AFP/Dubai


Chinese LPGA Tour star and defending champion Shanshan Feng  has already won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit crown, and is now aiming for a third Omega Dubai Ladies Masters title this week.
The lucrative tournament, the season-ending championship on the Ladies European Tour, starts today at the famous Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club, with Feng the highest ranked player in the field at world number six.
In her previous three visits to Dubai, the 26-year-old from Guangzhou has won twice and finished inside the top-10 in 2014, when another LPGA Tour star, Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum won the event. Feng, who won the Buick Championship in China earlier this year, and then finished third in the big-money Evian Championship in France, has an insurmountable lead on top of the Order of Merit standings.
The world number six has accumulated 324,213, while Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen is second at 230,777. The first prize this week is 75,000. England’s Melissa Reid is third at 219,150.
Feng said she is not feeling much pressure this year, despite being the highest ranked player in the field and the overwhelming favourite. “I’m really happy to come back this year. It’s my fourth time here and I’ve had a very good record here so far. “This year coming back as defending champion, I don’t feel as nervous as I was in 2013. Last time I was defending champion, I think maybe I still had a little bit of pressure, so I didn’t perform as well as I thought I would,” said Feng, the only Chinese player to win a major golf championship (2012 LPGA Championship).
“This year coming back, I just want to relax and enjoy the tournament.  I know I love this golf course and it suits my game.  So just going to give my best, and I think my goal is to finish inside the top?10.”
England’s world number 41 Charley Hull, the LET Order of Merit champion last year, is also in the field and she is hoping to end a solid season on a winning note.
“I can’t wait to get out there on the golf course this week because I really love this golf course and it’s just good fun,” the 19-year-old said.
“I’d say I have played some of my best golf this year. I have not had any wins, but I have had quite a few top-10s and played really well in America in my first year there. So, a win is missing, but hopefully, I will get it done this week.”
The battle for the Rookie of the Year honours is still undecided. The Danish duo of Emily Kristine Pedersen and Nanna Koerstz Madsen are in the reckoning, with Pedersen, who won the Hero Women’s Indian Open in October, leading with earnings of 164,063.
With a lead of 32,434 over Madsen, Pedersen will be favourite as her compatriot will have to finish inside the top-two to have any chance of going ahead.