By Kent Gray
High-powered but low-key sibling rivalry headlined by a former world No.1. The runaway moneylist leader. A Dubai-based teen set for her professional debut. The welcome return of a pair of Ladies European Tour legends to Emirates Golf Club. And fans. Welcome back to the fans!
The emirate’s annual LET stop never fails for a storyline and the 15th Dubai Moonlight Classic presented by EGA is no different.
Much focus on The Faldo will centre around a trio of Thais headlined by Atthaya Thitikul, the owner of a world record as the youngest winner of the professional tournament, four LET titles and a seemingly unassailable lead in the LET’s season-long Race to Costa del Sol.
The 18-year-old world No. 28 was no doubt inspired as a junior by the Jutanugarn sisters, 25-year-old Ariya and the former world No.1’s older sister (by two years) Moriya. UAE fans, unable to attend last year due to pandemic restrictions but allowed back in 2021 on the Thursday and Friday of this week’s 54-hole championship, are set to be wowed by the sisters too.
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Ariya Jutanugarn became the first Thai to win a major when she captured the 2016 Women’s British Open. She has since won the 2018 U.S. Open among her 12 LPGA Tour victories, two of them secured this year. Moriya, meanwhile, was the LPGA Tour Rookie-of-the-Year in 2013 and has gone on to claim two titles on the U.S. circuit, the most recent of which, the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, was emotionally shared with her younger sister in July.
Chiara Noja’s professional debut is another noteworthy narrative, partly due to the fact the German now calls Dubai home but mostly because she is just 15. Noja earned an invite to last year’s Dubai Moonlight Classic and will be keen to cash-in on another sponsors’ exemption and the experience of finishing 55th in the 56 player pro field last year following rounds of 77-86-73.
While Aussie Minjee Lee won’t be back to defend her title, legendary Dame Laura Davies – the holder of a record 45 LET titles – and two-time Solheim Cup winning captain Catriona Matthew have returned to their beloved Emirates Golf Club.
There is also a bevy of 2021 LET winners on display with Czech and Swiss Open champion Thitikul joined by Stephanie Kyriacou (Big Green Egg Open), Lee-Anne Pace (Investec SA Women’s Open), Marianne Skarpnord (ATS – London), Pia Babnik (Jabra Ladies Open) and Pajaree Anannarukarn (ISPS Handa World Invitational).
Mix in tempting Food Truck fare on Thursday and Friday, free-taster golf lessons, kid-friendly family entertainment and music (even a saxophonist) and the €260,000 event promises to be a rich and rewarding experience for players and spectators alike, one of the highlights of Dubai’s autumn social calendar.
As the world’s only floodlit professional tournament, Dubai is once again #InTheSpotlight. Flick the switch on the lights, cue the cameras and let the action begin.
