Bronte Law Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Bronte Law on the hunt at ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 05:53:49 +0000

Bronte Law. LET

It was a solid start for Englishwoman Bronte Law on Thursday at the ISPS Handa World Invitational. The 28-year-old carded a solid three-under 70 at Castlerock on day one, making four birdies and one bogey to sit one off the lead of Switzerland’s Kim Metraux, England’s Gabriella Cowley, Sweden’s Ellinor Sudow and Australia’s Karis Davidson on the same course of the mixed, double-venue event, co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and LPGA.

Starting her day on the par-4 10th hole, Law grabbed a birdie early on the par-5 11th, and then made two more on 14 and 16, both of which are par 3s. She dropped a shot on 18 to turn in 35 but birdied the par-5 3rd hole to erase her mistake, parring out to finish with a 70 and sit one back of the lead. Law was incredibly pleased with her performance on a difficult, windy day in Northern Ireland and will look to build off this strong first-round showing over the next 54 holes.

“Those into-wind holes were very challenging,” said Law, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. “Some pin positions there is not much green to work with, and when a gust of wind blows in your face, it makes that landing area even smaller. So being smart with where you want to leave yourself. You know you’re not always going to hit all the greens, so leaving yourself in position to where you are more likely to make up and down. Thought I managed that pretty well today. I think that’s the key when you’re playing this style of golf course. I think it’s a lot of fun. But you have to stay switched on all day.”

Law will now set her sights on Galgorm Castle Golf Club, a venue that differs drastically from the links-style golf she played at Castlerock, a change in pace that will take some adjustment from the LPGA veteran.

“I’m going to go over there on the putting green now and get to grips with the green speeds because they’re slightly different, hit some shots on the range,” Law said. “Just kind of get out of the wind mentality for links courses and a little more target golf as it will be out there tomorrow. It’s been playing a little softer, so, yeah, very different.”

Kim Metraux. LET

It was a steady day for Swiss star Metraux, who only had one dropped shot on her card and rolled in five birdies.

“Just overall a really solid day,” said Metraux. “I started off well with a birdie on one and that kind of got me going through the round.

“I managed to not really miss many greens. The only one I missed was when I made bogey on 15. I was a bit unfortunate to make a bogey on a reachable par-five, but overall I was just really solid from tee to green and managed to drop a few putts, which was really nice.

“Links is definitely something different than what we play year long, but we did play Scottish two weeks ago. That kind was good preparation I guess for today and most of the tournaments we play on LET, although not links courses, we’ve had quite a windy season.

“Galgorm is very different from here. It’s like two completely different worlds. A lot softer course with thick rough, so it’s definitely a different challenge, but if I keep hitting fairways and greens we’ll be in good shape.”

England’s Cowley got off to a solid start making birdies on the third, eighth, 10th and 11th holes.

The 27-year-old dropped a shot on the 13th but soon bounced back with birdies on 15 and 17, but unfortunately found trouble on the last and ended with a bogey for her round of four-under.

“For my birdie on 10, it was playing quite tough into the wind,” she said. “I hit a really good drive and hit 5-iron and it was just perfect; I holed a good putt. I made a few birdies today which was nice.

“Being on a links course it was windy this afternoon, so I was just trying to manage the ball flight and the kind of shots that we’re trying to hit. I think the course was playing tough, but there were obviously a few par-fives that we can reach which was good for us.

“I like Galgorm. I played there for the last few years, so looking forward to tomorrow. My plan is similar to today. Trust what I’m doing and hit the shots that I need to hit and play good golf.

“Obviously completely different course, completely different style. It’s not so much managing how much it runs out and how much the wind will affect it. It’s about picking a good number and committing to it.”

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Korda targeting fresh Aramco Team Series success at Centurion Club, London

Clarkwin — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:40:56 +0000

Tristan Jones/ LET

Nelly Korda has confirmed she is fully fit and eager to enhance her brilliant Aramco Team Series record when she tees up at Centurion Club, London, this Friday.

The world number 2 won the Aramco Team Series Sotogrande last year and finished second and fourth in her two other ATS starts, both in New York. This week sees her initial appearance at Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – London and she is hungry for a first success in 2023.

