12.49 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
29 March 2024

Kim leads six-star parade for Challenge Match

Players practising ahead of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Staff

A sizzling star-cast, spearheaded by world number seven In-Kyung Kim, will feature in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters Challenge Match on Wednesday at the Emirates Golf Club’s Par-3 course starting at 6.30pm.

The South Korean ace will be joined seasoned Laura Davies, Michelle Wie, Christina Kim, Melissa Reid and Carling Coffing in the six-player field that offers fans a rare opportunity to watch the marquee players up close and personal as they deliver a ‘clinic’ in wedge play.
The Challenge Match, one of the highlights of the tournament week, will be followed by an official dinner reception which ‘golf in Dubai’ is hosting for all players featuring the field.
The six players will be split into three teams, each comprising two stars. In this greensomes format, both players play their drives and then select the best-positioned ball. Thereafter, they hit alternate shots with the same ball until the hole is completed.
The par-27 course, measuring 1,239 yards from blue tees, has been designed such a way that it tests the skills of all. The longest hole on the course is the 194-yard third hole while the shortest hole (the fourth) measures 96 yards.
“The six players have been selected for the challenge match on the basis of their rankings and, of course, for their star value on the tour,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of ‘golf in Dubai’, the promoters and organisers of the event.
“We would like to encourage more and more golf fans to come to the Emirates Golf Club and cheer top professional lady golfers, some of them would be competing in this region for the first time.”
Entry to the tournament is free, but access to the clubhouse will be restricted to pass holders. The opening of the Nakheel metro station just across the road would make it much easier for them to commute to the venue without any traffic hassles.
“We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the fans enjoy the proceedings on all four days of the tournament. A giant TV screen has been installed in the ‘public village’ for them to catch up the live action,” he said.
“Different food and beverage outlets, charity putt competitions and free golf clinics will further add to the carnival-like atmosphere at the village,” Buamaim said.
The Challenge Match will be preceded by a Pro-Am, the traditional curtain-raiser to the event, on Tuesday, starting at 7.30 am. The second shot gun is at 12.45pm.