Alireza, a former member of the Saudi Arabian national team who represented his country at the Asian Games, brings a wealth of experience in strategic advisory serving some of Saudi Arabia’s most influential entities within the public and private sectors, and he is a lifelong student of the game of golf and a graduate of Brown University, Rhode Island.

As he settles into his new role, Alireza’s remit is to activate and accelerate Golf Saudi’s mandate in creating and serving the growing demand for golf in Saudi Arabia, through mass participation programmes and increasing access to the sport in the country as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme.

Golf Digest Middle East recently caught up with Alireza to get the lowdown on the man, the hard work and next steps for Golf Saudi

•••

First of all, how are you settling into the role?

Being Saudi as well as a passionate golfer, it is a privilege and an honour to wake up every morning to work on something you love. 

There’s a clear and exciting challenge that lies ahead, which is to convert the major strides already made when it comes to events into accelerating the build up of golf-related infrastructure within Saudi Arabia. 

The most exciting part is that, with Vision 2030, this is one of many streams that are happening in Saudi Arabia when it comes to sports activation, and we have the ability to synergise and leverage each other to achieve unique, original and impactful outcomes. This clarity and the potential impact sports can have on the social, economic, and environmental levels in Saudi Arabia makes this challenge worth devoting every working hour.

•••

How have you found these past two months, especially with the men’s and women’s Saudi Internationals? 

Staging back-to-back events like we have just witnessed are no easy feat, so it is to the credit of our amazing team that delivery of both was, once again, of the very highest standard. 

I have been fortunate enough to be part of these events as a Pro-Am guest in recent years so knew what to expect to an extent, but things are always very different looking from the inside. It is evident how much these tournaments stand as a showcase for the sport in Saudi Arabia. They serve as an opportunity to encourage a burgeoning domestic interest in the sport. Part of the challenge is to channel the outcome of these events from viewership into participation.

•••

There were many clinics and talks during the events, how do you see the growth of the game in Saudi Arabia? 

Despite the incredible progress to date, golf is still a young sport in Saudi Arabia. However, our focus is to have an accelerated growth trajectory. A combination of factors will be crucial to this and mainly revolve around striking the right balance between access and demand.

Ultimately, the courses in development here are the pinnacle for us, and we want as many people as possible to eventually become members of a thriving golf community. 

We also continue focusing on off-course and mobile facilities — such as driving ranges, simulators, and fun mini-golf experiences. 

All of this, and more, helps create a pathway, encouraging people to try the game and, hopefully, make them lifelong golfers. 

Saudi International

•••

What are the immediate and longer-term visions for golf in the Kingdom? 

The overall focus is to develop a thriving golf landscape here in Saudi Arabia, by allowing ease of access to anyone who wants to participate and benefit from the virtues of this game. 

The immediate challenge is turning the current awareness into active golfers and having the correct access points at all incomes and skill levels, from beginner to intermediate to national team to elite — and in the long term, to create new world champions, who in turn create new dreamers, to inspire and feed the cycle. We’ve recently seen this in the World Cup when Saudi Arabia beat Argentina — that was a generational moment that inspired a new wave of interest that will ultimately create future stars. Eventually, with the right balance of demand and supply, the golf industry will become self-sufficient, creating thousands of jobs and serving thousands of recreational players. 

•••

Besides getting players on courses, how are business and college programmes helping Saudis from all walks of life get on the career ladder?

In developing a thriving sector, we must concentrate on all components, and the professional expertise of a workforce in golf is critical. In areas such as golf instruction, facility management and hospitality we require highly skilled individuals who are looking to enjoy a career in this sport. Therefore, we have created partnerships with the likes of Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE) and the National Training Centre for Facilities and Hospitality Management (FHM). 

Last year we launched our first Arabic Golf Education Training programme. Several individuals have now progressed from this and are moving into employment within our facilities, which is something we are all terrifically proud of. 

The plan is to continue to develop on these efforts and go further into developing other disciplines within the golf value chain such as agronomy. Our primary focus is to ensure that knowledge in these disciplines is transferred and eventually led by Saudis. 

•••

Othman Almulla was thrilled to welcome Saud and Faisal to the pro ranks at the Saudi International. What are your hopes for them and the inspiration they provide future generations? 

Celebrating the achievements of Othman, Faisal and Saud, three incredible ambassadors for both their sport and their country, will help us grow interest in golf here in the Kingdom. They have shown they can compete with the best on the Asian Tour, with Faisal and Saud both making cuts within their first two events after turning pro, so the future is looking bright. 

We will continue supporting them, celebrating their successes and bringing news of their achievements back to the youth in Saudi, who we hope will be inspired to follow in their footsteps. 

•••

Aramco Saudi Ladies International

We are also seeing massive growth in the region among women thanks to the likes of Chiara Noja winning ATS Jeddah last year and Ines Laklalech getting her first pro win in France, and then there was the flagship Ladies European Tour event — the Aramco Saudi Ladies International — offering equal prize money to the men of $5 million, attracting the likes of world No. 1 and winner Lydia Ko …

The ladies’ game is going from strength to strength, and that is supported by global participation figures which is amazing to see. Our support of events and players on the LET is helping to build this momentum, and we hope it continues to boost interest in golf back in Saudi Arabia among women.  

