DUBAI // Beth Allen just about scraped inside the cut line at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Friday, but it did little to dampen what has been a career year.
The American, a stalwart on the Ladies European Tour (LET) since 2008, signed for a 77 at Emirates Golf Club to sit 4-over for the revised 54-hole tournament, leaving her immediate future uncertain before the final leaderboard confirmed she made Saturday right on the mark.
A relatively poor week thus far will have rankled a little, although Allen cannot have it all her own way. This season, the 35-year-old won twice on tour and collected another five more top 10s, and because of that snaffled the coveted Order of Merit crown.
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There was also securing her LPGA Tour card last week, and just the small matter of getting married in the summer, too, another few reasons to smile in a campaign characterised by contentment. So there was no real pressure to perform in Dubai, as the LET wraps for another year.
“I think 2016 is better than I could ever ask for,” Allen said, regardless. “It’s been awesome.”
Making the Solheim Cup would be that, as well. With Allen earning her playing rights on America’s main circuit next year, it means she can have a crack at making her debut in the biennial battle with Europe, which takes place in Iowa in August.
“A big goal of mine would be to play Solheim,” Allen said. “It was kind of necessary for me to go to Q-School to do that because it’s hard as an American to earn Solheim points out here. Well, it’s impossible.
“I’ve never been one to set really, really high goals. I just want to be a bit better every year. I want to have attainable goals. So next year, I’m going to do my best and we’ll see what happens.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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