Regulars on the LPGA Tour, American world No.3 Stacy Lewis, and Chinese world No.4 Feng Shanshan, the defending champion, will start as pre-tournament favorites at the season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters on Wednesday.

With the European Tour Order of Merit crown already secured by world No.2 Suzann Pettersen of Norway in just three starts, all eyes will be on the two top-ranked stars in the field.

Both have been on form of late.

While Feng has won twice (LPGA Titleholders Cup and Reignwood LPGA Classic) in her last four starts in the past two months, Lewis has not finished outside eighth place in a tournament since the beginning of July.

She also won the Women's ­British Open this year, her second major win, and two other tournaments on the LPGA Tour earlier in the season.

The top prize this week is 75,000 ­euros ($101,750), making it one of the biggest events on the Ladies ­European Tour, but the field wears a slightly ­depleted look.

That's because four players in the top 20 of the rankings are trying their luck at the LPGA Tour Qualifying School, which is being played simultaneously this week in the US.

Lewis, who closed her Twitter account after criticizing Chinese fans when she lost to Feng in the Reignwood Classic in October, said winning in Dubai would cap her season perfectly.

"I feel like I'm playing really well ... So at this point this year, I feel like I have a lot more energy, and my game is right where it needs to be," said Lewis.

Feng, who won last year with a ­record score of 21 under par, said she was ­simply aiming for a top-five finish.

"Well, I had a goal early this year. I wanted to win twice on the LPGA. And before China, I had no win, and then I thought I wasn't going to make it because I only had four tournaments left. But I won twice in the last four, so twice in the past two months, which is great," Feng said.

"Of course I'm feeling really good. I'm feeling confident and very happy that I'm back here. But just like last year, I don't want to give myself too much pressure, so this year, I will just still go for the top five, just like last year."

The tournament starts at the ­Majlis course of the world famous Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday and finishes Saturday.

AFP - Global Times