DUBAI: The first round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, the season-ending championship of the Ladies European Tour, was suspended Wednesday after the death of a caddie.
Austrian Maximillian Zechmann, a former caddie on the European Tour, collapsed on the 13th fairway and received on-site treatment from the medical team before being taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
"Everyone at the Ladies European Tour is extremely shocked and saddened today by this sudden death and therefore we have taken the decision to suspend first round play as a mark of respect," said Ladies European Tour CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh.
"On behalf of our membership, we offer heartfelt condolences to the individual's family and loved ones."
The 55-year-old Zechmann is understood to have retired in 2014 and settled in Dubai. Among his former players are Austrian Marcus Brier. He is survived by his wife Elinor and three sons.
American Beth Allen, who is assured of winning the Order of Merit this week, said: "I 100 percent agree with the decision that was made out of respect for him and his family. I don't think anybody has any qualms about it."
Round one play will resume on Thursday and the tournament will now be played over 54 holes.
Among those who had started their rounds, the start of which was delayed by an hour because of fog, were England's Floretyna Parker, who was seven-under par after nine holes, and Tiger Woods' niece Cheyenne Woods, who was second at four-under par after six.
China's world No. 1 Shanshan Feng was among those who failed to tee it up Wednesday. Shanshan will look to extend her domination in the event Ome with a fourth title in last five years.
Feng is the highest ranked player in the field, which also boasts of two-time major champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway and England's Charley Hull, a winner on the LPGA Tour a fortnight ago.
However, the thrill of a season-ending championship will be slightly diminished this year, with both Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year awards already decided.
Allen, who won back-to-back titles in France and Abu Dhabi, leads the Order of Merit with earnings of 311,391 euros and her lead at the top is insurmountable in the half million euro tournament that offers a winning cheque of 75,000 euros.
India's 18-year-old Aditi Ashok, who is having a sensational season, is placed second in the Order of Merit, having won her last two tournaments - the Indian Open and the Qatar Open. Her earnings of 180,415 euros cannot be matched by second-placed Spain's Nuria Itturios even if she wins on Saturday.
Both Allen and Aditi were expected to reach Dubai late on Tuesday for the tournament starting Wednesday, as they participated in the final stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida that finished on Sunday.
Allen finished inside the top-20 and secured a category 12 card for next year, while Ashok was tied 23rd and will have a category 17 status.
Feng has turned around her game after a poor start to the season. She won the bronze medal in the Rio Olympic Games, and thereafter, she hasn't finished outside the top-10 in her last seven starts.
And Feng said she was keeping her goals modest, as she does at every tournament.
"Top-five. It's like I said earlier, I never set a goal that will really put me under a lot of pressure. Going for a top-five is something I feel quite comfortable doing it, so I think that's maybe my goal right now," said the trailblazing 27-year-old Chinese, who won the tournament last year by a whopping 12 shots after shooting 21-under par.
Austrian Maximillian Zechmann, a former caddie on the European Tour, collapsed on the 13th fairway and received on-site treatment from the medical team before being taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
"Everyone at the Ladies European Tour is extremely shocked and saddened today by this sudden death and therefore we have taken the decision to suspend first round play as a mark of respect," said Ladies European Tour CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh.
"On behalf of our membership, we offer heartfelt condolences to the individual's family and loved ones."
The 55-year-old Zechmann is understood to have retired in 2014 and settled in Dubai. Among his former players are Austrian Marcus Brier. He is survived by his wife Elinor and three sons.
American Beth Allen, who is assured of winning the Order of Merit this week, said: "I 100 percent agree with the decision that was made out of respect for him and his family. I don't think anybody has any qualms about it."
Round one play will resume on Thursday and the tournament will now be played over 54 holes.
Among those who had started their rounds, the start of which was delayed by an hour because of fog, were England's Floretyna Parker, who was seven-under par after nine holes, and Tiger Woods' niece Cheyenne Woods, who was second at four-under par after six.
China's world No. 1 Shanshan Feng was among those who failed to tee it up Wednesday. Shanshan will look to extend her domination in the event Ome with a fourth title in last five years.
Feng is the highest ranked player in the field, which also boasts of two-time major champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway and England's Charley Hull, a winner on the LPGA Tour a fortnight ago.
However, the thrill of a season-ending championship will be slightly diminished this year, with both Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year awards already decided.
Allen, who won back-to-back titles in France and Abu Dhabi, leads the Order of Merit with earnings of 311,391 euros and her lead at the top is insurmountable in the half million euro tournament that offers a winning cheque of 75,000 euros.
India's 18-year-old Aditi Ashok, who is having a sensational season, is placed second in the Order of Merit, having won her last two tournaments - the Indian Open and the Qatar Open. Her earnings of 180,415 euros cannot be matched by second-placed Spain's Nuria Itturios even if she wins on Saturday.
Both Allen and Aditi were expected to reach Dubai late on Tuesday for the tournament starting Wednesday, as they participated in the final stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida that finished on Sunday.
Allen finished inside the top-20 and secured a category 12 card for next year, while Ashok was tied 23rd and will have a category 17 status.
Feng has turned around her game after a poor start to the season. She won the bronze medal in the Rio Olympic Games, and thereafter, she hasn't finished outside the top-10 in her last seven starts.
And Feng said she was keeping her goals modest, as she does at every tournament.
"Top-five. It's like I said earlier, I never set a goal that will really put me under a lot of pressure. Going for a top-five is something I feel quite comfortable doing it, so I think that's maybe my goal right now," said the trailblazing 27-year-old Chinese, who won the tournament last year by a whopping 12 shots after shooting 21-under par.
