By Kent Gray
The old adage about only being as good as your last performance has world No.28 Charley Hull in a bullish mood ahead of the 12th Omega Dubai Ladies Classic. It doesn’t hurt there’s a notable absentee from the Ladies European Tour event starting Wednesday either.

A closing 65 around Emirates Golf Club saw the British No.1 snare solo second in the LET  season-ender last December. It wasn’t enough to prevent Shanshan Feng from claiming her fourth Dubai title in five years by two shots but did reinforce Hull’s love affair with Emirate’s G.C.’s Majlis layout after she also finished 5th in 2014 and 8th the previous year.

Whats more, the 21-year-old LPGA player doesn’t have to content with Feng this time; the Chinese world No.1 has been granted a special leave of absence as she is to receive a state honour in her homeland.

“I do have great memories of this event,” said Hull who was T-11 in her most recent start, the CME Group Tour Championship to finish the LPGA season 31st overall.

“It’s fun, I like it, especially [after sealing] the Rookie of the Year award in 2013 because I remember it being quite close between me and Holly (Clyburn) and I kind of felt the pressure, but played well, and then last year there was a bit of a battle between me and Shanshan.

“It would be pretty cool if I could finish with a win this time around, but for that to happen I need to play some very good golf as there are many strong contenders in the field. I still have a lot to learn.”

Related: Ashok eyes ‘Desert Slam’ at Omega Dubai Ladies Classic

Hull joins Women’s British Open champion In-Kyung Kim, two-time major champions Suzann Pettersen and Brittany Lincicome and Indian teen sensational Aditi Ashok in a strong field for the Dec. 6-9 event.

The three-time Solheim Cup player arrives in Dubai with three top-10s highlighting her 2017 LPGA campaign.

“I am really happy with my golf. I want to win a lot of tournaments. That is what I am out there to do,” said Hull who claimed her first LPGA title at the 2016 CME Group Tour Championship, two years after breaking through on the LET with victory at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.

Part of the first European Solheim team to win in US soil back in 2013, Hull also competed at the Rio Olympics, finishing 7th.

Entry to the event is free but you must register online for tickets.