The American had a record-setting first two rounds — setting the best course score, matching the lowest-ever round on the Ladies European Tour (61), and the consecutive-birdie run (eight), before smashing the LET 36-hole record by eight strokes with back-to-back 61s.

On Sunday, she kept Solheim Cup star and Riyadh Team Champion Ciganda at arm’s length to pick up her second professional victory, a cheque for $75,000, a whole lot of entries in the record books — and a real boost after losing out to Minjee Lee in a playoff in Korea last week.

A champion’s performance ? #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/euvFgeN5WX

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) October 29, 2023

Lee began the final round six strokes clear of Ciganda, and after an early charge from the Spaniard, who had that margin down to three at one point, Lee turned on the afterburners it was back at six by the turn.

A birdie on 11 for Lee, while Ciganda could only par, seemed to take the wind out of the Spaniard’s sails as the lead stretched out to seven strokes. With

Ciganda out of ideas and out of steam, Lee was allowed to canter home for an eight-stroke victory, with a 65 to go with her pair of 61s and a stunning 29-under total.

Sitting proudly beside the trophy, Lee expressed her delight and relief at her triumph.

“I’ve played some really good golf this week and putted even better,” she said, and even that was modest. “I hit almost every green, gave myself plenty of birdie opportunities, and made a lot of them count with aggressive, confident play. I had a lot of fun out there and I’m delighted with the win because any tournament is difficult to win — there are so many great players out there and all of them can produce great golf.

“Carlota’s a great competitor. She made a really great eagle and then a birdie to bring it to within three. I was well aware of the challenge, but like I say, I felt really confident with my own game. I made some birdies of my own early on and that set the tone for the rest of the day and helped me to get the job done.”

Lee’s efforts also saw her eclipse the 54-hole scoring record on the LET, and her 29-under equalled the best score as well, a mark that was previously set over 72-holes.

Lee also made 29 birdies at Aramco Team Series — Riyadh and all three of her scorecards were bogey-free. Her performance saw her add to her maiden tour win — the individual event at ATS Sotogrande in 2021 — and she was keen to praise those who made this week possible.

“Thank you Golf Saudi, Aramco, and the Public Investment Fund for staging this event. I love coming here and playing in these events,” she added. “I also want to thank Riyadh Golf Club. A lot had to be done to get the course ready and everyone involved did a tremendous job. I’ve been made to feel really welcome and I’d love to return and compete here again.”

Carlota Ciganda congratulates Alison Lee on her victory. ATS

As for Ciganda, the Spaniard’s final-round 67 took her to 21-under-par. Despite her runners-up spot, the world No. 33 nevertheless had a memorable weekend in Riyadh, where she captained her team to a three-stroke 43-under-par victory in the team event.

“If you’d told me at the beginning of the week that I’d finish on 21-under, I’d have taken that,” she said. “The conditions have been great here in Riyadh. There was no wind on the first two days but you still have to play well and score. It’s been an amazing weekend and I’m happy to finish second on the back of a great day yesterday.”

Commenting on Lee’s performance, she was full of praise for the American, adding: “When someone plays like that, you just have to say congratulations and well done. Alison has matched something that’s only ever been done over 72 holes on the LET before. She was amazing out there.”

The post Alison Lee takes more Riyadh records — and the title at Aramco Team Series finale appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It was not for winning captain and Solheim Carlota Ciganda, but for the 17-year-old amateur who was playing alongside the Spanish skipper, Italian Alessandra Fanali and Czech Sara Kouskova.

Lujain Khalil was the local hero out here in Riyadh, playing on her home course and representing Saudi Arabia. The perma-smiling youngster gave her watching family and friends one more reason to cheer other than playing her part in the quartet that eased to a three-stroke victory on 34-under, she also sank the birdie putt on the par-3 17 that secured the final Team title of the Aramco Team Series 2023 season.

Lujain Khalil high-fives Sara Kouskova after the winning putt. Oisin Keniry/ATS

“It was incredible,” Lujain said afterwards, the giant trophy by her side. “After hole 17 Carlota asked me how I was feeling, and I said: ‘I don’t think there has ever been a word created that can describe this feeling.’ This is probably the biggest day of golf I have ever seen.

“Carlota is a powerhouse, and Alessandra and Sara have been incredible. Considering they are rookies, their game has just been incredible.”

Despite this famous victory and that putt that will live long in Lujain’s memory, she has huge ambitions for the future. The youngster was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and is determined to fly the flag for the Kingdom as she grows more into the game.

“This is exactly where I want to be,” she said. “I want to be as strong as Carlota and as accurate as these two girls, and this is just a priceless feeling.

