Shanshan wins record third Omega Dubai Ladies Masters

Dubai: Shanshan Feng secured her record third Omega Dubai Ladies Masters victory with a 21 under par winning score, 12 strokes clear of next placed Thidapa Suwannapura, at Emirates Golf Club on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Chinese had been level on two victories with Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam coming into the 10th edition of this tournament, but pulled ahead by equaling her own event record winning score of 267 set in 2012.

She also beat Sorenstam’s record for biggest winning margin, which had been six strokes from the retired Swede’s 2006 victory.

“The only reason I’ve won more times than Annika is because she’s not playing anymore, so I don’t see any comparison there, I’m just happy to have won this event three times,” said Shanshan, who had also wrapped up the Ladies European Tour (LET) money-list well ahead of this year’s season-ending competition, following one earlier win and three previous top five finishes in five LET appearances this season.

Having led by five strokes at 15 under par heading into the final day, the tournament’s highest ranked player at World No.6 added a further six birdies, three on either nine, to race to victory.

Her only challenge, from Thailand’s Suwannapura, went backwards however, with a final round of 73, complete with three birdies and four bogies.

“At the first hole I was nervous because I thought Thidapa had a chance to catch me,” added Shanshan. “But after two birdies in the first three holes to go up to 17 under and seven strokes clear, the pressure was relieved and I just started enjoying it.”

Asked if she was disappointed that she couldn’t surpass her own record-winning score of 21 under to make it not only three wins but a hat-trick of records, she replied: “I was just hoping to get to 20 under at the beginning of the day and when I got to that on 14 I thought I’d try to make one or two more. I got the birdie at the last to equal the record. Twenty one under is still pretty good, I’ve been playing really consistent with three 67s, today was one less, a 66, so I’m really happy about it.

“Twenty one under was one lower than what I was going for and the 21 under par record from last time was still me, right? So, it’s the same person.”

Looking ahead to next year, she said: “I’m just going to go home with the prize money from this and the extra watch and the money I won from the Order of Merit and I’m just going to buy myself some presents and have a relaxing off-season and come back refreshed for next year.

“As a defending champion I’d probably get a fine if I don’t come back here,” she joked. “But even without a fine I’m still going to come back here because I love Dubai and it’s my lucky place.”