Annabel Dimmock is hoping a return to Evian Resort Golf Club will kick-start her season as the 2019 champions is back at the site of her only Ladies European Tour title — the Jabra Ladies Open

Four years ago, the 26-year-old from England held off French amateur Pauline Roussin to triumph and ecure a spot in the qualify for the Amundi Evian Championship.

“It was unbelievable to win. I still can’t explain how it feels,” Dimmock said. “I had no expectations going in. I missed the cut the week before but for some reason there was a calmness over me which every now and again I get.

“I was obviously swinging well and it was just one of those weeks where it all clicked. I didn’t hit many bad shots. I putted decent which you have to do around Evian.”

On the final day, Dimmock overhauled Roussin’s one-shot lead with four birdies in her first seven holes and prevailed by one.

“Every time Pauline did something good it was loud, and every time I did something good you could hear a pin drop,” she added. “The whole thing was a blur, which is how I know I was in that calmness. I can’t really remember many shots I hit apart from that hybrid I hit on the last where I thought it went in the water until I got up there and realised it was in the bunker.”

Annabel Dimmock. LET

When she returned to defend her title in 2021 (the 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid), Dimmock had to settle for second spot behind Pia Babnik.

“Because I’ve won it before, I told myself I can win it again,” she says. “I know this course well. It has a lot of subtle slopes so you have to be very imaginative around it. It’s like my home course Wentworth where you can see a slope and use it to your advantage.”

Now back at Evian Resort Golf Club once again — she missed the cut last year — following a seven week break in the LET schedule, Dimmick is hoping her happy hunting ground can spur her into action.

“The start of my season hasn’t been as good as I hoped,” Dimmock says — whose best finish in 2023 is a T36 at the Lalla Meryem Cup. “I haven’t missed a cut, but it’s been average so far, so I’ve been working on a few things at home. There’s been some positives and it’s been good for me to see where I’m at.

“Me and swing coach have been trying to make my swing a lot more simple. In the past I’ve hit it hard and swung it hard, which has meant my hands have got too far forward which pushes my body back and I get stuck.

“We’ve been working on making it wider and working in circles, instead of me trying to kill the ball all the time. I’m long enough, so this week I just need to focus on keeping the ball in play. I’ve now had seven weeks to work on my game and I’m ready for take two of the season!”

Babnik is also back in the field alongside defending champion Tiia Koivisto.

The post Annabel Dimmock hunting a repeat at Jabra Ladies Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
Home hope Georgia Hall and Swede Sofie Bringner got off to a flier among the early starters at the Aramco Team Series — London.

The 2018 British Open champion Hall is looking to further strengthen her bond with the Middle East after claiming the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in March.

That @georgiahall96 club twirl ?#RaiseOurGame | #BringTheEnergy pic.twitter.com/FEv08e3bH4

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 16, 2022

The 26-year-old also lost out to Emily Kristine Pedersen in the 2020 Saudi Ladies International in a sudden-death playoff, and she looks in a determined mood to take another Aramco title, this time in the Team Series at Centurion Club, St Albans, just outside London.

Watch: Highlights from the Aramco Team Series first round

[parone_video_player campaign=”262″ defaultlang=”en” feed=”51-all-videos”/]

The Bournemouth native shot 67 to lead fellow English golfer Bronte Law by one, as the afternoon starters — including the likes of Charley Hull, Annabel Dimmock and Olivia Cowan — got under way.

However, a first bogey at the last for Hall, coupled with a stunning birdie, birdie, eagle finish for Bringner allowed the Swede to sign for a 66 and a one-stroke lead at the top.

Dutch duo Anne Van Dam and Pasqualle Coffa also made fine starts with a pair of 69s to sit on four-under.

In the afternoon, Jenny Haglund joined Hall on six-under to make it a Swedend, England, Sweden, England leaderboard. A whole host of players lurk on four-under, including England’s Hull and Johanna Gustavsson, from — you guessed it — Sweden.

