By Kent Gray
Cheyenne Woods has been lured to the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open (FBMLO) and will be joined by former Women’s British Open champion Catriona Matthew and returning European Solheim Cup representatives Georgia Hall and Mel Reid.

Confirmation of the star-studded quartet follows news reigning Ladies European Tour player-of-the-year Beth Allen will return to defend the $550,000 title at Saadiyat Beach G.C. from Nov. 1-4.

Related: Beth Allen promises to bring something resembling her A-game

Florentyna Parker and Emily Kristine Pedersen, who also represented Europe in the 16½- 11½ loss to the U.S. at August’s Solheim Cup in Iowa, are other confirmed starters alongside South African debutant Lee-Ann Pane and returning LET Rookie-of-the-Year Aditi Ashok from India.

Woods is, perhaps unfairly, best known as the niece of Tiger Woods but is making steady progress in her own career, capped by victory at the LET’s Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in Australia in 2014.

The 27-year-old debuted on the LET in 2013 and has recorded five top-25 finishes (including a T-10 at last December’s Omega Dubai Ladies Classic) although she missed the cut at July’s Ladies Scottish Open, her sole LET appearance of 2017 thus far.

In her third season on the LPGA Tour, the world No. 253 is 101st in the CME Globe Rankings having made just eight cuts in 20 starts but is trending nicely for Saadiyat Beach after T-15 and T-8 finishes in her last two starts at the Indy Women’s in Tech Championship and New Zealand Women’s Open respectively.

Matthew, 48, will make her FBMLO debut at the end of a “positive” year personally which was capped with her appointment as European Solheim Cup captain for the 2019 matches at Gleneagles in Scotland.

The Scot was one of Annika Sorenstam’s non-playing vice captains for August’s five point loss to the U.S. at Des Moines Golf and Country Club but was called upon to play when Suzann Pettersen withdrew with injury. Matthew, the oldest player in the field, went on to a 3-1-0 record and is currently third on the all-time Solheim Cup points list.

“I’ve had a great year so far. I was vice captain of Team Europe, which was followed by a last minute playing position on the team, and then when I didn’t think it could get any better, I was honoured with the captaincy for the Solheim 2019 event,” said Matthew, who captured the 2009 Women’s British Open champion at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. “I’m really looking forward to topping off this great year in Abu Dhabi and hopefully this positivity will continue in the same vein at this year’s FBMLO.”

Hall finished runner-up to Allen last November (-21 to -18) and has enjoyed six top-10 finishes from eight LET appearances this season.

Georgia Hall

“I’m looking forward to playing the course and playing some great golf. I’d love to have a good result after a really strong finish in my first-ever FBMLO tournament last year. I know the girls think the course is absolutely lovely and as always there is a fantastic field – we can’t wait to get going”

Reid, who shared third place with Australian Sarah Kemp last year, has also shown great form in 2017, winning the LET season opener at Oates Vic Open in Australia.

Mel Reid

The FBMLO is sponsored by FBMA, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, TDIC, Al Masaood, Etihad Airways and Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi. The event is free to attend and public can register for free tickets at fbmladiesopen.com/tickets.