DUBAI, Dec 13 - Laura Davies hasn't won a title this year, but this doesn't mean the all-time British great is entertaining any thoughts of calling it day.

In fact, the 48-year-old veteran, who is also a 'golf in DUBAi' ambassador, insisted she actually played better from tee to green this year than she did last year, but whatever she did right was derailed once she got on the greens.

"Unfortunately in this game, it's all about putting - and I've just not been comfortable on the greens," Davies said ahead of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, starting at the Emirates Golf Club from Wednesday.

"I have had so many lip-outs this year. It may sound like excuses, but it has been pretty extraordinary how many good putts haven't gone in this year. Why? I can't put my finger on it," said Davies who won five times on the Ladies European Tour last year. In fact, she has won at least one tournament in every year bar 2005 since turning professional in 1985.

"If I get off to a decent start and manage to build on that who knows I could be contention (for title) on Saturday," said the winner of 79 titles worldwide over a 26-year illustrious career.

Like Davies, Michelle Wie, the top-ranked player in the field, is also aiming to end the dry spell with a win in this euro 500,000 (Dh2.4 million) tournament, promoted and organized by golf in DUBAi.  

"Obviously, I didn't play as well as wanted to, but hopefully, I can end the year with a bang.  Since I haven't won this year, a win this week would mean a lot to me," said the 22-year-old American, who at present is ranked 17th in the world. 

"I love this (Majlis) course. The greens are great, in fact better than last year. So it's pretty cool to come back here and play. Playing on this course is fun."

In the midst of a swing overhaul, she's still a work in progress. "I think it was a year of trying to improve my game. I have worked a lot and, hopefully, it will pay off next year," said Wie, who is feeling quite fit and healthy. 

"I went through a lot of injuries, but I am getting to a place where I want my game to be. More importantly, I am getting healthy again and my body feels pretty good," said Wie, who will be graduating in international communications early next year.

"I am excited to get my degree. It's of my biggest dreams since I was four to go to Stanford."

Unlike, Wie, her compatriot and rising star Alexis Thompson is home-schooled. "I do it all online and I will finish my schooling next May," said Thompson, who created history earlier this year, becoming youngest winner of the LPGA Tour, aged 16.

The young prodigy from Coral Springs, Thompson claimed the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama by five shots in September this year, surpassing the earlier achievement of Paula Creamer on the US women's circuit. Creamer was 18 years, nine months and 17 days when she clinched the four-round Sybase Classic in 2005.

"The victory has given me a lot of confidence. I go to every event wanting to win, but you know it's not going to happen every time. You have to take it shot by shot and hope everything goes well.

"I am looking forward to this tournament for a while. It feels great to be back in Dubai," said Thompson, who finished in a tie for 22nd place last year.

"Obviously, I would like to improve on it. The (Majlis) course is really great, it's so pretty and the experience of playing there last year should help," said Thompson, who is paired with Germany's Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands. And the trio tees off at 7.50am on the first tee.

'golf in DUBAi' is backed by Omega as the title sponsor and Dubal (Dubai Aluminium) as the sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, Jumeirah, Mercedes-Benz and wasl while Dubai Duty Free, Carpetland and Motivate are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi's drive to showcase the emirate's vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.