You might also like
Familiar faces as Aramco Team captains make picks
Dubai’s Chiara forced out of Aramco London
Bronte Law calls for level playing field
Olivia Jackson on mixed and team events
Calling all weekend golfers
Shiv Kapur hails Asian Tour opportunities thanks to LIV Golf and Saudi Golf
Bland to play LIV Golf, even if it means ban
Rickie Fowler considers LIV Golf options
Stellar line-up set for Newcastle

The post Aramco Team Series — London: Saudi Ladies International champ Georgia Hall and Swede Sofie Bringner set early pace at Centurion Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Captain Cowan chose to reunite with Schmidt in the hope of repeating their winning feat from last year’s debut Aramco event, which saw them triumph by three shots and claim the $1million tournament’s maiden fourball title.

That year India’s Diksha Dagar was their randomly assigned third teammate. This time around, French starlet Emma Grechi completes a line-up that will be expected to be in with a challenge this week at Centurion Club, St Albans.

Cowan, 26, said: “We’ve got the band back together, so it should be a good week! We did really well last year, mainly by just supporting each other. I think we’ll be good this year as well.

“I had a few options in the draft just in case Sarina was taken, but obviously I’m delighted I got to pick her.”

Schmidt added: “We had so much fun last year and liked pushing each other. When Olivia holed out for eagle in the final round last year, that was a turning point for us. Hopefully same again this week.”

The Aramco Team Series — London at Centurion Club

Australia’s Whitney Hillier used her captain’s pick to reunite with Finland’s Krista Bakker just a month after the pair won the Aramco Team Series – Bangkok team title together in the first ATS event of the season. Team Hillier will this week also feature Lisa Pettersson of Sweden.

“Krista’s got good vibes and she’s playing well, too, so that’s why I chose her,” said Hillier, whose title in Bangkok was her first in 10 years on the Ladies European Tour.

“We get on so well together – and I just met Lisa as well. She’s a good player too, so I’m excited to get playing tomorrow.”

Other notable captain’s picks included both Georgia Hall and Charley Hull going for the ‘full English’, selecting Lily May Humphreys and Annabel Dimmock respectively.

Former Women’s Open champion Hall said: “I’ve met Lily a few times. She is an up-and-coming player and I’m really excited to spend some time with her. She’s a good player so I look forward to it. It should be a good week.”

On her choice of Annabel Dimmock, Charley Hull said: “I’m just looking forward to having a bit of a laugh out there, so hopefully she just brings some giggles. She’s a pal and it will be a laugh out there.”

And on Norwegian Karoline Lund, who will complete the professional element of Team Hull, the 26-year-old added: “We’ll see if she can take on the English banter!”

Elsewhere, Chloe Williams was picked by fellow Welsh golfer Becky Morgan, with Scot Gabrielle Macdonald completing a Celtic pro-trio for Team Morgan.

Sweden’s Linn Grant – fresh from becoming the first woman to win a DP World Tour event after her nine-shot win at last weekend’s Scandinavian Mixed – also opted for a countrywoman pick, with Sofie Bringer her choice.

For the third time in Aramco Team Series history, Bronte Law selected her hero Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew as her pick.

“She’s a major champion and is a very good golfer,” said Law, who finished T6 in the U.S Women’s Open earlier this month. “I think this event requires stable players who can contribute frequently. Catriona is that person.”

This week’s London leg is the second of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar for 2022. It is famed for its unique format, in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

It returns to Centurion Club with a new format from last year’s inaugural Series. For this season, the teams will compete over only 36 holes – the Thursday and Friday of the tournament – with $500,000 prizemoney being split between the lowest scoring fourballs.

Saturday’s final day of play will see only the lowest scoring 60 players and ties from the opening two days return to the course to battle it out for a share of another $500,000, this time in individual earnings.

You might also like
Dubai’s Chiara forced out of Aramco London
Bronte Law calls for level playing field
Olivia Jackson on mixed and team events
Calling all weekend golfers
Shiv Kapur hails Asian Tour opportunities thanks to LIV Golf and Saudi Golf
Bland to play LIV Golf, even if it means ban
Rickie Fowler considers LIV Golf options
Stellar line-up set for Newcastle

The post Aramco Team Series — Familiar faces back together as captains make their team picks for London appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Not so Chris Hughes, on the bag for English golfer Annabel Dimmock this week. This caddie is a bit more used to the spotlight, from his starring role in the reality UK TV show Love Island.

A decent footballer and cricketer, how is Hughes handling duties on the bag for his beau? He’s the first to admit he’s there to carry the bag rather than offer advice.

