With her hunger to scale the mountain as strong as ever, Dame Laura Davies will make her 10th straight appearance in this week’s Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
A venerable performer in women’s golf, Davies, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015, owns an incredible 84 titles worldwide, including four majors, but her appetite for glory remains ravenous even at 52.
“Just because you get a bit older doesn’t mean you can’t still compete week-in, week-out. All I want to do is win. My enthusiasm is still right there,” she said ahead of the season-ending Ladies European Tour event to be held at Emirates Golf Club from December 7-10.
“I remember what my last tournament win was, but I want to know what my next one will be,” said Davies, who envisages another five or six years competing on the European circuit.
“I’m hitting the ball really well. I just need to hole more putts which is paramount to winning. Hopefully, I will be able to do that and end the season strongly,” said Davies, who will be joined by defending champion China’s Shanshan Feng among other top draws in a star-studded field.
“If you look at my performance in Dubai, I think I have done well and look forward to improving on that record,” said Davies, whose best finish in Dubai being a tied second in 2007.
“I love Dubai. I love the tournament. The (Majlis) course is one of my favourites, so playing there is really special for me,” said Davies, who has also competed in a record-breaking 12 Solheim Cups.
“It feels great to be part of the ‘golf in DUBAi’ team that runs the tournament very professionally. It’s really an honour to be one of their ambassadors,” said Davies, who finished third at the Legends Championship earlier this year in the United States.
Commented Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi: “Dame Laura has taken women’s golf to a whole level, one who is going still strong despite so many years on the tour. She is just incredible.
“We feel proud and privileged to have the support of such a phenomenal figure who has been truly inspirational to junior golfers. Above all, she is a great human and a dedicated charity worker, who has set up her own foundation to further the development of junior golf in United Kingdom.
“We applaud her philanthropic activities and congratulate her one becoming the first female recipient of the Golf Foundation’s prestigious ‘Spirit of Golf’ Award for helping the Golf Foundation and its partners to grow the game.”
The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters is 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, JA Resorts & Hotels, Mercedes-Benz 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.
