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Dubai, Nov 30 - The season-ending Ladies European Tour event, the Dubai Ladies Masters, which will be played at the Emirates Golf Club Dec 11-16, will have two Indians rubbing shoulders with the top woman golfers.
'Golf in Dubai,' the promoters and organizers of the euro 500,000 event, have invited Smriti Mehra and Shalini Malik to join an elite field led by defending champion Annika Sorenstam.
The two star Indian professionals couldn't have asked for a better workout in the run-up to the EMAAR-MGF Ladies Masters in Bangalore where they will have an equally impressive line-up, spearheaded by seasoned Laura Davies amongst others.
Smriti, fondly known as Simi in the golfing circles, is currently leading the Women's Golf Association of India Order of Merit by a mile, winning all the five legs ahead of the Women's Indian Open 2008.
While Shalini is placed second with Rs 82,263 in earnings, Simi's prize-fund is Rs 228,270.
'I am really excited, words can't describe my feeling,' stated an enthused Simi on hearing about the sponsor's invite. 'I had never imagined that I would be playing back-to-back Ladies European Tour events. And here is the opportunity. It's simply great,' said the 35-year-old, who turned pro in 1994.
'The Invitation to Shalini and me is in recognition of the impressive strides the Indian professionals have made on the international circuit. We will try and give our best,' said Simi, the only Indian to have featured on the demanding LGPA Tour.
'The presence of Indian players in the two mega events will surely bring about a revolution in the world of ladies golf in India. The EMAAR-MGF Ladies Masters, being played in India for the first ime, is going to be a landmark event for all those who love this sport,' said India's top player.
Shalini was equally excited about competing in the Dubai Ladies Masters as she would be in the company of the likes of Sorenstam, Laura Davies, Natalie Gulbis, Anna Rawson, Bettina Hauert and Sophie Gustafason among others.
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