DUBAI, Dec 5 — The Ricoh Women’s British Open champion Catriona Matthew will showcase her steely resolve to fight the odds when the ‘Super Mum’ from Scotland competes in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at the Emirates Golf Club, from 9-12 December.

“I’ll have played quite a lot of golf before Dubai and I think I’ve got a chance of winning the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit if I play well,” said the Scot ahead of the €500,000 event where she will join a star-studded cast led by America’s Michelle Wie and world number seven Anna Nordqvist.

“For that to happen, I probably will need to win the title. It’s certainly something to aim for,” said Catriona, who, at present, is placed second on the LET’s Henderson Money List with earnings of €251,271, just behind leader Sophie Gustafson of Sweden (€273,615).

“I love playing the Dubai Ladies Masters. I think the Majlis course is one of the best courses I play all year. It’s nice to see all the grandstands that have been set up for the tournament. It feels like a really big tournament and I love going to Dubai.

“It’s a nice time of (the) year to go out there and get away from the cold for a week. The main thing is that the course is really good and it keeps making me go back,” said the Scot, who won this year’s British Open 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child.

"I don't know if (having children) made me stronger, but it did something. I'm lucky because my husband is also my caddie so we're both around for the children a lot," said Matthew who scored a hole-in-one on the 11th after making an eagle three on the 10th in the second round of the British Open before winning the winner’s cheque for $335,000 for her first ‘major’ victory.

She made it to Europe’s Solheim Cup team on the strength of her British Open victory. “That was fantastic,” said the winner of almost $6 million in career earnings. “It was a little bit unexpected. I was playing well when I was practicing, but it’s always a little different coming back to tournaments. You never quite know,” said Catriona, the first Scot and the fourth Briton to win the British Open title.

“Winning the British was amazing, winning a major after not playing for five months has kind of made the year,” said, Catriona adding: “I have been busy since then. I filmed A Question of Sport recently. I’ve had a few things on and there are a few award things coming up at the end of the year so it’s been fun and I’m keeping busy.”

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi — the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters — said: “We are delighted to have a player of her stature in the field. Her presence will not only raise the profile of the event, but will also help promote ladies golf in the region.

“I wish her and all players a pleasant stay in Dubai. I hope they all will return home with some fond memories of the tournament,” he added.

'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor while BMW, CNN, Emirates Airline, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Jumeirah Group, MasterCard and wasl are co-sponsors of the event in its drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.