Korda has put behind her an injury issue and believes her best golf is not far away, despite missing the cut in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June and finishing tied-64th in last week’s U.S Women’s Open.

Korda, 24, said: “I feel very close with my game – the scores may not seem it right now.

“At the start of the year, I had a really strong start. I was barely finishing outside the top ten and then had two missed cuts. Last week at Pebble (Beach) wasn’t the greatest of showings, but I think that’s golf and you just got to take it how it is, and you have to grow from it. I mean, that’s when you appreciate the highs when you go through the lows.”

Korda is an advocate of the innovative format of the Aramco Team Series in which the first two days see 36 teams target the lion’s share of a $500,000 prize pot. Each quartet has a captain who selects one team-mate at a players’ draft, while they are also allocated a further professional with an amateur. The last hole 18 of the tournament is for professionals only when there’s a further $500,000 on offer.

Korda said: “I think it’s a super fun event. Especially the team aspect of it, I think it brings in a different kind of energy. It’s fun, it’s light, and it makes golf a lot of fun, having teammates out there with you.”

Korda’s opening look at the Centurion Club came this morning and followed up a visit yesterday to the Wimbledon tennis tournament (“tried strawberries and cream for the first time – really yummy”).

She said: “I played the back nine – it’s a really nice golf course, in really nice condition. The wind started picking up towards the end and I know high winds are forecast for the week, so I think it’ll be a tricky test.

“Every single time I tee up, I try to play my best. There’s only one goal in mind, and that’s to hopefully hold the trophy at the end of the week. So I’m going to give it my all and see how it goes.”

Bronte Law looking forward to title defence of Aramco Team Series – London. Tristan Jones/LET

Bronte Law delivered one of the moments of the 2022 season when she sunk an incredible long-range eagle putt on the 18th green to win the last renewal of Aramco Team Series – London. And this week the Englishwoman has already revisited the scene of one of the most dramatic strokes of her career.

“We actually just recreated the putt on 18, so that was fun,” said Law. “It’s great to be back. I think each victory has kind of a special place just for different reasons. This one being in front of a home crowd, in front of my family – each time I’m in a situation like that, it just feels really nice to share that with them.”

Law finished tied-45th in the U.S Women’s Open, but was encouraged by much of her play over the week.

She said: “I played really nicely last week. I mean, Pebble’s a beast so didn’t have the Sunday that I wanted, but I hit a lot of really good shots. Overall, my golf is in a pretty good place now.”

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Law and order the aim for 2023 for Bronte

Matt Smith — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:14:15 +0000

Bronte law may only be 27 years old, but following a sensational 2022, the Englishwoman is going through a second coming of sorts.

Following her successful graduation to the LPGA Tour in 2017, her initial breakthrough came early in 2019. She narrowly lost out to Kim Sei-young in a playoff for the LPGA Mediheal Championship in California in May, but she did not let that near miss get her down as she claimed her first professional title at the Pure Silk Championship at Kinsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia, three weeks later and then starred in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory over the United States at Gleneagles.

However, that second individual title refused to arrive anytime soon after the first, and following a series of cuts and mid-table results throughout the remainder of 2019 and all of 2020, she was not sure where the next victory would come from.

Law’s patience and persistence paid off as she finally made it back to the winner’s circle in October 2021 in the Dubai Moonlight Classic at Emirates Golf Club, posting a 15-under total to deny Italy’s Maria Fassi by one and pick up her maiden Ladies European Tour title on the floodlit Faldo Course in the UAE.

This time around the performances have stuck, and a T6 in the 2022 US Women’s Open at Pine Needles in California in June was swiftly followed by title No. 3 at the Aramco Team Series — London, defeating her compatriot Georgia Hall by a stroke at Centurion Club in a now-famous finish.

Needing a birdie at the closing par-five to match Hall and force a play-off, Law went one better and produced a moment of pure magic, sinking a monster 55ft putt for an eagle three that drew a huge roar from the galleries and secured the crown.

She signed off a stellar 2022 with a T5 at the Aramco Team Series at Royal Greens in Saudi Arabia, three strokes behind eventual champion Chiara Noja, and Law is now looking to kick on with a fast start to the new season.

