Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Georgia Hall and Minjee Lee in the spotlight at Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic in November

56 players will compete for $285,000 prize fund at Emirates Golf Club

Minjee Lee of Australia will play in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic in November. AFP

Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull will headline the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic next month.

The tournament, taking place under the lights on the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club, will run from November 4-6, with 56 players vying for their share of the $285,000 prize fund. As per public health guidelines, the event will be staged without spectators and is to be held in a “safe environment”, organisers said on Thursday.

Australian Minjee Lee, the world No 6, has been in fine form since golf returned following its pause during the global pandemic, reeling off three top-four finishes in five starts. In 2014, she finished tied-11th in Dubai.

“It will be great being back in Dubai competing again and this will be my first time playing under the floodlights with the backdrop of the night-time Dubai skyline, which I am sure will be an incredible experience,” Minjee Lee said.

“I just can’t wait to get out under the lights come November and try something new. Having previously secured a top-20 finish in Dubai before, hopefully my game will be able to adapt to the conditions and my performance will give me a chance to compete.”

Meanwhile, former world No 1 Ko will seek to continue her return to form on her Dubai debut. The two-time major champion, still only 23, finished tied-2nd at the Marathon Classic in Ohio in August.

Charley Hull of England. Tristan Jones

Englishwoman Hall could be the woman to beat, though, with the 2018 Women’s Open champion registering three victories already this season.

Hall secured back-to-back triumphs at the Rose Ladies Series in July to top the inaugural competition’s overall standings, while she also secured a play-off win at last month's LPGA Cambia Portland Classic.

“The prospect of being back out in Dubai where I first played in 2014 as a teenager is an exciting one,” Hall said.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Tristan Jones.

“I’m looking forward to finishing off the season in style and playing under the floodlights for the first time will be something new for my game to have to adapt to, it’s incredibly exciting for the players and we are very grateful that we have the opportunity to safely compete together once again.”

Compatriot Hull has already tasted success in the Middle East, winning last year’s Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi. A former Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour, she finished runner-up to Hall in Rose Ladies Series.

Georgia Hall of England. Getty

Formerly known as the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters - the inaugural event was played in 2006 – the tournament has been switched from May to November following its first staging last year. It was the world’s first professional day-night tour event.