The Golf Nurse Battles Back!

Flushed it

Carly Booth, our resident Golf Nurse, battled back to a one over 73 at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters to sit seven shots shy of the lead. Liz Young and Carmen Alonso hold the lead after both shooting 66 in their first rounds.

Carly was four over with three holes to play, before fighting back with a birdie blitz. Birdies at seven, eight and nine got the GP favourite back to one over for the tournament and still in the mix. We doff our caps to that gritty display, here’s hoping she uses it to kick on tomorrrow.

"Get a move on, there's football to watch"

Elsewhere, Laura Davies keeps turning back the years shooting an impressive 68. “I feel like it’s a course I should do well on” said Davies. “The first few years, I think I finished second, third and fourth. Since then I’ve had some missed cuts and average finishes.

"It’s a course I would like to think I could do well on. This is a good start but that’s all it is: a good start.”

At 52 years old, she’s still showing up players less than half her age. Dame Laura Davies we salute you.

The only tree in the desert

Swingin’ Siren Amy Boulden impressed with a first round 71, but she will be annoyed with her three bogeys. Charley Hull finished at level par. She was on fire with four birdies in a row, before losing her momentum with a double bogey on 18. Melissa Reid could only manage a three over 75.

Alonso? Didn't she used to play for Liverpool?

Alonso has only played five events this season, and missed every cut.

“I had my full card but this year has been tough because my mum had lung cancer” said Alonso.

“She had an operation in October and now everything is good. Sometimes you lose your happiness on the golf course. Since she’s recovered and I have a good team around me, I’m happy to play again. To be in Dubai, with the sunshine and shoot a 66 in the first round: happy.”

Which puts golf into perspective in the grand scheme of things.

How did Swingin' Siren Paige Spiranac get on?