“I represent the Kingdom internationally in all golf events. This is a dream I shared with my grandmother before she passed, and eventually you will see me at the Olympics representing the Kingdom in this sport. I have been playing golf for four years. I took it up in Covid, it was really coincidental, and I have never looked back. I love it, even on the bad days, I love the feeling of even crying because of a bad round as it adds up to a lovely long journey.”

Lujain Khalil alongside her captain Carlota Ciganda. Oisin Keniry/ATS

Ciganda was first to praise the young talent she played beside on Friday and Saturday.

“I think she played great,” she said. “To be playing only four years, I know this is her own course, but still … she hit some great shots, a really good putt on 14 and then that great birdie on 17 — wow, that is a feeling you are going to have when you win a tournament.

“The only advice I would have is to keep working hard. There are no secrets to success in golf, if you want to win you have to work hard. Enjoy yourself and have fun too, but work hard.

“I mean, I love her energy. She is very positive because she loves what she does and that is very important because there are going to be some tough days, lonely days. Golf can be hard, but on the good days it is all worth it.”

Lujain was also grateful for all the support she received from family and friends, not only this week but throughout the past four years — especially from father Omar.

“I want to thank him [Dad] in every language possible,” she said. “He and my family have always been there for me, but him specifically. He’s my coach, my trainer, my caddie, my dad — most importantly — and he has been there from day one. You don’t just wake up and happen to have a good swing or good scores. He has been there for me on the bad days when I am crying and on the good days when it feels like the whole world fits my happiness.

“I am forever grateful to him and so happy to be sharing this journey with him and my family.”

Dad Omar was on hand to lead the congratulations after Lujain’s win. Oisin Keniry/ATS

Dad Omar also took time to reflect on that journey, speaking to Golf Digest Middle East after watching Lujain’s triumph.

“It was — it is — a very tough journey,” he said with a laugh. “This is by far the toughest sport. I played tennis, I did a lot of watersports. Lujain is one of four daughters, and none of them picked up on tennis, and she picked up on golf during Covid. She hit her first shot and said: ‘Daddy, this is what I am going to do for life.’ I said: ‘Ok. If you want to do it for leisure it takes one beast, but if you are going to do it competitively, that takes a completely different animal. If you run at 5kph, I will run at 10.’ And she never slowed down.

“I had to get certified, and now I do her strength and conditioning, I do her nutrition and I do her swing coaching.”

The hard work is paying off, on and off the course as Lujain is beginning to inspire those even younger than her in and around her home Riyadh Golf Course.

“Lujain gets endless happiness when young girls approach her and ask her about the game and she loves sending that message to every single girl, whether it is out here in the Middle East: pursue your happiness, find your passion, work hard and nothing comes easy, you got to work hard for it,” Omar added, smiling as he seemed to recall all the hours and hours they have put in together. “People watch golf on the screen and think it is easy — just a club and a ball — but nobody really understands the amount of tedious work, day-in day-out, to get to the level to play 18 holes for three consecutive days and get the scores, it is brutal, just brutal. So find your passion and work hard.”

When asked if he will go easy on Lujain over the next few days following this latest success, Omar was laughing again: “I hope she goes easy on me! It is a work in progress, Lujain’s ambitions are way further than today. She wants majors … she is going all the way. She just loves this sport more than anything else on Earth. So I have got to keep up with her, not the other way around!”

Lujain Khalil celebrates with father Omar after the win. Oisin Keniry/ATS

The post Riyadh’s local Aramco Team Series hero Lujain Khalil: See you at the Olympics! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But Carlota Ciganda probably came as close as anyone could to nicking at least part of Lee’s spotlight show on Saturday.

The European Solheim Cup hero proved once again that she is a team player as she led her playing partners — Italian Alessandra Fanali, Czech Sara Kouskova and amateur player, representing Saudi Arabia, Lujain Khalil — to an emphatic 43-under-par triumph in the Team event at Riyadh Golf Club.

Upstaging Team Alison Lee (see?) and Team Trichat Cheenglab, Ciganda and Co won by three strokes, with the runners-up locked on 40-under.

The celebrating quartet met the media after their victory, where every player contributed vital shots over the two-day competition, including amateur Lujain ‘LJ’ Khalil, who sank the putt for birdie on the 17th that secured victory.

What a team ? #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/L3xo4lL4PZ

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) October 28, 2023

Commenting on the victory alongside teammates, world No.33 Ciganda said: “I’ve always said that I love playing this format. Every time you win as a team, it’s a different feeling because you’re playing for something more than just yourself.

“It’s amazing to be here today as team event winners and the girls alongside me played amazing. We had a lot of chances, we made so many birdies, and it was so much fun out there. We’ve really enjoyed playing this course ever since we arrived and we’ll enjoy this moment.”