“I have been playing really nice lately, with another top five in Jeddah,” Law told Golf Digest Middle East. “I could have done with a few more putts dropping now and again, and maybe I would have a few more trophies. But I have been playing really solid.

“I played the Aramco Team Series in Jeddah. It was great to be back — my third time at Royal Greens — and I am trying to get as much info on the course ahead of next February.”

Law is referring to the Saudi Ladies International, to be held at Royal Greens in February, where the female players will compete for a whopping $5 million — the first time in golf history that the prize for elite men’s and women’s events will be the same.

“Obviously, the talk is all about the Saudi International getting a prize money rise from $1 million to $5 million and I can’t wait to compete back here for that Ladies European Tour competition,” Law said.

“It is going to be like a major now as Golf Saudi and Aramco are putting up some incredible money, and we are very grateful for that.

“It just shows you what they are trying to do and create an equal opportunity for women. There is still work to do but we are all heading in the right direction. I gave a couple of clinics in Jeddah and you could really see the uptake in interest from children and women.”

Other events across the LPGA and LET are expected to announce increased purses for 2023, and Law is glad the hard work is paying off, literally.

“Looking ahead to 2023, I can’t wait to start and that Saudi purse will definitely make things interesting,” she said. “The girls will work harder when you elevate the game. These girls, not just me, will all be putting in the hours during the off-season in order to prepare for one of the first events of the year and I am pretty sure you will be seeing a lot of good golf that week because of that.

“I certainly will be looking to come out of the blocks in 2023 pretty quick, especially as it is a Solheim Cup year and I am keen to get points to make Suzann’s [Pettersen] team.

“There will be the normal preparations ahead of the new season and I am hoping to kick-start that early this time around.”

After such a long time between titles from 2019 and 2021, Law knows better than most the pressures of golf and how lonely it can be.

“It was one of the hardest things ever [to get back], and at times I didn’t know whether I could do it,” she admitted after her Dubai win. “It’s hard when things aren’t going your way and you feel like the world is against you, but I’ve got a lot of people that have stuck by me, and I owe them a lot.

“It’s the hardest thing in the world and I don’t think people understand how hard it is to be an athlete and the scrutiny that you’re under. You question yourself at times and it’s so hard to pull yourself back through that, but I’ve trusted the process and obviously it’s working.”

While Law is modest and coy most of the time, any mention of that putt at Centurion always brings a little smile to her face.

“The shot to win the Aramco Team Series in London … I get asked about it all the time, but I am happy to talk about it as it is a great memory,” she said, trying to hide that familiar smirk.

Hopefully 2023 will give Bronte many more fond memories.

The post Law and order the aim for 2023 for Bronte appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Get the January 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today!

Matt Smith — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:14:53 +0000

It’s the new year and that means one thing — golf on your doorstep, and plenty of it. The UAE Swing gears up for four weeks of relentless action across the country from the DP World Tour, with the added bonus of the Ryder Cup-style Hero Cup kicking things off at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Dubai Desert Classic and Ras Al Khaimah Championship bring some of the world’s best golfers to town. That is swiftly followed by the male and female versions of the Saudi International, where both sets of players will be competing for an equal $5 million. We catch up with the likes of Harold Varner III, Bronte Law, Charley Hull and Georgia Hall ahead of the big events at Royal Greens and also speak to Suzann Pettersen as she prepares to fine tune her players roster for the September Solheim Cup.

All this and much, much more in the January 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East available in both English and Arabic.

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.

See below for the fifth issue of the Arabic edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The post Get the January 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Charley Hull fighting fit at Aramco Team Series — Jeddah to lead the way

Matt Smith — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 07:05:01 +0000

By Matt Smith
England’s Charley Hull pulled out a stunning 65 in the Ladies European Tour Aramco Team Series finale in Jeddah to take a one-stroke lead into Saturday’s final round at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

The 26-year-old is finding fantastic form in the latter stages of the LET Tour season and will be looking to add to her Aramco haul, having won at New York in 2021.

Hull roared out of blocks on Friday, going out in 30, with six birdies in her opening nine holes then going par all the way before grabbing another late bonus on the 18th. She admitted it should have been even lower.

