A strong finish would cap a memorable rookie year for Hedwall, who enjoyed a tremendous run this season, adding the Indian win to her victories in Slovakia, Finland and Austria.

Ai Miyazato of Japan has already secured the Money List title with her victory in the Evian Masters which carried an impressive purse of euro 363,079.68 (Dh 1.8 million) for the winner.  

With just euro 12,183 separating the two rising players of women’s golf, they have all to play for, though they insisted it wouldn’t lead to any further pressure.

“I think now it's more realistic to think that I could pass her this week.  Before then it was a pretty large gap, but it's definitely a goal for this week, but we'll see.  It kind of depends on how she plays, too,” said Hedwall.

“The victory in New DelhiI has given me a lot of self confidence and if I can keep the momentum going, I have a good chance of making it two on the trot,” said the Swede, adding: “This is my first visit to Dubai and I am loving every moment of my stay here.

“The field is great, so I'm excited to play. If I won it, it would be my greatest victory, based upon the level of competition here,” she said.

England’s Melissa Reid, hailed as a new British hope, insisted her game is in good shape even though she hasn’t played any competitive golf in the last six weeks. “I came here early to work on my game with my coach.

“Though I may be a bit rust, I am swinging it well and look forward to a great week,” said the 24-year-old who has never finished outside top-10 since making her first appearance in Dubai in 2008.

“Dubai has been very kind to me. I love the (Majlis) course there. It’s very exciting and I just love playing it,” said Reid, who rates the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters as one of her favourite tournaments.

“The tournament is quite professionally run, and the players are treated very well. The hospitality, the food … everything is just superb. I am really looking forward to visiting the city again,” said Reid, who feels the winning score would probably be around under 12-under since the course is playing touch, but the greens are just fantastic.”

Promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, the tournament wears truly a global look to it with players from 28 countries represented in the strong 108-player field, which is one of the strongest ever assembled in Dubai.

Also included in the field are Britain’s all-time great and golf in DUBAi ambassador Laura Davies, Michelle Wie, Christina Kim, Sophie Gustafson, new US sensation Alexis Thompson and a host of other top-draws.

In line with their long-held tradition of encouraging and promoting emerging players, golf in DUBAi has extended special invitations to Lindsay Brown, the winner of the Emirates Golf Federation’s Order of Merit title, and promising Abu Dhabi-based Sana Tufail -- the only two amateurs in the field.

"It is, far and away, the best field ever seen in Dubai," Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, said, adding: “The fact that we have some top LPGA stars joining the cream of the Ladies European Tour players clearly reflects on the growing stature of the tournament in women’s golf.

 “It’s been our constant endeavour to try and assemble the best possible field. We have been doing that because of the enthusiastic support of the players,” said Buamaim.

“All these players certainly bring star value to the event, but the reputation of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters is built on the collective presence of the players,” said Buamaim.

In a bid to encourage more and more fans come to the watch the action, the organisers have once again announced that there will be no entry fee and the tournament, for the third time, will have a Saturday finish.

'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Jumeirah, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi's drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.

The English veteran, who has won at least one tournament in every year bar 2005 since turning professional in 1985, is yet to win a stroke-play event this season, even though she led the European team to victory in the Solheim Cup in September.

The winner of the Emirates Golf Federation’s Order of Merit title, Brown, by her reckoning, had a “massive surprise” when she was handed a special invitation by ‘golf in DUBAi’ to compete in the season-ending Ladies European Tour event and it took a while for the feeling to sink in.

“To be honest, I never expected it (the invitation). It’s one of the best things that has happened to me. I am really grateful to golf in DUBAi for thinking about me and providing with a fantastic opportunity to play golf at this highest level,” said Brown, who arrived in the UAE only 12 months back.

“I am planning to turn professional before attending the Ladies European Tour’s Qualifying School for the 2012 season at La Manga Club in Murcia, Spain, in January. I do believe my game is ready for professional golf and can’t wait to get started,” said the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club member.

“I am taking this every-to-gain attitude in this tournament. Playing alongside some of the world’s leading players like Laura Davies, Michelle Wie, Christina Kim and a host others will certainly add to my confidence and give me an insight into the life of a professional golfer,” said the South African-born Englishwoman, who plays off a two handicap.

Playing her first season in the UAE, the 24-year-old prodigy wasted no time in asserting her supremacy, winning the 2010-2011 EGF Order of Merit in both gross and net divisions. Five victories in nine Order of Merit events highlighted her consistent performance during the season.

“Being the number amateur golfer in the UAE, Lindsay deserved an opportunity to take her game to the next level. I do hope exposure to the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters will go a long way in honing her competitive edge,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi’ – the promoters and organisers of the euro 500,000 (Dh2.5 million) event.

“We, at golf in DUBAi, take pride in encouraging talent, immaterial of their nationalities, and the invitation to Lindsay is a step in that direction. I hope it will inspire and motive other youngsters to step up their game. I wish her the very best.”

'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Gulf News Emirates NBD, Mercedes-Benz, Jumeirah and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi’s drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.

Since the inception of the Ladies European Tour event in 2006, only one player -- Tania Elosegui of Spain – has scored a hole-in-one when she aced the seventh in 2009. But no one so far has achieved the feat on the 15th.

Alexis Thompson believes more success is around the corner when she competes in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Emirates Golf Club from December 14 to 17.

Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, has joined hands with ‘golf in DUBAi’ as the official caterer and hospitality partner for the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Emirates Golf Club from December 14 to 17.

Christina Kim is the latest star to confirm that she will play in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Emirates Golf Club from December 14 to 17.