthew, the first woman to be included in Scottish golf’s Hall of Fame, will be among the strong contenders for the redesigned winner’s trophy that emulates the look and feel of the iconic Dallah, the symbol of supremacy at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

How the script unfolds, only time will tell, but one thing is sure, the tournament will throw up some enduring memories to add to its catalogue of classic moments.

Providing a distinct ‘local’ flavour to the event will be Morocco’s Maha Haddioui, the first Arab golfer to ply her trade on the Ladies European Tour.

And she believes a good showing from her could well mark a watershed moment for women’s golf in the Arab world.

“It’s a little girl’s dream, even if you are 28, you still have a dream to win in the region — Dubai or Morocco. It’s something really strong in my heart,” she said.

“If that happens it will sort of inspire other women in the Arab world to take up golf,” added Haddioui.​ 

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