Cheyenne Woods will make her second appearance at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters later this year.
The American, the niece of 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, returns to Emirates Golf Club for the December 7-10 event, the concluding tournament on the 2016 Ladies European Tour.
Woods, 26, made her Dubai debut in 2014, finishing in a tie for 24th as China’s Shanshan Feng defended her title to win in the Emirate for a third time.
“I love Dubai, I love the tournament and it was great fun playing two years ago,” Woods said in a press release. “The ultimate goal is to have a successful career, to be a champion, to be No 1 in the world. No one wants to play to be second.”
Woods is coming off a mixed season on the LPGA Tour – her second year on America’s leading ladies circuit – in which she missed the cut at five of her first six events.
However, her form improved during the summer, with Woods registering a season-best tied-sixth at the Cambia Portland Classic in June and then finishing tied-24th a few weeks later at the Marathon Classic. In her past two events, the Evian Championship and Manulife LPGA Classic, Woods has finished inside the top 45.
“I feel I have progressed and my game has got much better after playing on the LPGA Tour,” Woods said.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, the CEO of organisers “golf in Dubai”, added: “We are delighted to welcome back a player who is a great ambassador for women’s golf and a tremendous role model for so many young girls.
“Cheyenne is someone who has real enthusiasm for the game and ... her presence certainly elevates the energy of the competition.”
[ jmcauley@thenational.ae ]
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