Biggest names in women's golf to participate in Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open

Sport360 staff 21:06 21/10/2017
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  • Some of the biggest names in women’s golf have confirmed their participation at this year’s Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, which gets underway at the iconic Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, in Abu Dhabi in just under two weeks’ time.

    This year’s edition will attract thousands of visitors, and spectators will be particularly thrilled by the news that top golfing talent Georgia Hall, Mel Reid, Catriona Matthew and Cheyenne Woods are all confirmed to appear at this year’s tournament, along with already confirmed Beth Allen, last year’s inaugural winner. Over the four-day period, 126 players will compete for a total prize purse of $550,000.

    Renowned as being one of Abu Dhabi’s top sporting and family events, this year’s tournament will take place from Wednesday November 1 through to Saturday November 4.

    Two players who came close to victory last year, Georgia Hall and Mel Reid, will be looking to go one better at this year’s tournament. Georgia’s ascent to the top of ladies golf has been rapid since turning professional three years ago. She featured in Europe’s Solheim Cup team in August, and has been a prominent figure on the LET tour this year and is full of confidence with six top-10 finishes from eight appearances.

    Looking ahead to this year’s open, Georgia said: “I’m looking forward to playing the course and playing some great golf. I’d love to have a good result after a really strong finish in my first-ever tournament last year. I know the girls think the course is absolutely lovely and as always there is a fantastic field – we can’t wait to get going”

    Hall’s English compatriot Mel Reid has also shown great form this year, winning the LET season opener at Oates Vic Open in Australia, and can’t wait to return to Abu Dhabi. Hall and Reid are joined by their Solheim Cup team-mates Florentyna Parker and Emily Kristine Pedersen, as well as vice-captain Catriona Matthew, previous Women’s British Open winner and LET player of the year, recently appointed as Team Europe captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup, and making her debut appearance at the FBMLO. Adding to the International flavour, South Africa’s Lee-Ann Pane will also be making her debut appearance and India’s Aditi Ashok will return to Abu Dhabi.

    Matthew can’t wait to make her debut: “I’ve had a great year so far- I was Vice-Captain of Team Europe, which was followed by a last minute playing position on the team, and then when I didn’t think it could get any better, I was honoured with the captaincy for the Solheim 2019 event. I’m really looking forward to topping off this great year in Abu Dhabi and hopefully this positivity will continue in the same vein at this year’s FBMLO.”

    Abu Dhabi will once again welcome another stunning line-up of the world’s best female golf professionals, with Cheyenne Woods also making her first appearances in Abu Dhabi. Recognised by legions of golf fans around the world, Cheyenne is the niece of golfing icon Tiger Woods. She debuted on the LET in 2013, recording five top-25 finishes. Cheyenne continued her hot play into 2014, where she broke through for her first career victory at the 2014 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in Australia.

    The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open is open to the public to attend and runs from Wednesday, 1st November to Saturday, 4th November, 2017 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. People can register for free tickets at www.fbmladiesopen.com/tickets.

    More information is available at www.fbmladiesopen.com, on Instagram and Twitter (@FBMLadiesOpen), and on Facebook.

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