Sluggish first day for Feng at Dubai Ladies Masters

While the defending champion stumbles in first round, American Stacy Lewis fires two-under 70 and is only three shots back, writes John McAuley.

After the first round, defending champion Shanshan Feng finds herself nine shots off the lead at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. Antonie Robertson / The National

DUBAI // After spending the past week jet-setting across the globe, Shanshan Feng would have wanted, understandably, to catch up on a little shuteye before beginning her defence of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Wednesday.

Admittedly, the world No 4 initially seemed in good nick despite arriving in Dubai with considerable air miles under her belt, thanks to quick jaunts to China, America before arriving in the UAE.

There was a star performance at Monday’s Challenge Match, the traditional opener to the Ladies European Tour’s season finale, before a hole-in-one contributed to victory in the Tuesday pro-am, too.

Coming on the back of last month’s LPGA Titleholders triumph in Florida, it has been a hectic time for the reigning Dubai champion. So, when she settled for the night ahead of the first official round at the Majlis, Feng was hoping to recharge some seriously weary batteries.

However, she was awakened at 4:30am – an hour and 20 minutes earlier than intended – by a knock on her hotel window, and a frantic call to reception revealed that another guest had simply mistaken her room for his.

Feng seemingly dozed her way through the first round, too, finishing with a 4-over 76. Last year she opened with a 66, never relinquished her lead and set a 72-hole scoring record.

“I just felt like I wasn’t there, I didn’t know who was playing,” Feng said. “I couldn’t control my body, couldn’t concentrate. I just want to bring myself tomorrow.”

Feng refused to lean on her early wake-up call as an excuse, although she did concede it may have contributed to those mid-morning struggles. Already nine shots off the pace, a planned post-round shopping trip was cancelled.

“I’ve still got three more days to go, so I’m sure I’ll be able to sleep well tonight and I’ll come back,” Feng said. “The day is finished, so hopefully I’ll still have good weekend.”

Should Feng sufficiently recover, she could find a familiar foe in her way come Sunday.

Stacy Lewis, now a regular sparring partner on the LPGA Tour, is attempting to emulate her rival’s win on debut here last year, and a 2-under 70 served as a rather nice introduction.

The world No 3’s day began with a surprise as well, when she drew back the curtains of her hotel room to discover Dubai blanketed in thick fog.

“It was pretty early and really was dark out,” said Lewis, a former world No 1 who is three shots off the lead. “And the fog was definitely a little strange. But it allowed for some extra practice and we kind of got going.”

In truth, three birdies seemed scant return for some supreme ball-striking – Lewis hit 16 greens in regulation – but having already gone over tomorrow’s pin placements with her caddie, the American envisages a steady improvement through round two.

“I feel like I know the course pretty well,” she said. “It’s just the greens are a little fast, they sneak up and get you. But I feel like I’m still in it. We’ve got three days left and if I can just make a few more putts I reckon I’ll be right there.”

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