Following on from her historic win on the UAE PGA last month, Olivia Jackson has secured a spot in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic which gets underway today at Emirates Golf Club.
The 23-year-old got the call late last night (Tuesday 3rd November) that she had received an invitation into the floodlit event following the withdrawal of Annabel Dimmock, Catriona Matthew and Ursula Wikström after the trio tested positive for COVID-19.
“I was teaching my kids class in the afternoon and my phone kept buzzing in my pocket so I looked and it’s the Golf Academy calling me, so I answered and they said that Chris May wants to see me, so we met and he said that I need to leave as soon as possible and go straight to the hotel, check-in and take the COVID-19 test before 5 pm as I’m in the tournament,” said Jackson.
“I rushed over and luckily I had friends who could bring me some clothes over for the next few days. It’s pretty surreal, I am super excited and I can’t wait to tee it up with some of the world’s best and soak it all up. It’s a dream come true, not many people can say that they have played on the Ladies European Tour. I’m absolutely buzzing for the next few days.”
Jackson, who only moved over to Dubai at the beginning of the year, was the only player to break par over the Faldo course in last month’s UAE PGA tournament and is hoping that her course knowledge gives her an edge as she comes up against some of the world’s best players including former World No.1 and two-time Major winner Lydia Ko.
“I think having course knowledge definitely helps around the Faldo course, but I am playing against the best in the world,” she says.” I’m going into it thinking that this is the best experience I could have, I am going to play the course the way I can, it will be me against the golf course really, it’s how well I can handle it and just enjoy it.”
Residents in the UAE can watch all the action from this week’s event live on Dubai Sports Channel 2 from 19:00 – 22:00 Wednesday to Friday.