Ciganda said, who won the Aramco Team Series — Florida Individual competition in May, added: “I think it’s been a great two days. The girls played amazing and we had a great amateur [Khalil]. She made the winning putt to help us go to 41-under. I think we had fun and we were a real team the last two days. I’m more happy for the girls than for me, I just love team events.”

Team Ciganda drew a blank on the first hole, but soon got into their stride, picking up two strokes on the second with birdies from Ciganda, Kouskova and the impressive Khalil, who is only 17 and plays off a handicap of seven.

It was all rattling the bottom of cups and high-fives from then on as Team Ciganda began reeling in the clubhouse leaders — Team Cheenglab and Team  Lee.

And still the Team Ciganda train kept rolling, with five more shots gained in five holes from the 10th before the skipper showed some magic, holing out from the bunker for eagle and they were one off the lead.

With holes and momentum on their side, they were level with the leaders by the time they reached 17, and Khalil stepped up to take them home with a brilliant putt before they cantered home — their 43-under a record 36-hole score in the ATS.

“It was so much fun,” Fanali said. “Credit to Carlota, she fought for the team and was so good. We had so much fun, especially at the end. On the last five holes there was a lot of good golf.”

Kouskova added: “It’s incredible. I’m having a hard time trying to soak it all in. Playing with a team like this, especially with Carlota leading, is essentially a dream come true. We had a blast and I think we were lost in the moment sinking birdies.”

Girl of the moment, Khalil, beaming the whole time, added: “It was incredible. After hole 17 Carlota asked me how I was feeling, and I said: ‘I don’t think there has ever been a word that can describe this feeling. This is probably the biggest day of golf I have ever seen.”

While the team event is over, another big day awaits Ciganda, who is still in the running for the individual prize. On 16-under-par, she is second in the individual standings, six back from Lee and one ahead of Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg in third. The Spaniard show some sensational play, allowing her to sign for an individual 63 and set up an enthralling final day.

Main image: Carlota Ciganda with Italian Alessandra Fanali, Czech Sara Kouskova and amateur player, representing Saudi Arabia, Lujain Khalil. LET

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Following a historic first round of records on Friday in Saudi Arabia for the American with her 61 at the Aramco Team Series finale, Lee was at it again on Saturday, posting another 61 to sit on a staggering 22-under and take a six-stroke lead into the final round.

In the process, she smashed the existing Ladies European Tour 36-hole record of 16-under by eight shots and is in prime position for her second professional individual title.

Try as they might, the rest of the pack were left trailing (and congratulating) Lee, with overnight challenger and namesake Minjee fading somewhat, adding a 70 to go with a first-round of 63.

Minjee now sits in a bunch on 11-under alongside World No. 1 Lilia Vu, with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda the closest contender to Alison on 16-under.

Carlota Ciganda. ATS

The Spaniard’s wonderful nine-under 63, means Alison cannot afford to be complacent on Sunday, especially if the Solheim Cup hero keeps playing like this.

When asked by Golf Digest about where Riyadh sits on her top courses list now after a brilliant 48 hours, Alison said with a laugh: “The wind wasn’t up today, and the soft greens also helped, so it was a fairly easy day like yesterday. Personally, I enjoy playing very difficult courses, especially for tournament rounds, because I field a little bit. When it is easy like this, it kind of becomes a putting competition. Thankfully, I am on the good side of that this week on this golf course. I am putting really well. Not only that, but I am leaving myself 15 feet and in on every hole.

“But at the end of the day, it’s about making my putts, and I was able to make a lot of them today. Overall, it is quite a short course. Every hole, I was looking at wedge or less in and on only two of the par-3s was I using an 8-iron in.

“Only on one hole did I need to lay up — my 13th hole I think — and I was like: ‘Oh, I haven’t seen this club in a while!’

“You got to play confidently and aggressively out there because there are so many birdies to be made.”

On a different level this week. @alisonlee shoots back-to-back 61s to set a new @LETgolf scoring record after 36 holes ? #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/kfoIRTMuW9

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) October 28, 2023

On the shortest holes, Lee made a stunning six birdies on eight par-3s over the first two days, and again Lee said that was down to the playing conditions.

“The lack of wind and the soft greens meant you didn’t need to try to take it up this hill or land in a specific spot, you can pretty much just go straight at the flag and hit your numbers.”

Should Lee repeat her magic on the course on the final day on Sunday, she admitted she would wish it was a 72-hole event so she could go for even more records. She equalled the best round (61) on the LET on both days so far, has the Riyadh course record (x2) and also matched the LET record of eight birdies in a row on Day 1.

