By Kent Gray
When Golf Saudi imagined the Aramco Team Series into existence, a key tenet of the Pro-Am concept was that the amateur attached to each of the four-person teams would get a taste of professional golf inside the ropes. Furthermore, the lucky weekend warrior would have every opportunity to contribute to the ultimate success of their three new favourite LET pros, perhaps even by sinking the winning putt.

We’re still waiting for the latter probability but for irrefutable proof of concept, kindly refer to the penultimate round of the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah on Thursday.

Belgium’s Manon De Roey captained her team to a two-stroke buffer heading into the final round of the 54-hole, $1 million event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. Pro team-mates Carmen Alonso (Spain) and Elina Nummenpaa (Finland) combined 13 birdies and one eagle en-route to a second-round 20-under-par total.

However, it was their 61-year-old amateur team-mate Nic Davies who stole the show. The general manager of a nearby Saudi Golf Club contributed a pair of net-eagles that proved the difference in propelling the fourball to 37-under-par overall.

The comments from the Spain-born Davies after his memorable afternoon were further vindication of the concept which is all about innovating to help increase exposure of the LET and wider women’s game.

“I’ve always followed women’s golf, so as an amateur this is just phenomenal to be part of,” said Davies who nailed the second of his net eagles on Royal Green’s 18th hole with a birdie four.

“I obviously now know Manon, Carmen and Elina quite well so if we were able to see this through, I’d be absolutely over the moon for them.

“They, to me, epitomise ladies golf. I’ve got a seven-year-old daughter who is just amazed seeing these girls whack the ball so well and so far. If I connect with the ball, I can get up there, but I’ve not nearly out-driven any of my team. It’s amazing to see up close and hopefully we continue doing well tomorrow.”

Amateur Nic Davies played a key role for Team De Roey on Thursday.

With a share of $150,000 for the winning pros, De Roey, Alonso and Nummenpaa will hope to keep the momentum going on Friday as well.

“I’m really happy with my team,” said De Roey.

“They fought really hard today. We didn’t do so well in the first nine, but we came back strong and I’m very proud of them and how we played. We love playing on this course, it’s very scoreable out there. We’ll fight tomorrow as we have a great opportunity.”

Team Kyriacou – captained by Australia’s Steph Kyriacou, with Lina Boqvist (SWE), Laura Beverage (SCO) and amateur Andreas ‘Andy’ Feller, from Switzerland – shot a series low 22-under-par in the second round to move to -35 overall.

Team Steph Kyriacou.

“Up until the last hole neither of us scored on the same holes, which is what you need in this format,” said Kyriacou. “Lina came in real clutch at the end, Laura in the middle, and Andy our amateur played well. It was Andy and I on the front then Lina and Laura on the back nine.”

Like Team De Roey, Team Kyriacou also had their amateur golfer to thank, with Feller’s eagle three on 13 giving the fourball the first net-albatross at any ATS event.

Talking through the hole, 10-handicapper Feller said: “I went driver, then hit a five-wood to eight-foot. We got a good read on the putt, the team gave me good comfort, and I holed the putt.

“That was my best ever nine holes. I’m a bit of a wildcard but it worked out for me today. Let’s do the same again tomorrow.”

In the individual format, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, meanwhile, leads the individual standings by one over Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher, and two clear of English pair Bronte Law and Georgia Hall.

“I’m really happy with how I’m playing at the moment,” said Cowan, who holed-out for eagle from the fairway of Royal Greens’ par-4 7th. “It’s quite steady and I’m giving myself a lot of chances to hole putts, which I think is important out here.

Germany’s Olivia Cowan is one ahead in the ATS-Jeddah’s individual standings.

“I think the relaxed team format of this event helps bring out the best in me. We as a team get on really well and are all quite chatty out there, which I like.”

The Aramco Team Series – Jeddah is the last of four new $1million team tournaments added to the Ladies European Tour this season and follows events in London, Sotogrande and New York. It climaxes on Friday.

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With Morocco’s Maha Haddioui, Indian Diksha Dagar and his H.E Yasir Al-Rumayyan in her corner, Team Hall earned the opening-round lead at the unique $1 million Pro-Am event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.

For deeper context, that’s a former major champion and European No.1 (Hall) leading her captain’s pick (Haddioui) who just happens to be the only Arabic player in women’s professional golf, a 20-year-old who has already won on the LET (Dagar) and, for good measure, the dual chairman of the event’s title sponsor and Golf Saudi. Call His Excellency an amateur with significant global trade and golf business influence if you like.

At -19, Team Hall lead Team Carlota Ciganda by a stroke. Hall’s captain’s knock, a seven-under 65, also sees her joint top of the individual standings with German Olivia Cowan. It all translated to excellent golf and PR gold.

H.E Yasir Al Rumayyan.

