Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, today announced it will sponsor 24-year old Melissa Reid, the prominent English professional golfer and last month’s winner of the Raiffeisen bank Prague Golf Masters, who is currently ranked 49th in the women’s world golf Rolex Rankings.

The young golfer, who plays on the Ladies European Tour, made her mark in women’s professional golf with three professional wins at the Turkish Airlines Ladies open (May 2010), Deloitte Ladies Open ( June 2011) and Open De España Femenino (Sept 2011). She was also a member of Europe’s impressive Solheim Cup victory over the USA in Ireland last September.

The sponsorship is in line with Emirates NBD’s “Passion for Golf” strategy, which comprises supporting a series of year-round golf-related initiatives, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega Dubai Ladies Masters – two key golfing tournaments held in the UAE. As part of its commitment to promote the game of golf among the UAE youth, Emirates NBD also recently served as sponsor for the first Emerging World Youth Golf Tour in St. Andrews in Scotland.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Vikram Krishna, Head of Group Marketing & Branding, Emirates NBD said, “Golf is a sport that we share a long-standing passion for at Emirates NBD, and it is only fitting that we sponsor young players who are making a mark in the game. The sponsorship is an extension of our support to golf, which will debut in the 2016 Olympics. It is also part of our wider endorsement of sports, which is aligned with our values of success and growth.”

Melissa Reid, widely considered one of the most exciting prospects in women’s golf, said:“I am very grateful for the backing and support that Emirates NBD are offering me and genuinely believe that I can add to their “Passion for Golf” programme. I have a close affinity with the United Arab Emirates, and have enjoyed playing in the country, and this only strengthens the link further.”