The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters has a new name: the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic. And as the name suggests, the event will be played during both the day and at night under LED lights — which is a first for a professional Tour event.
The host venue — the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Course — was built with night golf in mind. It was redesigned by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo in 2005 and reopened as a par-72 layout in 2006. Floodlights are an integral part of the course’s design.
Fifty-six professionals and three amateurs will comprise the field for the 54-hole event that will be played on May 1-3. Two of the rounds are scheduled to be contested at night under the lights, and admission is free to all attendees.
Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic ?
First ever day-night event ✅@EmiratesGC May 1-3?@NickFaldo006 course ??
World class golf ??♀️
Entry is FOC ? #ODMC #MadeForGreatness pic.twitter.com/RuKSsYeL0u— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) April 29, 2019
“We think playing under lights is going to be absolutely awesome!” said tournament director David Spencer. “Playing the tournament in May and under lights further showcases what an incredible golfing destination Dubai has become and how long our golfing season lasts each year.”
This year will mark the 13th iteration of the event, which is offering a purse of $500,000. The tournament has made headlines over the years for its field. Invitations are extended to not only top professional players but to social media influencers as well. This year, Cheyenne Woods has committed to play, and after making her professional debut in 2015, Instagram star Paige Spiranac will return this year to host coverage across the event’s social media channels.
The tournament has an illustrious list of former champions, ranging from LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam (2006, 2007) to Lexi Thompson (2011) and Shanshan Feng (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016). Last year’s champion, Angel Yin, became the first American to claim the title since Lexi Thompson in 2011. Yin has 10 career top-10 finishes on the LPGA tour, but the win in Dubai was her first major-tour professional victory.
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