Young and Alonso share lead in Dubai

Sport360 staff 18:41 09/12/2015
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  • Share of the lead: Liz Young.

    The two leaders after the opening round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters – Spain’s Carmen Alonso and England’s Liz Young – were perfect examples of two major factors that can often play a decisive role in golf.

    Both shot rounds of six-under par 66 to be one ahead of the defending champion and the highest ranked player in the field – world No6 Shanshan Feng. 

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    The story behind the two 66s were most interesting.

    Alonso’s was a result of just being happy with life, after a heavy burden lifted from her shoulders when her mother got an all-clear from the doctor a few days ago. She has been suffering from lung cancer and had to undergo a procedure in October.

    Young, on the other hand, reaped rich reward of working hard on her putting. She has been struggling a lot on the green despite hitting the ball well, and has spent the last couple of months practicing hard at ungodly hours after she and her husband installed a 15-feet putting matt in their living room.

    The 32-year-old Alonso, one of the longest drivers on the Ladies European Tour, is playing this week fully aware that unless she wins, she faces a trip to the Qualifying School. She played just five events this season because of her mum’s situation, and did not make the cut in any of them.

    But that changed completely as she took on a demanding Majlis course with a happy frame of mind.

    “I’m very happy. I’m happy because two months ago, I didn’t know if I’m going to continue to play. And to be in Dubai in the sunshine and to play 66 in the first round, really, really happy,” said Alonso, who was bogey-free in her round.

    “This year was a tough one for sure. My mom had cancer in the lung. She had the operation in October. Now everything is good. I was struggling with my golf. Sometimes that happens when you are not happy to play on the golf course.

    “Obviously, when your mom is like this, it’s better to be home because family is more important than golf. Now that everything is right, I can do what I want.”

    Young was quick off the block with four birdies in a row, and finally ended with a tally of eight and two bogeys.

    Asked what went right, the 34-year-old from Sway said: “The putting. I had 25 putts. Considering my tour average this year is 31, that is pretty good. I had 25 putts and 15 greens, and that is going to equal a good score.

    “I’ve been striking it well all year. Haven’t been able to put the numbers together. I’ve been a bit disappointed with my season considering how good my swing’s got compared to last year. But my putting was not up to mark.

    “I’ve got a putting green in the front room. Luckily my husband plays golf, so he allows the 15‑foot putting matt in the lounge constantly and because it’s been so windy at home and cold in England, I’ve been spending a lot of time holing putts, so hopefully it’s paid good.”

    Young also thanked her caddie for the week, Omar Al Bastaki, a local club member who plays to scratch.

    Feng, who started with two birdies and was bogey-free, said: “I would say today, my ball‑striking was pretty good, but I didn’t really put the balls really close to the holes.  Most of my birdie chances were like maybe above 15 feet.”

    England’s Laura Davis was tied fourth at four-under par 68 along with Spain’s Elisa Serramia.

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