Hall finished last week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International at the same venue 13-under-par and went blemish-free on Wednesday.

“Bogey-free is always a nice round here,” said Hall. “I tried to take advantage of not a lot of wind, and I still missed a quite few putts, but I’m happy with -7.”

Diksha Dagar.

Dagar – who missed the cut at the Saudi Ladies – wasted no time in making amends, shooting an opening-round 68.

“Today was very good in general. I had a very good start, and we have a very good team. We have a chance and tomorrow we can pick it up and continue playing good golf.”

Haddioui, a fan favourite in King Abdullah Economic City, chipped in with some momentum keeping putts.

“It was really fun playing as a team,” said Haddioui. “I started pretty well but couldn’t keep it up on the back nine. But still, I made a few good pars when I needed to and had a few birdies on the front nine too, so it was nice.”

Ciganda had Spanish compatriot Harang Lee, Germany’s Leticia Ras-Anderica, and amateur Lee Seung Su in her team.

“I’m enjoying being on this course,” said Ciganda. “The back nine was tricky. There was a lot of wind today and the last few holes weren’t easy, but we did great as a team – when one player was in trouble we had another in good shape. That’s what you want in this type of format. I had a great time with Harang, Leticia and our amateur and we’re ready for tomorrow.”

Olivia Cowan won the Aramco Team Series – London’s team crown back in July. In sitting joint-top with Hall with two rounds to play, the German could now end this year’s run of Series events with a solo win, too. Team Cowan also sit just three behind Team Hall.

Maha Haddioui.

“I think we just worked really well as a team. On some of the holes where one didn’t do as well, the other two helped out. We had quite a few birdies which definitely helped,” saidn Cowan.

“Our amateur is really good to talk to and he’s really chilled out. We all get on really well, so it’s a good team. The most important thing is to have fun out there – and we’re having a good time, which makes us play well.”

The post Team Georgia Hall, including Arabia’s only female pro and an amateur of global influence, lead ATS-Jeddah appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
As the LET’s first and currently only Arabic player, Maha Haddioui is already a trailblazer. If former European No.1 and British Open champion Georgia Hall has her way, the Moroccan will create yet more history in King Abdullah Economic City this week.

After partnering Haddioui in the final round of last week’s Saudi Ladies International, Hall has picked the Casablanca 33-year-old for the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah which begins at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in KAEC today.

The 54-hole event is the final of a quartet of four new $1 million events on the LET featuring three professionals and an amateur. Following a NFL-style draft party at Riyal Greens, Indian star Diksha Dagar, part of the winning team at the ATS London event in July, is the third pro in Team Hall set to take on 35 other teams over the next three days.

Hall is hoping they can make history and provide a first win for any female Arabic golfer in the professional game.

“I played with her last week, and I said to my caddie before she is the person to pick and luckily no one picked her yet,” said Hall.

Georgia Hall.

“She’s a really nice girl and playing well. It will be fantastic for us to win and for her to achieve that first win, hopefully she makes a lot of birdies out there and we have fun at the same time.”

Haddioui is equally relishing a chance to team up with Hall and learning from one of the stars of the women’s game.

“I was really happy that she picked me. I think we turned pro at the same time, but she’s a very experienced player and just by playing with her last week I learned a lot.

“I was doing my stats after the round with her and saw how the short game made a huge difference.”

Maha Haddioui.

Elsewhere in the draft, England’s Bronte Law – who won last month’s Dubai Moonlight Classic – once again opted for her 2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, as she did in the Aramco Team Series’ Spain event earlier in the year.

“She’s just a good player,” explained Law. “I’m good friends with her and I know we’ll have a laugh together, so I’m looking forward to it. I obviously picked her for my team in Sotogrande and we had a good week, so hopefully we can have the same again this week.”

Another player to select a Tour veteran was USA’s Alison Lee who won the individual Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande, and who picked Dame Laura Davies.

“In New York I also picked two veterans and having them was awesome. Laura had a good week last week and she’s a legend with more than 80 victories, so it’s a no brainer to have her and to have that amazing experience on the team.”

Charley Hull went for a full English, choosing compatriot Gabriella Cowley. The five-time Tour winner – who won the solo title in the ATS – New York – explained: “I thought Gabs would be good. She won on the Rose Series this year so I thought I’d pick her. My advice to the team would be ‘play your own game’. It should be a good few days.”

Emily Kristine Pedersen is the defending ATS champion in Saudi Arabia, from the format’s debut event in what was then the Saudi Ladies Team International.

“Obviously I really like it here and I have a lot of good memories here, it’s good to be back. I know if I find my game I’m good enough to win and that gives me confidence.”

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By Kent Gray
After winning every piece of silverware on offer during last year’s LET double-header in the Kingdom, it was no surprise Emily Kristine Pedersen was the focus of the 2nd Saudi Ladies International preview media conference on Wednesday.

