By Special Correspondent 
The Korda sisters spoke of their excitement at competing in the “very different” Aramco Team Series – New York as they and a host of superstar golfers touched down on Long Island ahead of Thursday’s opening round.

Jessica and world No.1 Nelly are two of a field packed with big names as the Ladies European Tour (LET) plays host to its debut event on U.S. soil.

The Aramco Team Series – a new, four-event format introduced to the LET this year, in which teams of three professionals and one amateur compete both together and as individuals for a share of $1million prize money – gets underway at Glen Oaks Club, Long Island, on Thursday.

“I’m super excited to get this week going,” said Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Nelly, speaking at the event’s pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. “The golf course is amazing and this is a very fun tournament. It’s very different.

“I like the fact it is a new format, and I’ve never played in something like this. A couple of friends of ours played in the tournaments in London and Spain and said they really enjoyed their time and that it was something exciting. It’s something new to look forward to and that’s an exciting feeling.”

World No.19 Jessica said: “I represented the Czech Republic in a lot of European events so I’ve known a lot of these girls since we were kids growing up and playing on that circuit.

Jessica and Nelly Korda practice at Glen Oaks Club ahead of the Aramco Team Series-New York. (Photo Aramco Team Series)

“This is a cool event, something we’ve never played before am I’m really excited to see how it’s going to go. We had a little taste of it last night in the draft, it comes with a different pressure, and I can’t wait to see how it goes.”

The Aramco Team Series’ NFL-style draft is one of many innovations the tournament prides itself on. Ahead of each event – held so far in London and Spain, and climaxing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, next month – 28 team captains are selected, with each of them given a pick on who they will have in their team.

After choosing their player, they are then assigned a third LET professional, before their fourball is completed with the inclusion of an amateur. Playing with a handicap, the format means that a well-performing amateur could be the one to roll in an LET tournament-winning putt, bagging his professional teammates $150,000 prize money.

Asked what advice they would give to the nerve-wracked weekend golfers that will tee-off alongside them as teammates this week, Jessica – who chose Germany’s Karolin Lampert as her draft pick – joked: “I will honestly just say to them that we’re on the same team – so don’t suck!

“It’s going to be a fun few days regardless. I know they’re going to be nervous but we’re nervous too. We’re playing for something bigger than us, especially in these team events. I know that they get some shots so we will be relying heavily on them, too!”

Nelly added: “We’re all just out here looking to have some fun, but as Jess said we’re all going to be nervous as we’re not just playing for ourselves but for a team, too.”

Also competing at Glen Oaks Club will be US favourite Lexi Thompson, who is playing her second Aramco Team Series event of the season, having teed-up in the debut event in London.

“I love that it’s a team format,” said Thompson. “I think that’s so great. It’s so much fun and you get a good group of people. Hopefully a lot of fans will come out to support the event.”

Lexi Thompson at the NFL-style draft for the Aramco Team Series-New York.

Asked if innovation like the Aramco Team Series is good for the game, Thompson said: “I think as athletes, we just want to see the game grow, and I think ideas like this that are different and aren’t just cookie-cutter 72-hole events.

“Bringing in new ideas for golf grows the game. That’s what we want to see. Fans really enjoy that as well, seeing an amateur out here playing with us. I think they can relate more to that and more things like this should happen throughout the year. Men’s and women’s together, team events, or even back-to-back weeks. These events really help out the game.”

www.aramcoteamseries.com

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The Aramco Team Series is a brand-new concept and the first team event series on any professional tour, where the world’s best compete in concurrent team and individual contests.

The New York event is the third leg of the four-tournament Series and heads States-side following successful events in London (UK) and in Sotogrande (Spain). Six of the world’s top 20 will be teeing it this week at Glen Oaks Club in Long Island (October 14-16).

That includes U.S. star Lexi Thompson played in the inaugural London edition alongside Laura Davies and horse racing legend AP McCoy.

“I love team formats in general,” said Thompson.

“Golf being such an individual sport, we don’t get this opportunity very often, so to be able to be part of a team, have two other pros, and an amateur in the mix is a great format that gives amateurs an insight into how we play and how intense we are.  It gives them an opportunity to play with us and help us out a bit.  I think it’s great for golf, said Thompson.