We know that having some of the stars in the women’s game visiting KSA was crucial in inspiring uptake in our Ladies First Club initiative in 2020 and we already have graduates from that initial programme participating as amateurs in Aramco Team Series events. 

Our aspiration is to have Saudi ladies play golf at an elite level and we will be giving full support in this endeavour.

•••

The ladies return for the Aramco Team Series, but in Riyadh rather than Royal Greens. Is this part of a plan to spread the events to a wider audience across the Kingdom? 

Absolutely it is, yes. Riyadh being the vibrant capital of Saudi Arabia already has three courses with other world-class facilities currently being built. Riyadh Golf Club, which is currently the closest to the city centre, is going through the necessary improvements to ensure that it is a real challenge for the world’s best players. Riyadh is where the majority of golfers in Saudi Arabia are, and we are excited to bring a professional golfing event to the capital city and continue to grow the game here and across the country.

After five years of events at Royal Greens, which will nevertheless remain a key host of other events in the future, everyone at Golf Saudi is very excited about hosting the ATS in Riyadh and we think the ladies are going to enjoy the challenge.

The post Speaking with … Noah Alireza: Golf Digest Middle East caught up with the new CEO of Golf Saudi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Leona Maguire was something of an unknown when she hit the headlines in 2011 and became the toast of European golf with a stunning Solheim Cup show on her debut in the biennial matchplay clash with the best American female golf has to offer.

The rookie thrived as the reigning champions denied Team USA at the Inverness Club, Ohio, and retained the coveted trophy.

The Americans were tipped to wrest the Cup back from a European team that triumphed at Gleneagles in 2019, boasting the likes of then world No. 1 and Olympic champion Nelly Korda as the poster girl leading a deep, deep pool of American talent.

But they failed to factor in Maguire, who helped Europe to a famous 15-13 victory, with the County Cavan native picking up a rookie record 4.5 points from her five matches over three gruelling days at the Inverness Club, including an astounding and dominant 5&4 victory over Jennifer Kupcho in the singles.

Two years on, Maguire cuts a relaxed figure as Team Europe aim for an unprecedented hat-trick of Solheim Cup successes on the spin at Finca Cortesin in Spain this September — an event she very much plans to feature in. 

Getty Images

“It’s going to be a very different one this year on home soil in Spain,” Maguire tells Golf Digest Middle East on the sidelines of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International outside Jeddah. “I was a rookie last time, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I was just happy to be there and make the team and all the rest.

“This time around, Plan A is to make sure I am there in September, and I make the team. To do that I need to play as well as I can as there are so many good players in Europe these days.”

While nothing is certain about making the final 12 on the teamsheet, Maguire is already doing her homework for September, and relishing a return to team action.

“We took a trip to Finca Cortesin after the Spanish Open last year and it is a great golf course — obviously very different to Inverness in Ohio,” she says. “It will be great to have that home support, and also to get the crowds back after last time, when the fans were not allowed to travel. I am sure there will be a lot of Irish people in that area in the south of Spain, plus a lot more going over, so it will be a very different Solheim Cup this time around.” 

While Europe will have a new captain in Suzann Pettersen, having taken over from Catriona ‘Beanie’ Matthew, there will be a sense of continuity when they get to Spain, as the Norwegian is taking the step up from vice-captain and has retained the services of the legendary four-time Solheim Cup winner Laura Davis as one of her lieutenants. 

“Suzann is putting in all the work behind the scenes to make sure we have the best team out there and we are as ready as possible,” says Maguire. “Both Suzann and Laura have a wealth of experience under their belts in major championships and Solheim Cups — they are two of the best to have ever done it, so you couldn’t ask for much better. Suzann is as competitive as it gets, so she won’t leave any stone unturned to make sure that we come out as the best side we can be. 

“I grew up watching Suzann in Solheim Cups. I remember watching her at Killeen Castle in 2011 and we played the Junior the same week in County Meath. It would have been nice to have been on a team playing alongside her but hopefully I can make the team with her as captain — the next best thing.” 

Maguire delights in the cultural mix and team bonding that the Solheim Cup brings out in the Europeans. 

“We are very lucky as a team with our unique backgrounds,” she says. “In Inverness we all got along so well, right from when we landed. It wasn’t forced in any way, we all just hung out and played table tennis and pool in the team room. We played cards and just chatted amongst ourselves — a lot of it was based on humour and camaraderie and that really brought us all together, from all the different nationalities. 

Paul Severn

“There was a huge mix of youth and experience on that team and I think the older players, vice-captains and Beanie herself were such a calming presence, along with Suzann and Laura. There was so much respect there between the players and captains that you did what they said. Whenever they spoke, you stopped what you were doing and you listened. And the older players like Annika [Sorenstam] and Carlota [Ciganda] really showed us rookies the ropes, and it brought us all together, so we all knew our job and it all clicked perfectly. That is the key to success in these events, I think.” 

