Michelle Wie, one of the brightest stars in the world of women’s golf, will headline a stellar field when the American golf sensation tees it up for the first time in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
MICHELLE WIE Picture © Getty ImagesThe Ladies European Tour’s end of season event will be played at the Emirates Golf Club for the fourth consecutive year from December 7 to 12, 2009.
After a tremendously successful rookie season on the LPGA Tour, which also saw her play a key role in the US team’s Solheim Cup victory, the 20-year-old is expected to electrify the tournament when she joins an already talented field from Europe in what promises to be an intense Desert Duel.
Named in a 2006 Time magazine article as “one of 100 people who shape our world,” the Hawaiian is the latest superstar to sign up for the Dubai Ladies Masters which, since its inception in 2006, has showcased players of calibre and reputation of Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies, Karrie Webb, Gwladys Nocera, Sophie Gustafson and Natalie Gulbis, making it the most popular ladies golf event of Dubai’s sporting calendar.
“We are really delighted to have Michelle in the field. She is charismatic, she is skilful and her presence will certainly provide a big boost to the tournament,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi — the promoters and organisers of the euro 500,000 tournament.
“Michelle Wie may be just 20, but it appears that she has been around for a long time and has done wonders to raise the profile of women's golf. The amount of hard work she puts in every day to improve her game and fitness shows she is determined to realise her dream and is on the brink of mega-star status,” said Buamaim, who also welcomed Omega on board as title sponsors of the golf in DUBAi events, which also includes the Dubai Desert Classic.
“Together, we will strive to deliver events befitting the global image of the brand Dubai,” he said.
Nayla Hayek, a member of the Swatch Group Board of Directors, commented: “We’re excited that Michelle, who is also an Omega brand ambassador, is making her first visit to Dubai. Combining feminine grace with power and technique, she is a strong ambassador for the future of women’s golf.
“Omega is one of the few brands in the world with a rich history and tradition that can compete with that of golf. Our involvement in international golf today includes tour and tournament sponsorship as well as official timekeeping,” she added.
Commenting on Michelle Wie’s first visit to Dubai, Buamaim said: “Her presence will certainly bring star value to the event, but the reputation of the Dubai Ladies Masters is built on the collective presence of the players. And we are very pleased to know it has once again attracted a strong field.
“All the 108 players in the field are capable of winning the event on their day, but certainly fans will also be keen to follow the progress of seasoned stars such as Laura Davies, Sophie Gustafson, Gwladys Nocera, defending champion Anja Monke and the new Swedish sensation Anna Nordqvist, who will formally seal her “Rookie of the Year’ award in Dubai.
"I wish all players, officials, caddies and guests a pleasant stay here in Dubai and I am confident they will all return home with fond memories of this city and further propagate the message of Dubai, as the ‘City of Golf’,” Buamaim added.
“I am very excited about making my first trip to Dubai and playing in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters,” said Wie. “I have heard so many great things about Dubai as a city, but also about the golf here, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it for myself.”
“This season was a very rewarding one for me, both on the golf course and off, and I’d love nothing more than to wrap this year up with a strong showing at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. I have such great respect for the players on the Ladies European Tour, and was able to develop close friendships with many of them in my first Solheim Cup experience, so it will be a great week.”
Wie, ranked 15 in the world, turned professional in October 2005, and has been building an impressive resume in golf since a young age. At 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in 2000 and qualified for an LPGA event when she was 12.
A year later, she became the youngest to make a cut. She played in the men’s Sony Open when she was 14. Now 20 years old, Wie is proving successful both on and off the golf course.
'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor while BMW, CNN, Emirates Airline, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Jumeirah Hotels, MasterCard and wasl are co-sponsors in its drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.