“That really was a great front nine,” she said after securing that one-stroke advantage on the final hole from the trio of Caroline Hedwall, Pia Babnik and Virginia Elena Carta. “I missed a birdie putt on three and five and then lipped-out on eight, so I really could have been nine-under from the front nine. But I am not complaining.”

A BIG putt from @HullCharley to lead going into Day Three ?#AramcoTeamSeries #BringTheEnergy pic.twitter.com/Ak8BJLNyfp

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) November 11, 2022

After also recently winning on the LPGA Tour in September at The Colony, Texas, Hull revealed an unusual method of rediscovering her form.

“I actually wasn’t very confident coming into this week,” she said.” I was quite nervous, but I am confident now. I haven’t been to the gym for six months and I won’t be going to the gym anymore, because I play better golf without it. I eat pretty healthy and I prefer the way I look when I don’t go to the gym too.

“I am quite an active person, I don’t have a driver’s licence so I pretty much walk everywhere and that does the job. Now for a shower and I am looking forward to tomorrow”

In a tightly packed leaderboard where 28 players are separated by six strokes, there will be plenty of players hoping to get their hands on the trophy on Sunday.

One of those is Bronte Law, this year’s Aramco Team Series champ at Centurion in London, where she famously holed out for eagle from 55 feet on the final green to win by a shot from Georgia Hall.

“It’s been really nice to be back here this week. I have been playing really nice,” she told Gold Digest Middle East after an afternoon 69 took her to five-under and a share of 13th spot alongside Hall.

“I could have done with a few more putts dropping, but late in the day, the greens get bumpy, the wind gets up and it becomes a bit more challenging. I could have holed a few of those putts but I played really solid and I am hoping for more of the same tomorrow.”

Dubai-based youngster Chiara Noja is in a tie for seventh on six-under.

Ladies enjoyed free golf clinics and live entertainment at the Aramco Team Series Jeddah. Golf Saudi

Day two of the Aramco Team Series marked ‘Ladies Day’ at Royal Greens where women and girls were invited to participate in free professional golf lessons to encourage participation in the sport, alongside an inspirational talk from Saudi businesswoman, pilot, author, singer, and entrepreneur Adwa Al Dakheel. The day concluded with an incredible live performance from Lady You and her band.

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Ladies European Tour: Aramco Team Series — London winner Bronte Law gets the team spirit for Sotogrande event as Nelly Korda goes for Grechi

Matt Smith — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:51:03 +0000

Nelly Korda at the Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande Draft Party. ATS

By Matt Smith
It was a one-woman show when Bronte Law grabbed the glory and headlines at the Aramco Team Series — London last time around, but she is aiing to share the joy for the $1 million Sotogrande event this week.

Law said it would be “really cool” if she could celebrate victory with her quartet at at La Reserva Club in Cadiz, Spain.

Law holed a monster putt for eagle to claim the individual title at Centurion Club in June and the English golfer is targeting fresh success in southern Spain at the latest Aramco tournament.

At the ‘Draft Party’ on Tuesday, she selected her fellow countrywoman Hannah Burke — and their randomly assigned third teammate is Germany’s Leticia Ras-Anderica.

The trio will be joined by an amateur and Law is hoping that they can all enjoy the winning feeling together.

Law, 27, said: “That would be really cool to share that experience with other people as opposed to celebrating yourself. I love being in teams and I love that atmosphere. I know that I’m going to enjoy playing with Burkey – it’s always nice to have another Brit in the team. And we were lucky enough to get Leticia, as well, as a wildcard. Hopefully we get our hands on a good amateur and can have a good go at it.”

More: Chiara Noja set for Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Korda sisters ready for Aramco Team Series challenge

The winning team at ATS London was led by Nicole Garcia and she has designs on a repeat performance at La Reserva. The South African used her pick to reunite with Karolin Lampert, whom she played alongside a year ago at this event. Team Garcia will also feature Finland’s Krista Bakker, who was in the triumphant quartet at Aramco Team Series Bangkok in May.