Looking ahead to 2023, Maguire feels that, once again, there will be plenty of fresh talent in the squad to get the right balance of youth and experience.

“I think this time around we will have quite a few Scandinavian players — a real Swedish theme — so I might need to brush up on my Swedish,” she laughs, referring to the Pettersen influence and the emergence of a number of Scandinavian stars such as Linn Grant and Maja Stark in recent times. “They are all amazing and it can make us English speakers feel bad that we don’t speak more languages, but we are all one family in the end, regardless of which country you come from. 

“Everybody is already getting along, we all root for each other and cheer each other along.” 

Maguire is happy to see the growth of events such as the Aramco Team Series in the women’s game, and took part in last year’s competition in New York.

“We don’t get to play a lot of team golf out on tour so it is nice to now get the option to play in that team format,” she says. “There is the draft, picking your teammates … they put on a really good show and I really enjoyed being in the team atmosphere once again. I have heard nothing but good things from the girls who have played in the other Aramco Team Series events all around the world, so there will be lots of interesting places to go to.” 

The Irish star is also glad to see women get recognition in such events as the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, where the record $5 million purse was equal to that of the men’s event held at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club two weeks earlier in February. 

“I think we are beginning to get more and more of these events,” Maguire says. “Obviously $5 million this week, plus the World Invitational and Vic Open are now offering better prize money. This week, it is almost like a major for us, you can see that by the quality of the field that is here on this great golf course. 

“I think it is an exciting time to be a woman in golf. Obviously there have been huge strides made in terms of prize money, the likes of PIF, KPMG and AIG have put huge amounts into the game. Plus we get better visibility on the big golf courses as well now — we went to Muirfield last year and we have Pebble Beach this year — and getting primetime TV slots is a really big thing, too.

“The LET has made huge strides in the past few years with the involvement of Aramco. If you told me even a couple of years ago we would be playing for $5 million in Saudi Arabia, no one would have believed it. 

“Plus there are more avenues to allow youngsters to get into the game. They have the Epson Tour on the LPGA, then there is the LET Access Series and the college ranks — there are so many options now and that is the great thing. 

“A few years ago, you either got your LPGA card or you didn’t, or you got your LET card or you didn’t, but now there are so many more opportunities, and that is the big thing to unearth the best talent and give them the best chance of making it. 

“Hopefully we can get a few more Irish players out there in the near future, too.”

Tristan Jones

A real resume of records
Along with her headline-grabbing show in Inverness, Maguire is no stranger to success and holds a number of other records to go with her points score in the Solheim Cup. She held the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for the longest time (135 weeks) and shot the lowest-ever score in the final round of a major by any golfer, male or female (61). She also became the first Irish golfer to win an LPGA event at the Drive On Championship last February.

The post Irish star Leona Maguire raring to go once again after her Solheim Cup heroics as a rookie in Ohio appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

American star Lexi Thompson is one of the most decorated, celebrated and well-travelled golfers in the game right now.

With 15 titles, nearly $14 million in the bank from LPGA earnings alone (she has also tasted victory on the Ladies European Tour in Dubai and New York over the past 12 years as a professional), the 28-year-old is still broadening her horizons.

Thompson arrived in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever last month after a short break in Dubai to take part in the loaded $5 million Aramco Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, as she gears up for another crucial year.

And she nearly got off to a perfect start, coming up just short of the winner — world No. 1 Lydia Ko — in a tie for third, with a course record-equalling 63 to boot, all of which helped Thompson settle in nicely in the Middle East to start her 2023 campaign.

“I think it’s just a matter of feeling welcome,” she told Golf Digest Middle East. “The way everyone is made to feel welcome is great and the hospitality that I received is amazing. While it is my first time here, I have been in the Middle East quite a bit and I love Dubai. It’s one of the favourite spots that I’ve ever been to, let alone winning [the Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club in 2011]. Of course that’s a bonus.”

While only 28, Thompson has five Solheim Cups under her belt, including two triumphs, but Team USA has lost the last two iterations at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2019 and at Inverness Club, Ohio, in 2021. The ‘veteran’ is determined to get back on the team for this September’s event at Finca Cortesin in Spain, and wrest the trophy back from Team Europe.

“First of all, it’s such a high honour to be able to represent my country any time I can,” she said. “Whether it’s Solheim Cup, International Crown, or any team event, I want to be on that team representing my country.

“It’s been unfortunate the last two times that we’ve lost, but it happens. We did the best that we could. As I said, win or lose, representing your country is the highest honour, so hopefully we get that trophy back in Spain. I am really looking forward to going there.

Paul Severn

“All we can do is the best we can and bring our ‘A’ games, but I think the Solheim Cups bring a whole other level of people’s games. When you are flying your flag for your country or continent, you have that drive. You’re not only fighting for yourself out there, you have your partner next to you. You’re fighting for your country and representing it.

