Dubai Ladies Masters: Solheim star Wie tops the bill

Dubai: Solheim Cup star Michelle Wie will be the star attraction at the Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club next month.

The American-Korean star, who shot to fame as a teenager, said: "I am very excited about making my first trip to Dubai. I have heard so many great things about Dubai as a city, but also about the golf there."

Wie became a worldwide phenomenon when at the age of 12 she qualified for an LPGA event. Just a year later, she became the youngest player to make an LPGA cut at the 2003 Kraft Nabisco Championship. She then created a stir by gaining an exemption to play alongside the men in the PGA Tour's Sony Open when she was 14. Her second round of 68 was the lowest ever by a woman in a PGA Tour event.

Now just 20, but having been around the major tours for many years, and turned professional in 2005, Wie has enjoyed one of her most successful seasons, rising to 15 in the world rankings and proving a key wildcard pick for the US team which beat Europe in the Solheim Cup.

Wie added: "This season was a very rewarding one for me, both on the golf course and off, and I'd love nothing more than to wrap this year up with a strong showing at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. I have such great respect for the players on the Ladies European Tour, and was able to develop close friendships with many of them in my first Solheim Cup experience."

The Dubai Ladies Masters tees off on Wednesday, December 9, and runs until Saturday, December 12.