Teenage sensation Charley Hull will be hoping to add another first to her impressive resume when she returns to compete in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club next week.
The youngest player to win the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit title in 2014, aged 19, just 12 months after being named Rookie of the Year, Hull is the also the youngest to feature in the Solheim Cup, a feat she achieved in 2013.
She will be attempting to inscribe her name on the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters trophy and become the first winner of the tournament from England since its inception in 2006.
“It will be quite exciting if that happened to me. Being an Omega brand ambassador, it will mean a lot to me. But, I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself by setting goals,” said the 19-year-old from Kettering, who broke through on the European circuit with her victory in the 2014 Lalla Meryem Cup at Agadir In Morocco.
“I just take one shot at a time and I still have a lot to learn,” added Hull, who is part of a new national campaign launched to encourage more women and girls to take up golf.
The ‘#ThisGirlGolfs’ video, which also features Henni Zuel and Carly Booth, aims to raise awareness around women’s golf and stop a decline in female participation.
“I love Dubai and have some good memories of the tournament and that will definitely be a big help,” said Hull who racked up tied fifth and eighth in her previous two outings in Dubai.
“The (Majlis) course is amazing. You can’t relax, but you can hit your driver a little bit more around there. It’s good, and I really like the greens because they are very fast and firm,” said young prodigy, who is currently placed in the top-10 of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.
Dubbed by England’s all-time great Laura Davies as an exciting prospect who can inspire a new generation of players, Hull has already two top-10s to her in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
“I am really happy with the season so far. I want to win a lot of tournaments. That is what I am out there to do,” said Hull, whose presence will further strengthened the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters field, headed by defending champion Shanshan Feng of China and fellow former winner Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.
Hull turned professional on January 1, 2013 after winning several amateur events in the United States and Great Britain. Making an instant impact, she carved out five consecutive second-place finishes on the Ladies European Tour to introduce herself on the world stage in style.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi, said: “We are delighted to welcome back a player who is a great ambassador for women’s golf and a tremendous role model so many young girls.
“Charley is someone who has real enthusiasm for the game and has shown if you put your mindset on your goals, you go out and invariably achieve them. Her presence certainly elevate the energy of the competition,” he added.
“I wish her the best and hope she has a wonderful stay in Dubai.”
The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic are backed by OMEGA as the title sponsor and Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC as sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Drydocks World & Maritime World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Jebel Ali Resorts and Hotels, Mercedes and wasl, while Dubai Duty Free, Neocasa Interiors and Motivate Publishing are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi’s drive to showcase the emirate’s vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.
