Dubai: Nicholas Thompson will be hoping to draw inspiration from his younger sister's amazing run of success on the international circuit when he competes in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, starting at the Emirates Golf Club on Thursday.
It has been a challenging couple of years for Thompson, the brother of Omega Dubai Ladies Masters champion Alexis, but he believes a good showing in the $2.5 million (Dh9.2 million) European Tour event can resurrect his professional career.
Thompson, who has played on the PGA and Nationwide Tour, hails from a family of golfers. His younger brother Curtis is a highly-ranked amateur while 16-year-old Alexis is a rising LPGA star who created history last year, becoming the youngest professional winner on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours.
With her father on the bag, Alexis followed her win in the Navistar LPGA Classic in October with the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters title two months later.
Looking for a spark
"Well, it feels nice to come to a venue where someone in the family has enjoyed success and that could well provide the spark to lift my game," said Thompson, who will be competing in Dubai on a sponsor's exemption.
"It will be my first visit to Dubai, but my dad and Alexis keep talking highly of Dubai and they might even come and watch me play.
"From the entry list I can make out the tournament has [again] attracted a very strong field and it will be fun to be part of the line-up." Thompson earned his PGA Tour card for 2008 after winning the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship on the Nationwide Tour in 2007.
He finished a creditable tied 24th in the 2008 US PGA Championship, but since then it has been a roller coaster, and he is looking for a change of fortune in Dubai.
"I think a strong finish there will put my career back on track," said Thompson.
The competition will see three of the world's top four ranked players in a field which also includes veterans Fred Couples and John Daly.