That said, it was impossible to ignore the insight from the circuits only Arabic player, Maha Haddioui, much less Kiwi superstar Lydia Ko.

The two-time major champion and former world No.1will make her Saudi Ladies International debut on Thursday and likes what she has seen of Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in the build-up to the $1 million event which runs until Saturday.

“The course is really nice,” said Ko, the 24-year-old former ANA Inspiration (2016) and Evian Championship (2015) winner.

“It has a good blend of tougher holes and some holes that are gettable. That afternoon wind is a huge factor around this golf course but at the same time it cools the temperature down, so I’m for the wind!”

Asked if playing in different parts of the world was beneficial to her own development, Ko said: “We go to many different countries, different continents and this is my first time in this part of the world. Obviously playing in the British Open is very different than playing in the US Open, for example, and playing in this part of the world is also different. I think you’re able to get used to the different climates, the different grass.

“I think as a player the more diverse you are the more able you are to compete and contend at different events – you don’t end up being a player who plays in only one type of tournament. It’s great that we get to go to all these different courses and learn different types of shots that I necessarily wouldn’t be used to playing.”

Pedersen, meanwhile, is thriving off “great” memories of her Saudi sweep last year.

The Dane bagged a clean sweep with victory in the inaugural $1million Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund in 2020, and then both the team and individual elements in what was then the Saudi Ladies Team International – the precursor to the LET’s new Aramco Team Series.

Emily Kristine Pedersen.

“It feels great to be back. I have a lot of good memories from here. As I’m walking the course there’s constantly good shots that I remember from last year, so it’s great. It’s nice too to stay in the same place for two weeks, especially if you like the course – and I like it here,” said the 25-year-old.

Asked how her mindset differs between the two back-to-back events – one where the focus is as an individual, then the latter as a team format – Pedersen said: “It changes a little bit because obviously you’re in a team and you are cheering a little bit more for other players to do well than you normally do, but at the end of the day I feel like it comes down to how you play yourself.

“I’m just trying to do the best that I can every week – both in the individual and the team event – and hopefully that’s good enough to contribute to the team’s score.”

Pedersen and Ko will face stiff competition in an Aramco Saudi Ladies International field that includes major champions Minjee Lee (AUS), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Georgia Hall (ENG) and Dame Laura Davies (ENG), plus the likes of Charley Hull (ENG), new Dubai Moonlight Clasic champion Bronte Law (ENG) and Carlota Ciganda (ESP).

The Aramco Team Series – Jeddah follows the Saudi International from Nov. 10-12.

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Speaking on the eve of Saudi Arabia’s LET double-header, Armas has shone a light on the great male versus female media coverage divide and attempted to challenge some long-held misconceptions.

“We don’t get the coverage of the men but there is a shift in that and the equality movement and the corporate companies are realising there is an imbalance,” Armas said from Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

“We need to showcase them and their stories and incredible journeys. We still have a long way to go. People don’t realise what good athletes these women are and if they don’t get to see that they don’t understand that. They can compete. They are as good athletes as the men.”

The LETs finest will get another chance in King Abdullah Economic City over the next nine days as Royal Greens hosts the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund (Nov. 4-7) and Aramco Team Series- Jeddah (Nov.10-12).

Last year’s Saudi Ladies International helped relaunch the LET season after the pandemic lockdown and was even more significant as the first professional women’s sport event to be staged in the Kingdom. Armas says the impact of that milestone should not be underestimated.

“The reaction we got last year blew everyone’s mind,” said Armas.

“We didn’t think we were going to get the interest we did from it being on live terrestrial TV within Saudi and the coverage it received. It just made sense to come back to do it again and to keep building on that and I think that is what we will be doing going forward. Golf Saudi has big plans for the women’s game. Although we’re only at the beginning, it’s been a fast trajectory.

“Last year golf stopped. Our players weren’t competing. We managed to get some momentum and we managed to have the first event in Jeddah with the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and as we had the players there, we did the back-to-back tournaments with the team event.

“We made history and I think we didn’t know what to expect when we went the first time, but now the players know, we know what the golf courses will be like, and what the hospitality will be like – everyone is looking forward to being back.”

Armas also referenced the importance of elite women’s sport being visible to inspire active participation in growing sporting markets such as Saudi Arabia. Last year’s events coincided with the launch of the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco – a free-golfing initiative that saw 1,200 women and girls register to learn the game over the tournament’s four days (pictured above).

“I think it’s hugely important because across the globe, we need to get the population more active and involved in sports,” she said.

“I think the best way to do that is obviously through live sports on TV and for people to be able to become inspired by these athletes and look up to them as role models. Having so many sporting events of the quality that Saudi is bringing to the Kingdom will be hugely important to growing participation in various sports. The amount of people that signed up for the Ladies First Club and the amount of positive feedback was immense”.

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