“It is such a unique experience, bringing out that other attitude of people, which is great to see.”

To say Thompson had an early start at the top level of the game is something of an understatement. She became the youngest golfer ever to qualify for the US Open at the age of 12 and was a professional by the time she was just 15, winning her first LPGA tournament as a 16-year-old in 2011, and breaking the record as the youngest Ladies European Tour event winner just three months later in Dubai. She also became the second youngest major winner at the Chevron Championship in 2014 at the age of 19. 

When asked the secret to staying at the elite end of the game for such a long time, the world No. 7 replied: “I think the key for me is taking the time off when needed, not really overdoing playing, skipping events that I feel like I need to.

“It is important to get the right amount of rest I need and make sure my game is in the right spot for the tournaments that I thoroughly enjoy and the golf courses that I really like and suit my game the best.

“Instead of just playing four, five weeks in a row and tiring myself out, I take the breaks when needed.

“I just finished my 12th year on tour, so it’s pretty unbelievable to think I just turned 28. It is a balancing act between taking the time for myself, living life and enjoying it, but at the same time, performing the best that I can when I do play.”

Obviously keeping fit during those breaks and in the off-season is also crucial?

“Yeah, of course,” Thompson said. “I worked extremely hard in the off-season, whether it’s training in the gym one, two times a day, but I’ve spent multiple hours each and every day in the practice facility working on the things that I needed to improve on and just keeping everything consistent.

“I had a good finish in my last two events last year [Pelican Women’s Championship and CME Group Tour Championship], so I am just trying to bring that into this year. Consistency has been key for me to keep things ticking along, so just keeping the things going that I’ve been working on and continuing to improve on them with my game and on the mental side as well.”

Following her T3 at Royal Greens, Thompson is confident her game is in the right place. 

“I had quite a long time off over the festive period, with quality time with my family and friends to get that relaxation, but at the same time, I trained harder than ever,” she said.

“I worked extremely hard on my game and fitness, and I am really just trying to keep everything intact, work on a few things in my game, and keep on improving.”

Paul Severn

It was a bit of a family affair in Saudi Arabia as Lexi’s brother Curtis was on her bag, another aspect that helped her relax in the challenging conditions.

“We just talk about the most random things or get deep into a conversation that just goes nowhere,” Lexi said about what the chat was with her sibling. “It’s amazing. He knows me so well and knows my game probably better than I do because we play together every day back home. I’m very lucky and blessed to have him out here.”

And as Thompson becomes one of the more seasoned pros, she has an eye on the legacy she will leave as the women’s game makes great strides towards equality, with boosts in prize money, improved facilities and more airtime on live television broadcasts.

“First of all, I think it’s amazing to see how the game is growing,” she said. “As an athlete, I just want to leave the game in a better place than it was when I first stepped in.

“To have role models and encourage girls to pick up the game at a young age, it’s important. It’s great to see girls thoroughly enjoy the game. Whether you make it professionally or not, it’s such an amazing game that you learn so much about yourself, your dedication, responsibility. Even if you’re not professional it’s great for business, because you don’t get the opportunity to spend multiple hours with business partners for that matter.

“I’ve learned so much about myself along the way, met some amazing people, so I always tell people, you should pick up the game. It’s one of the best out there. Could be frustrating, don’t get me wrong, but you will enjoy it so much, and just have fun with it and just be grateful for the opportunity that you can.”

The post Event Horizons: ‘Veteran’ Lexi Thompson firmly focused on the future following years of success appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Scott Vincent discusses how he is taking full advantage of the opportunities that came his way in 2022, while Saudi star Othman Almulla delights in welcoming his little ‘brothers’ Saul Al Sharif and Faisal Salhab to the professional ranks.

The Golf Digest Hot List also gets to grips with the best irons on offer this year.

All this and much, much more in the March 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get the March 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

For the first time, the Kingdom’s two flagship events had equal billing and equal prize money. The $5 million Aramco Saudi Ladies International attracted six of the world’s top 10 female players, including world No. 1 and eventual champion Lydia Ko.

Ahead of the tournament the Jazzy Golfer spoke to Ko about her swing.

“I think one of the biggest things I think about is my rhythm,” the New Zealander said. “I don’t think I’ve heard anybody say that their swing gets smoother and longer on the golf course, I think it always gets shorter and quicker. So, for me, just keeping that rhythm, and I feel like when I’m in good rhythm and it’s smooth, even if I do miss it, it’s not too wayward.”

The men’s tournament at Royal Greens took place in early February and broadcaster and Golf Diget Middle East’s first editor Robbie Greenfield spoke to defending champion Harold Varner III about his win. “I think I’m pretty outgoing,” the American said. “You don’t see my emotions for the most part. And when you do something good, I think you should celebrate. So, I was pumped. I was excited.”

