By Kent Gray
Golf Saudi’s stable of high-profile ambassadors has a new dynamic duo.

Swede Anna Nordqvist and sweet-swinging Dutchwoman Anne van Dam were unveiled as the latest international ambassadors as the inaugural $1 million Aramco Saudi Ladies International began on Thursday.

They join fellow LET stars Amy Boulden and Camilla Lennarth, as well as Spanish European Tour players, Adri Arnaus and Pablo Larrazabal in promoting the Saudi Golf Federation’s efforts to sell the Kingdom as a golfing destination.

Van Dam, a five-time LET winner, is renowned as one of the longest drivers in the game of women’s golf. She led the category for driving on the LET in both 2017 and 2018, and currently ranks second in average driving distance during the current 2020 season.

“It is great to be in Saudi Arabia over the next fortnight and be able to experience a new environment and culture,” said van Dam who won the ActewAGL Canberra Classic in 2019 and earned a maiden appearance on the successful European Solheim Cup team that defeated the USA 14 ½ – 13 ½ at Gleneagles, Scotland.

“It is always a great feeling to visit new countries and play new golf courses with the LET and by becoming a Golf Saudi ambassador, I will have the opportunity to help grow the game of golf for women in the country, therefore helping Golf Saudi achieve its goals of increasing female participation.”

Since turning professional in 2008, Nordqvist has racked up eight LPGA Tour and three LET titles and won her second major at the Evian Championship in 2017.

“I feel honoured to join the Golf Saudi team as one of their latest ambassadors and I am keen to use this opportunity to grow the game of golf for women in the Kingdom,” said Nordqvist.

Anna Nordqvist

“I believe in being a role model for women and young girls all over the world and hopefully us playing here will inspire them and show them what is possible. It is incredible to be here this week and I feel excited to have the opportunity to play in the inaugural Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF.”

Said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi: “We are privileged to be able to appoint two of the Ladies European Tour’s top players as official Golf Saudi Ambassadors.

“Anna and Anne have committed to our vision of growing the game of golf for women in the Kingdom and we are lucky to have them on board to support our ongoing development. We are excited to see both of them play at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club and look forward to developing a strong working partnership in order to attract young female Saudis to the game.”

More from the 2020 Aramco Saudi Ladies International
• Georgia fires course record 65 as not one, but two Halls head Saudi leaderboard
• Golf Saudi unveil sustainability strategy
• Global broadcast of LET doubleheader “chance to show the world Saudi is…transforming through” golf
• Hull and Hall ready to kick on in the Kingdom
• Ladies First: Why Saudi’s LET double-header is more than just historic week of pro golf
• Charley Hull: Is that all you’ve got, 2020?

The post Anne van Dam and Anna Nordqvist join Golf Saudi stable appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Major champion and Solheim Cup star Georgia Hall is the first marque name unveiled for ground-breaking Saudi Ladies International.

The 23-year-old Englishwoman, a two-time European No.1, will be joined by another member of last year’s triumphant Solheim Cup team at Gleneagles, Spaniard Azahara Muñoz, at the $1 million event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from March 19-22.

Fellow former Ladies European Tour (LET) No.1 Beth Allen (USA), decorated South African Lee-Anne Pace, Wales’ Amy Boulden, Swede Camilla Lennarth and rising Thai star Atthaya Thitikul are other familiar names confirmed for the inaugural championship in King Abdullah Economic City near Jeddah.

Hall became the first Englishwoman in 14 years to capture the Women’s British Open in 2018 and won four out of four points in Europe’s 14½-13½ upset at Gleneagles – the first time Team USA had been beaten in six years.

The Bournemouth-born player cannot wait to be part of history in what will be the first female professional event in the Kingdom.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be part of the first Saudi Ladies International and make golfing history in the country,” said Hall who captured the LET Order of Merit and ‘Player of the Year’ honours in both 2017 and 2018.    

“From what I’ve seen of the golf course it looks a stunning set-up on the Red Sea and a pretty challenging test – it’s a brilliant chance for us to showcase our game to newcomers to golf.”

Muñoz contributed 2.5 of a possible five points to the European cause at the last Solheim Cup. Together with Thitikul, a two-time winner on the LET at just 17 years of age, and the experienced Pace, who has 12 worldwide victories to her name, the 32-year-old Spaniard is sure to be among those to push Hall hardest at KAEC.

The Saudi Ladies Championship is part of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation’s inclusion and equality remit and under the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ socio-economic revitalisation project. It comes after Royal Greens hosted the second Saudi International earlier this month where former major champion Graeme McDowell captured his first European Tour title since 2014 and pushed his world ranking from 104 to 47.