Garcia, 31, said: “I think I’ve got a really good team. Karolin Lampert was my captain at the same tournament last year – she’s a really good player, plays really well in the wind and I have a lot of fun with her. We’re good friends. I haven’t played with Krista in a long time but I think she’s been having a good season. She’s had a good run with the team event.

The girls in the field all have very similar abilities — they can all make a lot of birdies — so it really comes down a lot to the amateur too, which is quite nice. I’ve been really lucky with my amateurs. Hopefully we have a good week; if not, I’m still going to have a good time.”

A notable captain’s pick was World No.3 Nelly Korda opting for rising French star Emma Grechi. They’re partnered with Elia Folch from Spain. Korda’s sister Jessica selected Tereza Melecka, with Noora Komulainen completing their pro trio. Three-time major winner Anna Nordqvist picked fellow Swede Lisa Pettersson and they’re joined by Becky Morgan.

One team leader proven at La Reserva Club is Linnea Strom, whose quartet was denied in a play-off at the venue 12 months ago. The Swede’s plan is to go one better this time around and she chose Italy’s Virginia Carta at the draft. The third professional in their team is American Alexandra Swayne.

Strom said: “I previously picked Swedish girls so I thought it would be fun to mix it up. Now we have three different nationalities. In this format I think you just need to enjoy it and have fun out there. So that’s the plan this week.”

This week’s Sotogrande leg is the third of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar for 2022. It is famed for its unique format, in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

It returns to La Reserva de Sotogrande with a new format from last year’s inaugural Series. For this season, the teams will compete over only 36 holes — the Thursday and Friday of the tournament – with $500,000 prize money being split between the lowest scoring fourballs.

Saturday’s final day of play will see only the lowest-scoring 60 players and ties from the opening two days return to the course to battle it out for a share of another $500,000, this time in individual earnings.

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Solheim Cup heroes to join Nelly and Jessica Korda at star-studded Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande

Matt Smith — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:49:05 +0000

Bronte Law. ATS

By Matt Smith
The Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande is shaping up to be the ultimate teaser for the 2023 Solheim Cup, with a host of big-name Europeans joining the likes of US stars Nelly and Jessica Korda on the Spanish coast next month.

Triple-major-winner Anna Nordqvist of Sweden leads the latest big names announced for the $1million tournament, where the hero of the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles – England’s Bronte Law – will also compete.

They will be joined by Team Europe captain Catriona Matthew, plus fellow legend Laura Davies. Nanna Koertz Madsen of Denmark and Matilda Castren of Finland – both 2021 Solheim Cup-winning rookies – will also play, as will Team Europe alumni, Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands.

Alison Lee

+Caroline Masson, a regular mainstay on the European Solheim Cup team with four appearances in the last 10 years, is another star name to commit to Sotogrande, alongside AIG Women’s Open champion and fellow German, Sophia Popov.

At La Reserva Club, located just 20km from Finca Cortesin, host venue of next year’s Solheim Cup, that European field will come up against a US pack led by the Korda sisters — former world No. 1 Nelly and six-time LPGA winner Jessica — and featuring the likes of defending Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande individual champion Alison Lee, Lindsey Weaver-Wright and record-breaker Kelly Whaley, whose eight birdies in a row during competition play earlier this year set a new LET benchmark.

The Aramco Team Series returns to Spain with its mixed team and individual format for the second year in a row, taking place August 18-20.

Bronte Law, who claimed the individual title at last month’s Aramco Team Series London event, said: “It should be quite the week. These Aramco Team Series events are so different to the golf we usually play. There’s something about competing both as a team and as a solo golfer at the same time that I feel almost brings out the best in a lot of us, so I can’t wait to get out on that first tee and under way in another one next month.

“The quality of the field really does speak for itself. I think some of us would be lying if we said we won’t be thinking about being back in this part of the world a year later for the Solheim. It’ll be a chance for quite a number of the players competing to go out and show what they’re made of and I’m looking forward to it.”

Matthew — who Law has chosen as her captain’s pick at no fewer than three previous Aramco Team Series events — said: “When the ATS events were first added to the LET calendar last year, we were told they wanted to try to raise women’s golf as best they could. I don’t think anyone can argue in saying that they really have done that and then some.