Varner spoke about the barriers people face getting into golf and how he hopes to help more young people try the sport. “People don’t understand how hard it is for a kid to get into golf and I want to change that,” he explained. “That’s important to me, because there are some very talented kids out there that just don’t have the opportunity to see if they like it, let alone see if they’re good at it. And that’s how you grow the game. And that costs a lot of money. So, I want to play well, make a lot of money, raise a lot of money, so that that happens.”

Another view or Varner’s celebration after holing the winning eagle putt at the 2022 Saudi International. Oisin Keniry

Next, Greenfield met Australian Cam Smith, who claimed his first major at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews last July.

“It was very surreal,” the Aussie said. “I think it’s something that you dream of, and probably you don’t get that far in your dreams almost. It was crazy. Such a cool environment. Everyone was there, there were Aussies screaming out: ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,’ all that stuff. It was just such an unreal moment.”

Greenfield also spoke to four-time major winner Brooks Koepka about performing under pressure. “I think I’m just able to focus a lot better,” he said. “Things just slow down for me. A lot of times when guys are under pressure, they speed up. I enjoy that. I don’t enjoy playing golf for 20th place. I enjoy playing to win.”

Louis Oosthuizen. LIV Golf

South African Louis Oosthuizen joined LIV Golf in 2022 and he told CNN that he’s excited for the 14-event global schedule the tour has lined up for 2023. “It’s actually nice travelling to different places and seeing different cultures, golf courses, and completely different areas,” he said. “So, growing the game is very important. Whenever I speak to someone young trying to become a golfer, I say you’ve got to travel the world, you’ve got to go play all over the place, and see different things, and see if you can grow your game that way.”

The Jazzy Golfer. CNN

Golf Digest Middle East recently caught up with the Jazzy Golfer herself in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship, turning the tables and making her the interviewee rather than interviewer.

Here is the Q&A:

Q What brings you to Dubai?
A I’ve been travelling to the Middle East to film for Living Golf. We visited the DP World Tour Championship and also played on a sand course in Abu Dhabi!

How easy is it to get into golf as a career?
I started my golfing journey less than six years ago while on a family holiday in Portugal. After many air shots and topped balls, I hit one pitching wedge that landed right next to the pin and that was it, I was hooked. At the time, I had a career in finance, but after a couple of years I took a leap of faith to turn passion into my full-time job and try to make a difference in the golfing world. Using social media has been a great tool to amplify my journey, share the stories of other fantastic women in golf, create an engaged, supportive network and to show that golf really is a sport for everyone — especially women and juniors.
It hasn’t always been easy though. Playing golf was always fun, but from my early experiences in the game I felt that the culture of the sport didn’t match up with just how fun the game was to play. I hoped that by documenting my journey, more women and girls would see golf as a sport for them. And the more my channels grew, so did the size of the audience I was able to reach to call out the sexism that exists in the sport and talk about how clubs and institutions can become more inviting toward women.

As golf grows in popularity across the Middle East, especially among female golfers and youth, what is your ideal vision for the future?
Golf is definitely moving in the right direction, and I want to continue to be a part of that change, highlighting the sport’s appeal to a newer, younger and more diverse audience. I aim to do this through my work on Living Golf, but I am also phenomenally proud of the work me and the team at the UK Women’s Golf Community (UK WGC), have done over the past year. The UK WGC is a supportive online community for women and girls who play golf, complemented by a series of social meet-ups designed to bring women and girls together at ranges and clubs across the UK. There is a similar community called ‘Chicks with Sticks’ in Abu Dhabi, who are doing great work to get more women playing golf in the UAE. I’d love to see a continued growth of women taking up the sport in the Middle East off the back of initiatives like that as well as have golf clubs continue to evolve with the times, ensuring they are giving women equal access to the facilities and being given equal treatment.
After all, this game is for everyone and with so many varied options such as TopGolf, nine-hole courses, par 3 courses, Golf Sixes, FootGolf, mini golf as well as a full 18 holes, you can find the version that fits you, your lifestyle, and your personality.

Will the likes of the Saudi International tournaments receiving equal prize money of $5 million for both the men and women pave the way for change?
Yes, it will. You only need to look to the example set by other sports to see the impact it has. Equal pay across male and female events is a key issue across all sports, not just in golf. For example, in tennis at Wimbledon and the Australian, French and US Opens, prize money has been equal since 2007. And last year the US Women’s football team successfully negotiated a deal for equal pay including equalisation of World Cup prize money. This levelling of prize money and pay at the higher levels needs to filter down to the lower levels too, if we want more women to be able to take up sports, especially ones like golf which can sometimes have higher start-up costs. Change has been under way in other sports for some time, and I hope that change will eventually be replicated throughout the world of golf, including at every major tournament.