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in KAEC.

“Hosting another prestigious championship in Saudi Arabia adds to an exciting golf calendar for fans in the region and with top female golfers from around the world coming to compete it is sure to excite in what is the first time we are seeing elite female golfers compete in the country,” said His Excellency Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, looking ahead to next month’s first-ever tournament.

“The championship is open for everybody to attend throughout the four days and I’d encourage everybody to go along, watch world-class sport and enjoy the sport and entertainment on offer.”

For more information on the Saudi Ladies International, click here.

They Said it…
Amy Boulden
“Our game continues to break new ground and coming to new places like Saudi Arabia for the first time shows the ambition of Golf Saudi and the Tour.  I want to play well in a big event that can give me some momentum for the season.”

Camilla Lennarth
“Playing golf in front of new fans is the best way to grow the game and hopefully we inspire more girls to pick up a golf club and get involved in our great sport so I hope to see many people at the Championship next month.”

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By Kent Gray
European Tour boss Keith Pelley has lauded Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans for golf at home and abroad after a series of engagements in Riyadh, saying the kingdom is at the “forefront of helping us to develop the game”.

Pelley has joined four-time major champion and former world No.1 Ernie Els, Ladies European Tour (LET) winner Camilla Lennarth and Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of both the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, at a series of industry events in the Saudi capital.

The three-day Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum saw global leaders, investors and innovators debate the future of global investment across several important sectors, including the golf industry.

Pelley sees great opportunity for the likes of Saudi Arabia in influencing the future direction of golf – both in the Kingdom and internationally.

“Golf Saudi wants to use the game to transform the country and there is no question that Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of helping us to develop the game,” the Canadian said.

“Our game is so much about inclusivity and it’s fantastic that the Saudi Golf Federation shares that vision.”

Al-Sorour joined Els, Pelley and Lennarth in an expert panel discussion.

“This week has been a fantastic showcase for the Kingdom and proof that golf in Saudi really does mean business,” said Al-Sorour, who was instrumental in the staging of the inaugural Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, a European Tour event, this year.

“Not only was this the perfect time to debate the issues in the game today, it was a fantastic opportunity to talk about solutions and the role emerging markets such as Golf Saudi can play in that. This is an exciting time for the sport.”

The panel presentation was followed by a welcome reception and the first ‘Golf Means Business’ Pro-Am held at Nofa Golf Resort outside Riyadh and hosted by His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Former Ryder and Solhiem Cup-winning captains Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew, two-times Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and LET players Carly Booth, Isabella Deilert, Annabel Dimmock, Victoria Fricot, Maha Haddioui and Frida Spang all teed it up.

Lennarth’s team triumphed to claim the inaugural FII International Pro-Am title.

H.E. Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), hosted the first ’Golf-Means-Business’ Pro-Am at Nofa Golf Resort near Riyadh, including two-times Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal (left) and Troy Mullins (second from left).

“Just when I thought this week couldn’t get any better, first hearing about the potential new Ladies European Tour event taking place here [Saudi Arabia] in March 2020, to then being crowned inaugural champion at this wonderful new event,” the 31-year-old Swede said.

“The FII International Pro-Am at the Nofa Golf Resort has been fantastic, my experiences in Saudi Arabia continue to get better and better. I’d like to thank His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan for hosting such a memorable occasion and I already can’t wait to come back.”

There has been no official word yet from the LET about the mooted March 2020 stop. However, the 2nd Saudi International powered by SBIA has been confirmed for Jan. 30-Feb.2, after earlier Desert Swing events in Abu Dhabi (Jan. 16-19) and Dubai (Jan. 23-26).

The post European Tour boss lauds Golf Saudi’s domestic and global ambition appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
An inexplicable four-putt on the penultimate hole made it tighter than it needed to be but Aditi Ashok held her nerve to clinch the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open on Saturday.

A clutch par on 18 at Saadiyat Beach G.C. saw the 19-year-old Indian close with a 69 to edge Englishwoman Georgia Hall by a stoke to bank €70,787 for her third Ladies European Tour title in just her second season as a professional.

Ashok enjoyed a three shot lead standing on the 17th tee even after Hall had birdied the par 3 in the group ahead. But the Bangalore teen somehow conspired to four putt for a double bogey. It meant she needed to par the testing 72nd hole to hold onto her (two stroke)overnight lead and she duly delivered.

Here’s the shot the sealed the deal on a drama-filled day in Abu Dhabi:

What a time to play a shot like this from @aditigolf on the 18th @FBMLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/dJqoqKAKxk

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

“It wasn’t really nerves,” Ashok said of the potentially disastrous blip on 17. “I think I just lapsed for a bit and made a four-putt. I was playing okay all day, but didn’t make as many birdie putts as I wanted to. I’m just glad I came out on top.”