MORE: Friday’s Dubai Moonlight Classic Daily News is FREE here

“If Annabel lets me read a green, I’ve done well – she doesn’t have too much faith in me! I’m more of just a bag carrier but I’m there to keep her upbeat. If she plays a bit of a wayward shot, I’d cheer her up or if she plays good, I’ll cheer her on. I’m just there for a bit of moral support really.

“It’s only my second experience as a caddie but I’m getting used to it now. I do enjoy it, it’s fun and good to experience. It’s a privilege to be watching good players, it makes you appreciate how good these players are, they’re amazing ball strikers and that’s great to watch being stood up close and personal amongst really talented people.”

RELATED: Fassi, Karlsson co-lead as Dubai Moonlight Classic set for cliffhanger conclusion

The post Love Is(land) in the air appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Annabel Dimmock played a handy captain’s knock to lead her side to the top of the leader board after the opening round of the $500,000 Saudi Ladies Team International.

Dimmock, joined by fellow Englishwoman Charlotte Thompson, Norwegian pro Stina Reeson and amateur Ed Edwards (Golf Saudi) signed for a -17 total in a format where the two lowest scores on each hole count towards the team’s total.

Team Dimmock will take a one-stroke buffer over Team Nuutinen, as in Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen, heading into the second of three rounds at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Wednesday. The side skippered by new Saudi Ladies International champion, Dane Emily Kristine Pedersen, are third a stroke further back.

Nuutinen produced Tuesday’s standout solo effort, the Finn’s six-under 66 earning her a two-stroke lead over Swede Johanna Gistavsson in the individual championship being held concurrently with the teams race.

RELATED: Ladies First: Why Saudi’s LET double-header is more than just an historic week of pro golf

Dimmock and Pedersen are among a group of six players who carded 69s. Dimmock says the team format strangely helped her play well individually.

“We were all trying to hit good shots for each other, and we certainly felt like it was a team event,” said Dimmock.

“Both Stina and I didn’t know our own score going down the 18th, and I usually know it. Stina got the first birdie on the fifth and we then we were like ‘let’s get the birdies going’. Then I holed my wedge shot on the next and then Charlotte got a birdie, so it was a real team effort.

1⃣7⃣ under & the top team
6⃣9⃣ -3 in the individual event

It’s been a great day for @AnnabelDimmock who is enjoying the experience of playing in a team event.#SaudiLadiesTeamIntl | #RaiseOurGame pic.twitter.com/YPFWIBc2d1

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 17, 2020

Dimmock and Thompson are best buddies on Tour but Resin is quickly making friends and influencing people with her impressive play.

“I hadn’t met Stina before the draw but once I knew she was in my team, we’ve all spent some time together and had a team practice yesterday. It’s been great to get to know another player on Tour,” said Dimmock.

Nuutinen’s round included an eagle on the 4th, six birdies and even a double-bogey.

“To be honest I drove the ball better last week and today was a struggle off the tee,” said Nuutinen. “But I still played my best round this week and was good on the greens and made a few putts. It’s such an advantage playing this course multiple times, as you can be really precise on yardages.

Sanna Nuutinen

“It still feels like an individual event as you can’t help your teammates, so you concentrate on your own game. But when someone in the team makes a birdie or the amateur makes a par I do give a little fist pump. It reminds me of amateur golf and being in the international team or college golf and being with a team.”

RELATED: Golf Saudi unveil sustainability strategy

Sweden’s Jenny Haglund created history with a hole-in-one on the 5th. Not only did she become the first women to make an ace in Saudi Arabia, she is the first player to record a perfect shot since Royal Greens joined the international fray with the Saudi International was first played at Royal Greens in Feb. 2019.

The ace is the sixth of Haglund’s career and fifth in tournament play, with the latest her third in three years.

? HOLE-IN-ONE ?

Massive congratulations to @JennyHaglund who aced the par-3 11th hole @royalgreens_ksa.

A historic moment becoming the first professional to get a tournament hole-in-one in Saudi Arabia ??#SaudiLadiesTeamIntl #LadiesFirst #RaiseOurGame pic.twitter.com/yuA07iX3PR

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 17, 2020

The post Team ‘Dimmock’ lead new Saudi Team Int. as Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen produces solo standout appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.