Carlota Ciganda and Masson aim to end the year on a high at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
The equation is heavily-loaded in favour of Carlota Ciganda, but the Spaniard is in no mood take things for granted as the battle for the Order of Merit title enters the final stretch. The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters is being 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.
With just one event remaining to be played on the Ladies European Tour, the 22-year-old Spaniard leads Caroline Masson, her only challenger on the money list, by €31,959 (Dh153,733), and looks well set to become the first player since Laura Davies in 1985 to win both order of merit and rookie of the year titles in the same season.
Germany’s Masson would need at least a top three finish, worth €35,000, to upstage the Spaniard, assuming the latter misses the cut. The scenario may look highly unlikely, but golf can be full of surprises. That’s part of what makes the sport so intriguing at times to watch.
Having tied for 11th at LPGA Final Qualifying School over the weekend to earn her full US card for 2013, the 23-year-old from Gladbeck is high on confidence and hopes to become the first German to top the ranking in the 34-year history of the Ladies European Tour.
“I know I have to play really well to catch Carlota. I know she had a great year. She’s a great player. I knew when she was coming out on Tour that she’s going to play great,” said Masson, the 2012 South African Women’s Open champion.
“I had a great year. I’m happy with what I accomplished so far, and if I can pull off a top three this week, you know, I’ll be even more happy, but I don’t think I have a lot of pressure.”
Ciganda played down all the hype swirling around the Order of Merit race, saying: “I think it’s an advantage if you are first on the Money List, but I don’t like to think too much about that.
“I just like to think about playing golf and playing on the course and if you give it 100 per cent when you are on the course, I think the result is going to be good and if you play good, you’re going to be at the top.”
First and foremost on both players’ minds will be lifting the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters trophy, worth €75,000, on Saturday, to top off a stellar year.
“It’s been a very good year. It’s easy to travel, living with my family, because I studied in the States so it’s nice to be back home again, and I really like it playing in Europe,” said Ciganda, who boasts two wins and nine further top ten finishes this season, including a tie for fourth at last week’s Hero Women’s Indian Open.
“I’m very happy to be here because I really like the course, all of the people here. The food is really good, and the course is amazing. It’s in great shape and I think it’s a great moment to finish here the Ladies European Tour.”
The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters will see 108 players compete over four rounds from Wednesday for a purse of €500,000. The year-ending tournament is being played at Emirates Golf Club for the seventh consecutive year.
“With so much at stake coming down the line for frontrunners, we can expect a great finish to the tournament,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, the promoters and organizers of the euro 500,000 event.
“Women’s professional golf has become quite competitive with many young players enjoying early success on the tour. This surprise element has further spiked interest in the game.”
‘golf in DUBAi’ is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Drydocks World & Maritime World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, 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.