“Every tournament comes with a real air of grandeur, they are so well organised and the prize money is obviously fantastic, too. But it’s the golf side of it that I think us as players enjoy the most. Playing as a team is something we do rarely but is a format that brings so much added excitement and opportunity, for us as players and for those watching live or on TV. The vibe of these events in particular is so different, and we really love being part of them.”

Further big names announced include Australian Steph Kyriacou, Pia Babnik of Slovenia and Linn Grant of Sweden, who is currently sitting second in the LET’s Race to Costa del Sol rankings and in June became the first ever woman to win on the men’s DP World Tour with victory in the Volvo Scandinavian Mixed.

They will join a packed field that will also feature a host of Spanish stars, including Solheim Cup hero Carlota Ciganda, rising talent Ana Peláez Triviño, Nuria Iturrioz and Carmen Alonso.

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Bronte Law is the full Monty at Aramco Team Series — London

Matt Smith — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 09:15:36 +0000

By Matt Smith
Bronte Law took the crown on a dramatic last day in the Aramco Team Series at Centurion Club with a sensational eagle from 55 feet on the final green to win by one stroke.

WATCH: Highlights from Day 3

In a thrilling finale, Law powered past fellow English star Georgia Hall to close out at nine-under and scoop the $75,000 first prize.

Law needed a birdie at the closing par-five to match Hall’s and force a play-off. Instead, she did better, producing a moment of pure magic when she sank a monster putt for an eagle three that drew a huge roar from the galleries and secured her a second Ladies European Tour title.

Law, 27, said: “That’s why we play this game – for moments like that. And in front of a home crowd, it doesn’t really get any better. Why we go through all the heartache, the pain and everything is for moments like that.”

There had been flashes of adversity in the final round for Law, not least at the 13th hole where she made double-bogey to slip from the leaderboard summit.

But the 2019 Solheim Cup star, who finished tied-sixth earlier this month in the US Women’s Open, showed her fighting qualities as she reeled off birdies at the 15th and 16th to haul herself back into contention.

Hall also had her foot down on the pedal – as did the late-charging Linn Grant. The Swede closed with six birdies in her final seven holes to take third spot, but it was Law who landed the most telling blow of all with that monster putt that saw her sign for a two-under final round of 71.

The victor added: “I’m competitive, I want to win. So I won’t go down without a fight. I never know that I’m going to end up with a win, but I will make sure I give it my alL in order to give myself a chance. I knew I had to battle. It’s never over until it’s over – I guess that kind of showed at the end there.”

Runner-up Hall said: “I’m gutted, but what a putt to win. I played really well again. I played really well all week – I just didn’t really hole much again.”

The team event – with a total purse of $500,000, like the individuals’ tournament – was similarly exciting. Team Garcia and Team Wikstrom finished on 27-under-par on Friday evening, resulting in the two captains returning today for a play-off down the 18th.

Unfortunately for Ursula Wikstrom, her tee-shot at the first extra hole drew an extremely difficult lie in a fairway bunker and she required two strokes to extricate herself from it. Ultimately that proved decisive as Nicole Garcia locked in a solid par to claim the $105,000 winner’s cheque, shared with her two professional team-mates Madelene Stavnar and Kelly Whaley.

Of course, there was a fourth member of Team Garcia – amateur Mia Baker. And, playing off a 16 handicap, she was a major factor in the success, sinking a tricky putt on the final green of regulation play the previous evening.

South Africa’s Garcia said: “Mia really helped us out and that’s what this whole tournament is about, getting involved with the amateurs and giving everybody the experience of a professional event.

“I’m really proud – it couldn’t have gone better. All four girls contributed equally. An experience like this is always going to bring you closer to your peers that you’ve played with.”

Reflecting on the experience of a lifetime and also her playing partners, Baker added: “It has been so nice and the best thing is they made me not feel stressed. I couldn’t have asked for anymore from them – they were amazing.”

This week’s London leg was the second of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar this season, following last month’s Bangkok opener – and preceding events in Sotogrande, New York and Jeddah. The tournaments are famed for their unique format, in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

From August 18-20, the Aramco Team Series will be in Spain at the magnificent La Reserva Club de Sotogrande.