After back-to-back wins in Indian and Qatar to seal the LET Rookie of the Year title last season, Ashok’s first year on the LPGA Tour in the U.S. has been a steep learning curve with just one top-10 and seven missed cuts in 20 starts.

But her talent is undeniable as shots like this during the final round highlight:

Seriously, how good is this from @aditigolf @FBMLadiesOpen ?????? pic.twitter.com/8Vio0L41YG

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

There was also wedge play like this as Ashok rattled off four rounds in the 60s – 67-66-68-69 – to finish -18:

.@aditigolf wedge game @FBMLadiesOpen ?????? pic.twitter.com/Zg0vKx8pCN

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

Here’s the final standings:

Final @FBMLadiesOpen leaderboard.

All scores: https://t.co/1jQAQYoA0Z pic.twitter.com/H6Xf3t1aly

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

“I had my game plan and wasn’t too aggressive,” Ashok said. “I just kept giving myself birdie putts and that was the plan on 17 as well. I don’t know how I ended up four-putting and I did the same on 18, gave myself a birdie putt and it didn’t go in, so I guess that was the story of my putting today, but the birdies in the middle helped.”

It was the second successive year Hall, who closed with a flawless six-under 66, has had to settle for second after the Solheim Cupper finished three behind Beth Allen at the inaugural FBMLO.

“I’m a little bit disappointed because I thought I needed an eight-under today and I was ticking the shots off in my head. I hit the ball great all week, but I putted poorly and didn’t hole anything today…All my birdie chances were inside 10 feet,” Hall told the LET.

“Aditi played great again and managed to get a par on the last, so well done to her.”

Hall was unaware of the drama unfolding behind her and it ultimately played into Ashok’s hands down the last as the Englishwoman over-cooked her approach to set up this chip she needed to hole to force a likely playoff:

This for @georgiahall96 to level with @aditigolf on -18 @FBMLadiesOpen …. pic.twitter.com/mx17EHYnLj

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

“I played one of the best long games I have played all year but the putts weren’t going in and I was in between clubs on the last hole and went for the longer one. Maybe a bit of adrenaline went through me and I hit it too long but I made a good up and down.

“As far as I knew, I thought Aditi was 20-under so I was three behind going down the last, so I didn’t think I had a chance. If I had known, then maybe things would have been different.”

Swede Camilla Lennarth signed for a 67 to finish third on -16, a shot ahead of Cheyenne Woods who closed with a two-under 70.

.@aditigolf wins the 2017 @FBMLadiesOpen on -18 & lands her third LET title. Another extremely impressive display ?????? pic.twitter.com/ytyZwiwpW2

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 4, 2017

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By Kent Gray
Luna Sobron has slashed the course record at Saadiyat Beach G.C. by two strokes to go from potential cut victim to genuine title contender at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

The 23-year-old Spaniard mixed an eagle, nine birdies and a bogey in a 10-under 62 to rocket from a share of 76th place overnight following an opening 73 to a share of third early on the second day of the Ladies European Tour event.

?NEW COURSE RECORD?@Lunasobron ?@SaadiyatBeachGC
1 eagle
9 birdies
7 pars
1 bogey
62 (-10)
?????? pic.twitter.com/j5CHXQhlvH

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 2, 2017

Sobron is -9 for the championship, three shots behind first round leader Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa) who had a second successive 66 to move to -12. Reigning LET Rookie-of-the-Year Aditi Ashok (India) is at -11 after also signing for a second round 66 while Sobron shares third with Swede Camilla Lennarth after a 65.

The 62 eclipses the course record of 64 jointly established by defending champion Beth Allen and Brit Georgia Hall at the inaugural FBMLO last year.

Sobron went out in three under 33 with four birdies and a bogey at the par 3 6th. She came home ina staggering seven under 29 highlighted by an eagle on the par 5 15th and played her last 11 holes nine under par.

“I didn’t know it was the course record so I am very happy, it must have been all the putts I made, including that eagle on the 15th,” said Sobron who advanced to the final stage of LPGA Tour Q-School after finishing T-5 at the second stage in Florida just before arriving in Abu Dhabi.

“My back nine was just amazing. On the 18th I made a good chip onto the green and I just prayed my final putt would drop [for par which it duly did].

“I am now confident ahead of the rest of the tournament, however it will be difficult to do again, so I just need to enjoy my golf.”

On Thursday at least, satisfaction was guaranteed for the Rookie-of-the-Year candidate who will be one to watch over the weekend at Saadiyat Beach.

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