The event also marks the first standalone event for the Ladies European Tour (LET) in the US giving a chance for Solheim Cup stars from the USA and Europe to team up together.

“It’s great to have top notch LET players coming here to play with us. I got paired up with Laura (Davies) in London and it was so much fun.  I was middle of the pack of getting to pick and she wasn’t picked and I was like, “Laura is definitely on my team.” It was great to play with her and have other great players, as well.”

Using an ‘NFL-style’ draft system, 28 selected captains will again pick their first player, before being randomly allocated a third professional teammate. The fourth member of each team is an US amateur golfer who could make a vital contribution on the course and secure prize money for the professional players, a feat unique to world golf.

The innovative $1million Aramco-backed event sees teams of four battle it out for a share of an $800,000 prize fund, with a $200,000 purse for the leading individual scores over the weekend. As a full LET event, each tournament also carries World Ranking and Race to Costa del Sol – LET’s season-long competition to crown Europe’s leading lady golfer points which was won last year by Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen.

“The great thing about golf is you can play with anyone, any age, handicap or any gender,” said Pedersen.

“The Aramco Team Series is a great example of that and something fresh with amateur who can join us professionals for a pretty different experience”

Big-hitting Dutch star Anne van Dam feels the Aramco Team Series concept will grow in years to come as women’s golf looks to provide more opportunities to grow the game and close the gap between the men’s game with team events.

“Obviously we have a long way to go, but we have to take it step by step.  For me, as a player, every opportunity I have to grow the game, I’ll be happy to help and show my passion for it.  I think the things like this and the Solheim Cup was of course amazing to watch. It showed the game of women’s golf really well.  I think it’s only going to get bigger and bigger in the next few years and I’m just excited to be a small part of it.

“We play the same format every week.  72 holes stroke play. You’re always out there for yourself so I think it’s fun to play with others and have a team vibe going, added van Dam.  The Aramco Team Series – New York will take place at Glen Oaks Club, Long Island, from October 14-16.

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By Kent Gray
Nelly Korda is set to headline the strongest field yet for the third leg of the Aramco Team Series in New York next week.

The 23-year-old world No.1, her 28-year-old, Tokyo Olympic gold medal-winning sister Jessica and fellow American stars Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang join a throng of victorious European Solheim Cuppers confirmed for the Oct. 14-16 event.

RELATED: From New York, with love

England’s Charley Hull, last year’s LET Race to Costa Del Sol winner Emily Kristine Pedersen and reigning Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist will also play the $1 million event at Glen Oaks Club on Long Island, along with Solheim Cup-winning captain Catriona Matthew.

Charley Hull

Lexi Thompson

Also confirmed are Cheyenne Woods, Anne Van Dam, Bronte Law, Lindsay Weaver and Sophia Popov

The key messaging though is that six of the world’s Top 20 will tee it up in the third of four Aramco Team Series event which has proved a vital profile boost for the Ladies European Tour. The series concludes at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City near Jeddah next month immediately after the 2nd Saudi Ladies International.

New York follows events in London and Sotogrande and, importantly given the individual and team components, the Solheim Cup.

“As we saw in the Solheim Cup, team golf is a format that really provides a different atmosphere and brings the energy for players, fans and viewers on TV,” said Matthew who oversaw Europe’s 15-13 win over Team USA at the Inverness Club in Ohio last month.

Catriona Matthew

“It’s exciting and events like the Aramco Team Series give us more opportunities to come together and team up with some of the best players in the world. It’s great for us to get to come to New York with the LET with such a strong field – and post Solheim adds a bit more spice. The event continues the growing momentum behind the women’s game currently.”

The Aramco Team Series is a new four-tournament concept introduced on the LET earlier this year.

It sees teams of four, that include three pros and one amateur, battle it out for a share of an $800,000 prize fund, with a $200,000 purse for the leading individual scores over the weekend. As a full LET event, each tournament carries Rolex World Golf Rankings and the Race to Costa del Sol points.

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