Stage set for Dubai Ladies Masters

American teenager Alexis Thompson will attempt to defend her Dubai Ladies Masters crown as the season-ending tournament of the Ladies European Tour (LET) begins on Wednesday at the Majlis course of the Emirates Golf Club. Thompson created history last year by becoming the youngest professional player to win on both the LPGA Tour and the LET, winning the Navistar LPGA Classic aged just 16 years, seven months and eight days, then in Dubai. Still two months short of her 18th birthday, Thompson faces a field comprising major stars such as tournament regular Michelle Wie and world No.6 Shanshan Feng, world No.30 Hee-Kyung Seo of South Korea and British veteran Laura Davies. Feng became the only player from mainland China to win a Major this year at the LPGA Championship. Also in the spotlight is young Spanish star Carlota Ciganda, who is on the verge of becoming the first player after Davies in 1985 to win the Order of Merit crown as a rookie on the tour. The 22-year-old from Pamplona turned professional this year after a brilliant amateur career and having won twice this year, she tops the Order of Merit with 242,790 euros ($316,000). The only player who can upstage Ciganda from Wednesday is German Caroline Masson, who is second at 210,831 euros, but will have to finish at least solo third to have a shot at the Money List honour. The winner’s cheque in the tournament is 75,000 euros, with the runner-up getting 50,000 euros and the third-place worth 35,000 euros. Thompson, who has slipped to No.24 in the world following a win-less 2012 so far, said she does not feel any pressure of defending her crown and is hoping to secure her first victory of the season. “I do not feel any pressure. I have my own expectations for myself so I’m not thinking about anybody else’s,” said Thompson.