FROM LEFT: Tournament Director and Technical Manager Michael Wood, LER Professional Maha Haddioui, General Secretary of the Qatar Golf Association Fahad Nasser Al Naimi, LER Professional Georgia Hall, Executive Director Mohammed Faisal Al Naimi and LER P
World-class female golfers have arrived in Doha ready for what is shaping to be an unforgettable showdown in the inaugural Qatar Ladies Open (QLO).
Staged at the Doha Golf Club from tomorrow, golf fans across the capital will have the chance to see Swedish star Anna Nordqvist, who will be joined by fellow compatriot Lina Boqvist as well as Solheim Cup teammate, Caroline Hedwall.
The Swedes will be looking for podium glory this Saturday when the curtain draws on the first-time event which has attracted a stunning line-up.
Also hoping to be in the mix on the final day will be rising star Aditi Ashok from India, who is fresh off the back of her recent win at the Hero Women’s Indian Open. She will head into the Qatar Ladies Open brimming with confidence, which will no doubt inspire fellow Indian players Neha Tripathi and Vaishnavi Sinha.
British player Florentyna Parker, who’s already competed 15 times this year on the LET, will no doubt draw inspiration from seasoned golfer Trish Johnson and hall of fame inductee Dame Laura Davies.
Georgia Hall, who impressed recently in Abu Dhabi, also spoke at the press conference, saying: “It’s my first time here and I’m excited because the golf course is in great shape – the setup is brilliant."
Local women of all ages can draw inspiration from two Arabic players; amateur Lina Belmati from Morocco and compatriot LET pro Maha Haddioui.
Haddioui spoke passionately about the upcoming competition.
“It’s always great to have new tournaments but to me it’s extra special playing in Qatar being an Arab country, so it feels a bit like home," Haddioui said.
"I’m really excited to represent Morocco here and mostly I’m really proud to be representing Arabs in general, playing this week and the LET all year. I’m looking for a top ten finish. I really like the course and it’s the type of course I enjoy playing on. I’m the only woman playing right now as a professional and hopefully that will grow; I’m sure it will grow all over the Arab world in the coming years,” she said.
The conference was opened by Fahad Nasser Al Naimi, General Secretary of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), who spoke zealously about the four-day event and the future of golf in the country.
“I would like to welcome you all here to the Qatar Ladies Open this week and thank the Ladies European Tour for giving us this opportunity to have this tournament here in Qatar," Al Naimi said.
“Now we have this tournament, we hope it will grow bigger and bigger, just like the Qatar Masters has. I hope everyone has a nice time this weekend and good luck this week to all the players,” he said.
Michael Wood, Tournament Director and Technical Manager at the LET, also expressed his excitement of bringing the tour to the Qatari capital.
“This inaugural event not only promotes the world-class sporting facilities this nation has to offer by welcoming some of the world’s best LET golfers, but provides a platform to inspire women from Qatar to pick up this exciting game," Wood said.
“At the LET we are conscious to not only grow the game of golf amongst women, but to do so at exceptional venues. I’m sure that the players will be tested here at Doha Golf Club and enjoy what the course has to offer over the coming days. I hope you enjoy the coming days – I’m sure it will be unforgettable for everyone,” Wood said.
The talent-filled line-up continues with Australia’s Sarah Kemp, who’ll be keen to find form once again after a rollercoaster month on the course.
As will the French constituency of Gwladys Nocera, Isabelle Boineau and Anne-Lise Caudal, who’ll be keen to flourish after her T6 finish in India. Austrian Christine Wolf will be looking to continue her momentum after a T21 and T11 finish in Abu Dhabi and India this month respectively.
And fan favourites Carly Booth and Amy Boulden will be looking to end the latter half of 2016 with a podium finish, but they’ll face tough competition from a total of 108 players all gunning for the maiden QLO trophy.
Players will also be in with a chance of taking away an OMEGA watch.
During the QLO, OMEGA has taken over hole 17, where the first player who shoots a hole-in-one will be rewarded with a Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Ladies watch.
The QLO promises much more than world-class golf with an abundance of family-friendly activities in The QLO Village.
