ABU DHABI // History beckons for one of the 126 women golfers in the inaugural Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Open when it tees off Wednesday.
The winner’s name will be engraved on top of the Roll of Honour list as the event is set to become a regular fixture on the European Ladies Tour (LET) with an agreement to stage it for the next five years at the picturesque Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
Annika Sorenstam, the guest of honour of the FBM Ladies Open, believes the tournament can act as a perfect first step to grow the game among women players in Abu Dhabi.
“It will, of course, take a little time and effort to grow the game here,” said the 2017 European Solheim Cup captain, who will also act as a television commentator for the tournament.
“Hopefully the exposure that we generate, and the engagement that we have with the people who attend, can lay the foundation in place for more people, especially youngsters, to start playing golf and aspiring to emulate the girls on tour.”
See also:
• Melissa Reid: Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Open shows the 'good progress' of female golf in the Middle East
• Annika Sorenstam: FBM Ladies Open to 'inspire young girls and women' to play golf in UAE
Among the field for the US$550,000 (Dh2 million) prize fund is Amy Boulden, who will be utilising all her experience spent training at the course where her sister, Kim, was formerly a teacher at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Boulden, from Wales, was the 2014 Omega Rookie of the Year and recently finished a season-best tied fifth at a tournament in France. She said: “My sister used to live out here so I’ve got a lot of friends from around this area.
“I’m really looking forward to playing because the course is set up really nicely.
“I’m playing well, so it’s just keeping that going and I know that if I’m feeling good on the golf course then I’ll have a good week.”
Another participant with experience of the Saadiyat course is Carly Booth of Scotland.
“It’s nice to have a few events in this area, with Dubai and Doha coming up,” said Booth, who played in the 2011 Gary Player Invitational.
“Golf has grown so much here and the men have three or four events, so it’s nice to finally have the women out here as well. It’s a great place for the Ladies European Tour to come and play.”
Melissa Reid, too, has frequented the course when she is preparing for competitions. She hopes to draw on her knowledge of the course and to be in contention come Saturday’s final round.
“The experience would certainly come in handy,” she said. “However, you still need to go out there are do it all over again. We’ll see how it goes on the first day and then take it from there.”
Aditi Ashok, 18, the LET rookie who represented India at the Olympic Games in Rio, said: “I love the greens. They are really huge. You need to hit the ball into the right spot on every hole.
“Some of the holes are easy, but the pin position can make it a birdie hole or a par.
“I’ve had top 10s coming all the way here, so I’m trying to do better and hopefully play well every day and reach the top.”
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