Tommy Fleetwood. DP World

What do you make of the facilities across the UAE compared to other destinations you have visited?
I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the UAE’s world-renowned courses that have hosted some of the sport’s best players and, from my experience, the golf courses are always in pristine condition and the service levels have always been excellent. As the game continues to grow in the region, it will be interesting to see how more investment and development in the sport brings new benefits and opportunities. The recent introduction of the Tommy Fleetwood Academy in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates is a great example of this, and I look forward to seeing how the academy will develop the next generation of our game at a grass roots level.
As someone who is passionate about sustainability, I have also been impressed with the work many golf clubs are doing to ensure they are working as sustainably as possible. It was interesting to visit the Al Ghazal Golf Club in Abu Dhabi to see how golf was played in the region before these modern courses were built and as this unique form of the game is played on sand, it is much more sustainable with a lot less water and maintenance needed for the upkeep of the courses. It’s an experience that I would encourage all golfers visiting the region to try out.

What are your own plans for the future?
In the space of a year, the UK WGC has grown to over 2,500 members and I am regularly seeing new groups of women and girls coming together across the country to enjoy golf and share their positive experiences. With this in mind, we’re looking forward to growing and building on our early success. We aim to make the sport accessible for more women and girls and I personally am passionate about achieving this not just through the UK WGC but also through the campaigning, presenting, and consulting that I do in this space.
I’m personally on a mission to lower my handicap this year so through a combination of lessons, the right equipment, and some hard work I’d love to get to single figures (one can hope, right?!) I am also going to be travelling more and highlighting golfing achievements from across the world with Living Golf and continuing to tell the many stories of the fantastic women we are so lucky to have in the sport.

The post Speaking with CNN and Living Golf’s Jazzy Golfer, as she visits the UAE and Saudi Arabia appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Manon De Roey may not have triumphed at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International last week, but she certainly left her mark on the tournament, a magnificent nine-under 63 on the final day equalling the the course record at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club to land the Belgian star the biggest pay day of her career.

The 31-year-old clocked up nine birdies on a blemish-free Sunday to soar to a tie for third place alongside Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu on 19-under and bettered only by tournament winner Lydia Ko (-21) and India’s Aditi Ashok (-20).

De Roey also pocketed $235,000 for her troubles.

“It definitely is [the biggest pay cheque of my career],” De Roey said. “I didn’t really think about it until now, but yeah, it worked out. I don’t know what I’m going to do with the money, but it’s definitely helped. Maybe I can now pay off my mortgage.”

With Thompson equalling the course record on Saturday with a superb performance of her own, De Roey needed an eagle on the last to better the mark. But despite the near-perfect approach shot, the Belgian’s effort unfortunately came up short as she settled for a tap-in birdie.

“I definitely knew I was on for a course record because I left my eagle putt very short,” De Roey admitted. “I was a bit nervous on that putt.

“I had some shaky hands, so I’m happy I hit the green because that was also very nerve-racking. I only had a 7-iron from 191 metres, so I’ll take that. I took a club less because I thought I had some adrenaline going.”

With the 63 , De Roey becomes the fifth player to shoot that score at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, joining Thompson, Stephanie Kyriacou (2020), Lydia Ko (2021) and Kelly Whaley (2022) as the players to achieve the feat.

“I’m super happy,” she said. “My whole game was solid throughout. I think I only had one bad shot, just one drive, so really solid. I just had to look at the putter and it went in.”

The post Manon de Roey ready to make move after biggest pay day in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

With a purse of $5 million, here is a breakdown of which player took home what from Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

1 Lydia Ko (NZL) €701,385 
2 Aditi Ashok (IND) €420,831
3 Manon De Roey (BEL) €219,767.30
Lexi Thompson (USA) €219,767.30
Lilia Vu (USA) €219,767.30
6 Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN) €144,952.90
7 Georgia Hall (ENG) €130,925.20
8 Nasa Hataoka (JPN) €116,897.50
9 Hae Ran Ryu (KOR) €109,883.65
Albane Valenzuela (SUI) €109,883.65
11 Gaby Lopez (MEX) €102,869.80
12 Maria Fassi (MEX) €95,855.95
Chiara Noja (GER) €95,855.95
14 Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) €83,581.71
Cara Gainer (ENG) €83,581.71
HeeJeong Lim (KOR) €83,581.71
Charley Hull (ENG) €83,581.71
18 Alice Hewson (ENG) €73,411.63
Pauline Roussin (FRA) €73,411.63
Hyo-Joo Kim (KOR) €73,411.63
Atthaya Thitikul (THA) €73,411.63
22 Carlota Ciganda (ESP) €65,696.40
Johanna Gustavsson (SWE) €65,696.40
24 Jung Min Hong (KOR) €53,772.85
Nicole Garcia (RSA) €53,772.85
Jennifer Chang (USA) €53,772.85
Ashleigh Buhai (RSA) €53,772.85
So Mi Lee (KOR) €53,772.85
Danielle Kang (USA) €53,772.85
Lisa Pettersson (SWE) €53,772.85
Xi Yu Lin (CHN) €53,772.85
32 In Gee Chun (KOR) €41,771.37
Alexa Pano (USA) €41,771.37
Esther Henseleit (GER) €41,771.37
35 Ryann O’Toole (USA) €36,004.43
Angel Yin (USA) €36,004.43
Chloe Williams (WAL) €36,004.43
Yujin Sung (KOR) €36,004.43
A Lim Kim (KOR) €36,004.43
40 Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DEN) €28,990.58
Morgane Metraux (SUI) €28,990.58
Jenny Shin (KOR) €28,990.58
Klara Davidson Spilkova (CZE) €28,990.58
Leona Maguire (IRL) €28,990.58
45 Gemma Dryburgh (SCO) €24,782.27
Celine Boutier (FRA) €24,782.27
47 Wichanee Meechai (THA) €22,600.18
Olivia Cowan (GER) €22,600.18
Alison Lee (USA)  €22,600.18
50 Stephanie Kyriacou (AUS) €21,509.14
51 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) €20,106.37
Aline Krauter (GER) €20,106.37
53 Jana Melichova (CZE) €18,080.15
Annie Park (USA) €18,080.15
Jinhee Im (KOR) €18,080.15 
56 Andrea Lee (USA) €15,664.27
Jeong Mee Hwang (KOR) €15,664.27
58 Tiia Koivisto (FIN) €14,729.09
Yuka Saso (JPN) €14,729.09 
60 Nicole Broch Estrup (DEN) €14,027.70
61 Carmen Alonso (ESP) €13,560.11
62 Becky Brewerton (WAL) €13,092.52 
63 Pajaree Anannarukarn (THA) €12,624.93

