DUBAI // Carlota Ciganda may be attempting this week to secure the Order of Merit as a rookie, but the European Ladies Tour's (LET) front-runner has not been lacking for advice.
Take, for instance, various competitive rounds spent this year with Laura Davies, the four-time major championship winner who also has seven season crowns and 82 career titles worldwide.
Or "good friend" Sergio Garcia, the former world No 2 on the men's circuit and collector of 22 professional victories, including 10 on the men's European Tour and eight on its American sibling.
Or, if words of wisdom are needed from someone of another sporting sphere altogether, then uncle Jose Angel Ziganda is only a phone call away.
Given he was a centre-forward of considerable ability with Athletic Bilbao, the Spanish Primera Liga side, he may know a thing or two about excelling in the competitive confines of top-level gamesmanship.
So Ciganda will have little excuse should, come Saturday night at Emirates Golf Club, she not be crowned European No 1.
The Spaniard, currently €31,958 (Dh153,558) ahead of second-placed Caroline Masson, needs only to make the cut in Dubai to all but guarantee the trophy.
Perhaps secretly, Masson will be hoping Ciganda fails to hang around for the weekend, leaving the Gladbeck-born player requiring at least a top-three finish in this season finale.
"I played with Sergio before going to India and he just says to keep enjoying and keep having fun, because golf can be really nice sometimes and other times not," Ciganda, 22, said.
"So I'm just trying to enjoy the good moments and make the most of everything.
"It's certainly an advantage being first on the money list, but I don't like to think too much about it. I just think about playing golf and, if you give 100 per cent when you're on the course, the result is going to be good. And if you play good, you're going to be at the top."
So much for needing advice, then. Ciganda does admit, though, that Masson represents a formidable challenge, with the 23 year old also on form having last week earned her card for the 2013 US LPGA Tour. Masson has one victory this season, too, recorded in June's South African Open.
"I think she's going to play well," said Ciganda, who has the chance to become the first player since Davies in 1985 to collect in the same season both the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year titles. "She's been playing great all year and has a big chance here.
"I know she's going to fight hard and try to do that, so I'm just going to focus on my own game and play the best I can. Then we'll see."
Masson is Ciganda's only rival for the money list, yet understands the chances of eclipsing her opponent are slim at best. The incentive in attaining the Order of Merit crown - it brings a bonus €20,000 and a 10-year exemption to the LET - is enough to keep her fires burning.
"I know I have to play really well to catch Carlota," Masson said. "She's had a great year and is a great player. I knew when she was coming out on tour that she's going to play great.
"But I've had a great year. I'm happy with what I've accomplished so far, and if I can pull off a top three this week I'll be even happier. But I don't think I have a lot of pressure.
"My expectations weren't too high this year. I had a few more chances to win, which I couldn't do, but maybe this week when expectations are low I can just go out and have fun.
"We're going to have a good battle out there."
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 715bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,289,376
On sale: now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
