Masson wishes no Kaymer-esque calamity on Shanshan

Dubai: The UAE may be the scene of one of golf’s greatest implosions, but Caroline Masson says nobody is wishing a Martin Kaymer-style meltdown on runaway leader Shanshan Feng in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday.

Kaymer blew a ten stroke lead on the final day of this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship when the German dropped six shots in seven holes of the back nine to surrender a record-extending fourth win to France’s Gary Staal. The choke-fest equalled the men’s European Tour record for biggest lead lost.

Like Kaymer in Abu Dhabi, Shanshan has made this tournament her own and she seems destined to claim her record third title after going five strokes clear at 15 under par with a third 67 on Friday.

But Germany’s Masson, who is 10 strokes off Shanshan at five under par tied for fourth following rounds of 69, 75 and 67, denies she’s having any unsporting thoughts.

“I’m not wishing a round like that on anyone, and plus I don’t think Shanshan is even capable of shooting a bad round here,” she said.

“I’m relaxed about it. You’re not hoping for someone to do really, really bad. It’s about me tomorrow, concentrating on myself and focusing on just shooting a good round and seeing what happens. You can’t influence what other people do, and that’s why I don’t really want to think about it.

“Coming into this tournament I knew first of all I’d have to beat Shanshan. This course is perfect for her. She’s very consistent and is a good putter. She just goes out there and shoots five under every day, so you’d have to assume she’d do the same tomorrow.

“Obviously with me shooting a bad round (on Thursday) and being even par and ten shots back, you know that I probably can’t win this tournament anymore, which is OK. It’s my fault. I knew I would have to play my best golf to keep up with her. It’s not really about looking at her. I didn’t really look at the leaderboard today. It’s just about getting a few shots back and finishing as well as I can.”