The post LOOK: Who won what at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

World No. 1 Lydia Ko came into the Aramco Saudi Ladies International unsure what to expect after an extended off-season that included getting married.

The world No. 1 got hitched to Jun Chung to sign off on a 2022 that saw her not only reclaim her spot at the top of the rankings but also pick up three LPGA Tour crowns, including the CME, which earned her the biggest winner’s cheque in women’s golf history: $2 million.

After that extended break and a honeymoon that included — by her own admission — “perhaps too much golf”, the New Zealander arrived at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club uncertain where her game was at in competitive circles.

She had nothing to worry about. 

Ko was returning to King Abdullah Economic City for the first time since her 2021 triumph in the Saudi Ladies International, and oozed class as she saw off a star-studded field to reclaim the crown.

A final-round 68 for a total of 21-under was enough to hold off the in-form India star Aditi Ashok, the likes of fast-charging Lexi Thompson and Manon De Roey, and dark horse Lilia Vu. 

In a topsy-turvy finish that saw the lead change hands a number of times, Ko eventually prevailed as valiant Vu faltered at the last and had to settle for a share of third alongside Belgium’s De Roey and American star Thompson on 19-under, one behind Ashok.

Along with becoming the first player to win the title twice, Ko also took home a record $750,000 from the $5 million prize fund.

Lydia Ko. LET

“I’m two for two on this golf course at Royal Greens, so clearly something is going for me,” Ko said. 

“I’m playing with the world’s best. The field this week was really good, so I knew it was going to be a challenge. And it was the first one of the year. That is really hard because you don’t have anything to base yourself off. You don’t know if you’re going to play well or bad.”

Ko made it career win No. 26 and is looking in great shape for another trophy-laden campaign in 2023. 

It certainly was a statement in her first event of the year as she came out on top in a field that included 13 major winners including In Gee Chun, Anna Nordqvist, Thompson and defending champion Georgia Hall.

“Hopefully I’m going to get some good momentum now,’ Ko said. “Every day is different, so I don’t think you can take anything for granted. I’m just going to stick to my process and keep working on the things I’ve been working on and enjoy it. Hopefully this is a light to a good start of the 2023 season.”

With the tournament prize fund hiked to a whopping $5 million this year — up from $1 million and now matching the men’s Saudi International — Ko is delighted the women are being given a level playing field in Saudi Arabia.

“I think this is the direction we’re trending in not only at this event, but all the events,” she said. “To have partners that support and believe in women’s golf and the talent that’s out here, it is just great to be a part of that and this history.

“Hopefully this is a continuous movement on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA, and for other tours as well.

“As players, it’s just really cool to be part of that history. I hope this is something that’s going to continue to grow, because playing alongside the best female golfers, week in and week out… there are so many amazing women out here. I don’t think you realise until you come here and you see, wow, like look at all this talent.”

The post Lydia Ko underlines her status as the queen of golf by reclaiming Aramco Saudi Ladies International crown at Royal Greens appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Ko made it career win No. 26 and a second Aramco Saudi Ladies International, thanks to a steady four-under final round of 68 which gave her a 21-under total of 267, one better than Ashok. The world No. 1 ended the day two strokes ahead of Vu, who finished T3 alongside Lexi Thompson of America and Belgium’s Manon De Roey.

Ko, who also triumphed in the tournament in 2021, said: “I’m two for two on this golf course, so clearly something is going for me. In the end, it’s definitely nice to get the win this week.”

Loaded field

It certainly was a statement from Ko in her first event of the year as she came out on top in a field that included 13 major winners including In Gee Chun, Anna Nordqvist, Thompson and defending champion Georgia Hall.
“I’m playing with the world’s best,” she said. “The field this week was really good, so I knew it was going to be a challenge. The first one of the year, it’s really hard because you don’t have anything to base yourself off.
“You don’t know if you’re going to play well or bad. But the start definitely helped, and I think I stayed really patient and I was not as nervous as I thought I would be, which is definitely good.”