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WATCH: Highlights from Day 3 of the Aramco Team Series in London

Matt Smith — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 08:48:20 +0000

Check out all the action from Day 3 at Centurion Club as Bronte Law wins from Georgia Law and history-maker Linn Grant.

[parone_video_player campaign=”265″ defaultlang=”en” feed=”51-all-videos”/]

The post WATCH: Highlights from Day 3 of the Aramco Team Series in London appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Aramco Team Series drama in London as Davis leads and Team tournament goes to Saturday playoff at Centurion Club

Matt Smith — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 07:34:15 +0000

By Matt Smith
Hayley Davis is an Aramco Team Series specialist – but on Saturday she will ll go in search of a first individual title at Centurion Club.

The English golfer holds a two-shot lead from fellow countrywoman Bronte Law, while Georgia Hall is a further stroke back alongside Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall.

WATCH: Day 2 highlights from the Aramco Series

Davis, 29, was an Aramco Team Series winner in Sotogrande last year when she also finished second in New York and seventh in Jeddah.

Now thanks to two superb days’ golf she holds the lead in the $500,000 solo event at nine-under. Davis took advantage of the benign early-morning conditions to add a second-round 68 to an opening 69. She packed in seven birdies to give herself a great chance of victory.

Davis said: “I really like the Aramco team events. It seems to sort of bring out the best of my game. Last year I had a good record in them. I guess I just love team golf.

“We didn’t have the best day as a team yesterday. We just couldn’t really get anything going. So I think we went out there today like, ‘Let’s make some birdies and try and move up’ and that’s what we did. I don’t think I really rolled in long putts. I’ve just been hitting it really close. I know that I hit a few inside six feet.”

As for the final round, she has extra incentive to go for it. Davis had mentioned to her niece that she might come to her football tournament tomorrow afternoon but now has her own glory to chase. Davis added: “I need to play well – I think that’s the only way my niece is going to accept me not being there!”

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Law finished tied-sixth a fortnight ago in the US Women’s Open and once again is back in contention after moving to seven-under, courtesy of a second-round 71 carved out in a swirling afternoon wind and furnace-lie conditions.

Law said: “It was good – I played really solid. I’m just hoping that I can convert more of those chances tomorrow. I’m happy with where I’m sitting right now.

“I’m not really looking at the top of the leaderboard and worrying about who’s there. I’m looking at my scores and going, ‘Okay, I’m going to post a low number tomorrow’ – at least try and put myself in a position to do so – and then we’ll see what happens.”

Hall was round in level-par for the day but knows that she is right in the mix going into the final 18 holes.

The 2018 Women’s British Open champion said: “Three back is nothing. So obviously I’ve still got a massive chance and I’ll just see where I am after the front nine. But it’s a course where you can make a load of birdies.”

Team captain Ursula Wikstrom during the second round. Aramco

The $500,000 Aramco Team Series event will be settled by a sudden-death play-off after play has concluded in Saturday’s individual competition.

Ursula Wikstrom’s early starting quartet led for most of the day at 27-under but they were joined at the top in dramatic circumstances as the sizzling sun started to dip.

On the final green it was left to amateur Mia Baker in Team Garcia to sink a nerve-jangling putt and force extra time.

The 24-handicapper, playing off 16 in this event, held her nerve in superb fashion, holing out to huge cheers from the gallery.

Baker, who has only been playing golf for just over two years, said: “I was shaking! My caddie helped me – he gave me the confidence I needed. I couldn’t be a professional – it’s much too hard! They are very impressive. If anyone has the opportunity to play with pros they should definitely do it. It’s unbelievable.”

Her captain Nicole Garcia said: “She had a six-footer on the last for a play-off – I mean, the poor girl! But she came through. It wasn’t the only one that she saved us on. She made a long putt from off the green on 16 to save par for us.”

The play-off will be contested by one player from each quartet and the individual from each team will be nominated tomorrow.

This week’s London leg is the second of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar this season, following last month’s Bangkok opener – and preceding events in Sotogrande, New York and Jeddah.

The tournaments are famed for their unique format, in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

Saturday sees the lowest-scoring 60 players and ties battle it out for a share of a further $500,000.

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