Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The iconic Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club will be in the spotlight at next month’s Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic.

A 56-strong field including five of the world’s top-50 ranked players will tee-off under floodlights as they compete for the US$285,000 prize fund from November 4-6.

The tournament which has been played since 2006 on the Faldo Course, is returning this year for its 14th edition.

The course was built with night golf in mind. It was redesigned by six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo in 2005 and reopened as a par-72 layout in 2006, with floodlights being an integral part of the course’s design.

An Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, Faldo Design has created unique courses on five continents and in 20 different countries.

“I’m looking forward to seeing some of the world’s best female golfers light up the Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club,” said Faldo. “The course will challenge the strategic approach of the players and provide a great stage for some creative and dramatic championship golf.”

This year’s three-day Dubai event is set to take place behind closed doors and held within a safe environment and marks the return of sporting events to Dubai, taking place under the appropriately named theme ‘Time to Shine’, after many tournaments were cancelled or postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking about the challenge of organising tournament golf amid an uncertain backdrop, Tournament Director Simon Corkill said: “2020 has been a very difficult year globally, not just for sports, and as such we are very grateful to Dubai Sports Council and all our partners. Without their support this tournament simply wouldn’t have been possible.

“With some of the game’s best players set to attend this year’s tournament, we’ve gone above and beyond to ensure the necessary safety precautions are in place for November. Whilst we won’t be able to welcome spectators this year, we are delighted that Dubai will host the unique and day and night event which will be broadcast globally to 60 countries and 348 million households.” 

Joining defending champion Nuria Iturrioz in the starting line-up will be Solheim Cup players Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Céline Boutier and 2021 Captain Catriona Matthew, as well as Australian Minjee Lee and New Zealander Lydia Ko.

Formerly known as the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, the inaugural tournament was played in 2006. Previous winners include two-time winner Annika Sorenstam and four-time champion Feng Shanshan.

The newly named and scheduled tournament has been switched from May to November after its first staging in spring 2019, when it achieved global recognition as the world’s first professional day-night Tour event.