DUBAI // Caroline Hedwall says she believes winning the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club and pipping England's Melissa Reid in the race for second place on the money list would represent the zenith of her career.
The Swede, playing her first season as a professional on the Ladies European Tour, has narrowed the gap following her two-shot victory in the Indian Women's Open on Sunday and heads into the four-day event, which starts today, with full of confidence.
A strong finish would cap a memorable rookie year for Hedwall, who enjoyed a tremendous run this season, adding the Indian win to her victories in Slovakia, Finland and Austria.
Ai Miyazato of Japan has already secured the money list title with her victory in the Evian Masters which carried an impressive purse of €363,079.68 (Dh1.8 million) for the winner.
With just €12,183 separating the two rising players of women's golf, they have all to play for, though they said it would not lead to any further pressure.
"I think now it's more realistic to think that I could pass her this week," Hedwall said. "Before then it was a pretty large gap, but it's definitely a goal for this week, but we'll see. It kind of depends on how she plays, too.
"The victory in New Delhi has given me a lot of self confidence and if I can keep the momentum going, I have a good chance of making it two on the trot.
"This is my first visit to Dubai and I am loving every moment of my stay here. The field is great, so I'm excited to play. If I won it, it would be my greatest victory, based upon the level of competition here," she added.
Reid, who has never finished outside the top 10 since making her first appearance in Dubai in 2008, said her game is in good shape even though she has not played any competitive golf in the past six weeks.
"I came here early to work on my game with my coach," Reid said. "Though I may be a bit rusty, I am swinging it well and look forward to a great week.
"Dubai has been very kind to me. I love the [Majlis] course there. It's very exciting and I just love playing it," said Reid, who feels the winning score would probably be around 12-under par.
* Agency
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
SPECS
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
