World no.1 Annika Sorenstam won the inaugural Dubai Ladies Masters with a comprehensive six shot victory on a thrilling final day at Emirates Golf Club. Sorenstam won the € 500,000 event on a total of 18-under-par 270 after rounds of 65, 68, 68 and 69 on the par-72 Majlis course.
The 36-year-old set the pace with a course record 65 in the first round and went wire to wire, eventually finishing six ahead of fellow Swede Helen Alfredsson, the 2007 European Solheim Cup Captain, who finished on twelve-under-par after a 67. Sorenstam entered the final day seven shots ahead of fellow superstar, World no.3 Karrie Webb, but the Australian had a final round 70 and finished two shots back from Alfredsson in third position. The Ladies European Tour’s youngest and newest member Amy Yang, 17, who won the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia in February as an amateur, had a final round 69 and finished in a share of fourth with the two-time French Open champion Veronica Zorzi of Italy, who shot 70. Yang, who was born in Korea but lives in Australia, was playing in her first tournament as a professional. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Louise Friberg was one stroke back after carding a 65, the joint best score of the day. Denmark’s Iben Tinning also had 65 and was a shot further back in seventh place on six-under-par. Sorenstam had been on course to win the Gulf region’s first full women’s tournament from the very start of the week and she said the only time she felt nervous was in the presence of royalty during the prize giving ceremony. She was presented with her winner’s trophy by Shaikh Maktoum, the son of Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, who was also present. Following her victory, Sorenstam moved up to third in the final Ladies European Tour 2006 New Star Money List. She has now won five tournaments worldwide this year, including two in Europe and three on the LPGA Tour in America.
Laura Davies captured the final 2006 New Star Money List for the seventh time in her 21-year career and Australia’s Nikki Garrett won the Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year Award for the best performance by a player in their first year on Tour.