By Kent Gray
Abu Dhabi’s three major golf tournaments have been bundled together in a win-win fortnight for golf fans, charity fundraising and the emirate’s wider sports calendar.

The 3rd edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club will kickstart the two-week bonanza after being shifted from its traditional November time-slot to January 10-12.

As well as being contested in a new, shortened 54-hole Pro-Am format similar to the remodelled Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, the FBMLO will also open the 2019 Ladies European Tour season.

The FBMLO will also now be a forerunner to the Gary Player Invitational a day later at Saadiyat Beach on January 13, with the 18-hole charity event, in turn, preceding the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship presented by EGA.

In arguably the most significant change of all, the Desert Swing opener at Abu Dhabi Golf Club will be played from Wednesday-Saturday Jan. 16-19, starting and finishing a day earlier than traditional tour events to accommodate football’s 2019 Asian Cup being staged in the UAE from Jan. 5-Feb. 1.

Getty Images
Tommy Fleetwood will chase a hat-trick of Falcon Trophy wins at the rescheduled Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Gary Player has led a chorus of support for the changes unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council on Tuesday.

The new date for the 4th Gary Player Invitational, between the women’s and men’s tour events, means a bolstered field of pros for the charity which will again raise funds for the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special  Needs.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes to the game throughout my over 60-year career and I think two of the most important have been the growth and evolution of the women’s game and also the game’s ability to raise money and awareness for a variety of wonderful charitable causes,” said Player.

“While the ladies tour schedule has faced challenges in recent times due to a number of factors, it is essential to find more support for the game, and so, I commend Abu Dhabi and its leadership for introducing this new format for the continued staging of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

“We welcome the event as a forerunner to the 2019 Gary Player Invitational, which thanks to these changes, is set to be our most successful to date.”

The top 15 pairs will survive a 36-hole cut to play the final round while the 56 professionals will continue to battle it out for the FBMLO title, won by Scotland-based American Beth Allen in 2016 and Indian teen Aditi Ashok last year.

Aditi Ashok

“The game of golf continues to evolve globally and given Abu Dhabi’s heritage of innovation in sport, we are continuously seeking ways to encourage and engage both sport fans and participants while at the same time, ensure the longevity of our events,” said His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

“The new date and format mean that the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open will now offer an unparalleled experience for amateur golfers and a novel new tournament for the professionals.

“The event will also be a spectacular celebration of golf, with the Gary Player Invitational and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA scheduled in close proximity. Aside from the operational efficiencies, there are many cross-promotional opportunities that will appeal to more fans of the game than ever before.”

LET chairman Mark Lichtenhein said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council into this new era. The new date and format will undoubtedly help shine a strong spotlight onto women’s golf in the Emirate and bring a different sponsor and spectator experience to the LET tournament.”

For more information, visit fbmladiesopen.com  and garyplayer.com/invitational

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