John McAuley
DUBAI // Thank heavens for that top five, eh?
Shanshan Feng, a veritable virtuoso at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, came into the week typically playing down expectations, but when the dust had settled on another year at Emirates Golf Club she stood clutching the trophy, with a couple of new records to boot.
Her 12-shot victory beat the previous winning margin by six, while in cruising to the title Feng became the first player to capture the Dubai crown for a third time. It was just a pity the lowest tournament total of 21-under par did not tumble, too, but then that would have been a tad greedy.
Instead, Feng simply matched it. All said and done, not a bad week’s work for the defending champion.
“Actually, before I came here this year, I didn’t really think I could win again,” Feng said. “I didn’t really aim that as a goal. I was like top five, just enjoy the week and just try my best on every shot.”
She certainly achieved that, at the very least. Breezing around the Majlis on Saturday, Feng posted a spotless final-round 66, adding to the three consecutive 67s that went before it. In fact, she registered only two bogeys throughout the entire week.
From the moment she birdied holes two and three of her final round, though, which built a seven-shot lead over closest competitor Thidapa Suwannapura, the writing was pretty much on the wall.
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Considering her record around the track, maybe it had been all week. Either way, Feng was just happy to conclude the campaign with a second victory to go with the one at May’s Buick Invitational. It also proved that, at age 26, she can still show golf’s new generation a thing or two.
“Well, this year my goal on the LPGA was to win one time - but I didn’t,” Feng said. “So winning another one as the last tournament to finish this year, I’m really happy that actually I can. I believe in myself that I can win again.
“So I’m not too old. I still can win. I still can compete.”
Feng departed Dubai not just with renewed belief in her ability, but boasting a considerable bounty, too. With the win, she received a third replica trinket – to go alongside the other two in her cabinet at home – the €75,000 winner’s cheque, the pay slip from winning the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit and another watch from Omega, who she already serves as brand ambassador.
She apparently collected a few new fans after her speech at the closing ceremony, as well.
“I said: ‘well, it’s me again’, and then everybody laughed,” Feng said. “And I’m like, ‘it’s like everybody is my old friend now’. They liked it.”
Most probably, they will continue gushing over the Guangzhou native. Given her late run this year, Feng plans to skip the first three events of the 2016 calendar before beginning next season at the Honda LPGA Thailand, on the main US circuit, in the last week in February. From there, she will attempt to improve on her world No 6 ranking, while seeking to get a few more LPGA wins under her belt.
Then, everything permitting, Feng will be back at her favourite haunt in 12 months’ time for a go at a fourth success.
“Well, as a defending champion, if I don’t come, I will get a fine,” she said with a nod to the LET representative sitting to her right. “But that’s just joking.
“Even though there’s not a fine, I’m still coming every year. Because I don’t have many chances to actually support my sponsor, so this is one of the biggest times that I am here for them.
“And I love Dubai. I think this is my lucky place.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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