Blown away

As ever on the famous Royal Greens fairways, the wind was one of the week’s biggest talking points as the players struggled to come to terms with the breezes off the Red Sea, especially in the afternoon, when gusts can regularly whip up to 30mph. Almost every player mentioned the wind in their post-round interviews, with Lilia Vu perhaps best summing it up when she had to resort to some unusual tactics on the par-4 sixth hole on Sunday.
“I hit my driver and it went 200 yards,” she said. “And I was still left with a 4-iron to the green. It was crazy.”

Ashok primed

While Aditi Ashok came up just short at the Saudi International, the India star boosted her credentials for a stellar season with her second-place finish. The two-time Olympian, at only the age of 24, is in the form of her life and has now gone win (Kenya), third (Morocco), second (Saudi) in her three starts this season, and this just might be the year when she finally makes a statement in the majors.

Chiara continues

Following her victory in the Aramco Team Series — Jeddah last November, 16-year-old Dubai-based star Chiara Noja has hit the ground running in her first full year on the Ladies European Tour. Following a T11 in Morocco at the Lalla Meryem Cup the German schoolkid notched up a 12th-place finish at Royal Greens, and picked up $102,000 for her efforts.
“What an experience,” she wrote on Twitter. The strongest field I’ve ever played in, and making history with equal prize money for the women and men. Feeling incredibly blessed, and love seeing this growth of the women’s game.”

T12th this week! What an experience! The strongest field I’ve ever played in, and making history with equal prize money for the women and men. Feeling incredibly blessed, and love seeing this growth of the women’s game. Thank you @LETgolf @Golf_Saudi @AramcoLadiesInt pic.twitter.com/ORAq6bZ5wP

— Chiara Noja (@thechiaranoja) February 19, 2023

There certainly will be more to come from Chiara in the near future, too.

Records tumble

Along with the record prize money at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, there was also a remarkable double-header on the course as Lexi Thompson shot a course record-equalling 63 to surge into contention on Saturday. Not to be outdone, Manon De Roey matched the feat in the final round, ensuring she secured a share of third spot with Thompson and her fellow American Lilia Vu.

The post Ko underlines her status as world’s best, Ashok and Noja shine — Aramco Saudi Ladies International takeaways appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The New Zealander came into this week just outside Jeddah, aiming to reclaim the title she won in 2021, and she was made to work all the way by a star-studded field.

Ko signed for a final-round 68 for a total of 21-under, one more than in-form India star Aditi Ashok.

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The world number one wins @AramcoLadiesInt for a second time ?#RaiseOurGame | #AramcoSaudiLadiesIntl pic.twitter.com/WfJc5Ot2LS

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) February 19, 2023

In a topsy-turvy finish that saw the lead change hands a number of times, Ko eventually prevailed as valiant Lilia Vu faltered at the last and had to settle for a share of third alongside Belgium’s Manon De Roey and Lexi Thompson on 19-under.

Along with the giant trophy, Ko also takes home a record $750,000 from the $5 million prize fund.

A delighted Ko said: “I’m two for two on this golf course, so clearly something is going for me. This is a golf course where, in the last few days when I played in 2021, there were a few players that went from the back that would shoot low scores, so I just wanted to focus on my game.

“I don’t think I was setting myself up for a lot of birdie opportunities on the front nine, but I knew that every hole could be a birdie opportunity, so it was that kind of mindset and I wanted to be aggressive.

“Then 18 was lots uglier than I would have liked, but in the end it’s definitely nice to get the win this week.

“Yeah, it was a little bit more stressful than I would’ve liked, but it doesn’t matter how you get it done. Like they say, there is no victors on scorecards.

“I’m playing with the world’s best. The field this week was really good, so I knew it was going to be a challenge. And the first one of the year, it’s really hard because you don’t have anything to base yourself off. You don’t know if you’re going to play well or bad.

“But the start definitely helped, and I think I stayed really patient and I was not as nervous as I thought I would be, which is definitely good.”

For Ashok it means a 1-2-3 start to the season following her win in Kenya and third-place finish in Morocco ahead of the Saudi International.

“It’s been a great,” she said of her second-place finish. “I think 20-under on this golf course with the wind that we had on some of those days, I think it’s a pretty good score.”

For Thompson, it was too little, too late as she was trying to play catch-up after an opening 72, but a Saturday 63 and Sunday 66 vaulted up to a share of third.

“I overall played very solid after a rough first day in the wind,” she said. “It was a bit of a struggle first day, but just tried to stay positive.

“And honestly, my second day felt like the best day I swung it, so just really tried to build off that going into the weekend.

“I’ll continue to build off this result too. I’ll go home for a few weeks now and practise even harder knowing, kind of putting my work to the test this week and playing well. But there are a few things that I need to improve on and really build off.”

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