US Teen Golf sensation Alexis Thompson believes success is around the corner as she competes in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
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.
The American teen sensation, who at 16 became the youngest winner on the demanding LPGA Tour, will join her compatriot Michelle Wie and Britain’s all-time great Laura Davies, the oldest pro at 48, among other top-draws in what promises to be an absorbing contest in the sun.
A young prodigy from Coral Springs, Thompson took the golfing world by storm when she won the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama by five shots in September this year, surpassing the earlier achievement of Paula Creamer on the US women’s circuit. Creamer was 18 years, nine months and 17 days when she clinched the four-round Sybase Classic in 2005.
“I think I can go pretty far, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I’m just going to take one tournament at a time and see what happens,” said Thompson, who is now looking forward to her second visit to Dubai and playing in what she calls “one of the best women’s tournaments in the world.”
“I am extremely honoured at the opportunity to compete at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters,” she said ahead of the euro 500,000 (Dh2.54 million) event, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi.
“Receiving an invitation to play in Dubai was always high on my priority list because it is one of the best events. This will be my second trip to Dubai and I am really very excited,” said Thompson, who finished in a tie for 22nd place last year.
“Obviously, I would like to improve on it. The (Majlis) course is really great, it’s so pretty and the experience of playing there last year should help,” said Thompson, who twice won the Junior PGA Championship and claimed the 2008 US Girls’ Junior before turning pro in June last year.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi, said: “Alexis may be young but what she has achieved so far is simply phenomenal. She is special and we are delighted to invite her to play in Dubai. I am sure young girls look up to her for inspiration and her presence will certainly add to the excitement.”
‘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.