“Yeah, absolutely,” she laughed. “We will see what happens tomorrow. A lot depends on the weather. I feel really confident about my game right now. I didn’t expect another 61 today, but I did expect another low one. Hopefully I can break it [61] tomorrow, I still have one more day!”

Alison and her playing partners came so close to celebrating the two-day Team crown with a collective score of 40-under and the joint clubhouse lead alongside Team Cheenglab.

But Ciganda’s quartet had other ideas and roared through the back nine to overhaul Lee, Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux, Gaurika Bishnoi of India and impressive American amateur Chris Thomas.

The winning moment ?

What a performance from the whole team ?#SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/83X88US434

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) October 28, 2023

Ciganda, Alessandra Fanali, Sara Kouoskova and amateur Saudi Arabia prospect Lujain ‘LJ’ Khalil made the final push to get ahead of Team Lee and Team Cheenglab.

LJ holed out the key putt for two on the par-3 17th to get Team Ciganda to 41-under — a moment she will treasure forever. Kouskova followed the amateur in for birdie to take them to 42-under, with Team Bronte Law, the only quartet on course who could catch them, settling for 39-under and fourth place.

As the sun set on the final group, it was skipper Ciganda who had the final say, narrowly missing eagle, but claiming the birdie to take the team to 43-under and trigger a sea of high-fives.

“I love the team events, where you are all pulling for each other. I am happier for the team than myself, especially LJ, who holed that winning putt,” said Ciganda. “We all contributed and it was a great team effort.”

Finali added: “We really had a lot of fun out there, especially the last four or five holes, where we all came together.”

Now Ciganda and Lee turn their attention to Sunday and take aim at a sensational finale to round out the ATS season.

Main image: ATS

The post Alison Lee continues to steamroll the Riyadh course in Aramco Team Series finale appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It could have been even better for Alison as she went on another record-equalling eight-birdie streak from holes 15 to four (she started on 10) and was on for a 59, but had to ‘settle’ for three pars and a birdie for a course record and a bogey-free card.

Minjee was hot on her heels on the closing stretch but a bogey on 17 halted her own charge and she sits on nine-under.

Minjee Lee. LET/ATS

Behind that duo is a bunch on seven-under, including Czech Jana Melichova, Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta, Dane Nicole Broch Estrup, Kylie Henry of Scotland, Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg, Wales’ Chloe Williams, last year’s runner-up Charley Hull of England and Spain’s Solheim Cup hero Carlota Ciganda.

It was not the best day for Chiara Noja, who defeated Hull in a playoff in Jeddah 12 months ago to lift the ATS title and her maiden crown at the age of 16. The Dubai-based German was faced with a tie for last spot until she conjured up some magic for eagle on 18 to sign for a three-over 75.

There were a lot of red numbers out there on Friday, with 62 out of 84 of the professionals scoring par or better.

In the team event, Team Ciganda lead the way at the halfway stage alongside Bronte Law’s quartet on an impressive 21-under, two strokes ahead of another logjam — Team Lisa Pettersson, Team Minjee Lee, Team Diksha Dagar, Team Anne van Dam and Team Nicole Broch Estrup.

How things stand after a breathless Day One ?‍?? #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/Sfc60Dgfdu

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) October 27, 2023

On her day of records, Alison, winner of the Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande Individual title in 2021, told the Ladies European Tour: “I honestly had no idea! Today was just one of those days that golf just felt really easy, like a dream round. I wish every day felt like this. I was telling my caddie: ‘Gosh golf is so easy.’ Obviously I don’t say that every day but it was one of those days.

“I just felt so confident out there. I was able to read the greens really well, pick a good target on my approach shot, I was able to hit my targets.

“Coming down the stretch I started to realise I’m on 59 watch here. But I missed a couple of good birdie chances coming down the stretch. Not too disappointed I had a great round today, overall I played really solid.

“I’m feeling really good about my game. We still have two days left but I feel like it’s a really nice golf course, it’s a fairly easy golf course, pretty easy to attack pins and make a lot of birdies.”

Minjee added: “I played really really solid. I made a ton of birdies and had four birdies in a row so that was really nice. I’ve been hitting it really solid and come into this week with a lot of confidence from last week. I had another really great day.

“I played one round with Alison last week and then obviously beat her in a playoff. She’s got such great talent and I’ve actually known her for quite a while. We rookied together [on the LPGA] in the same year. We’ve both been on Tour nine years and it’s always nice to have great competition. That’s what we play for.”

Over on the team side of things, Ciganda told the LET: “It’s been a fun day. We made a lot of birdies between the three of us. It was great fun to watch the great shots that they hit. As everyone knows, I love team events and yeah hopefully we can have a good day tomorrow and win this thing.”

Main image: Alison Lee. LET

The post Lees are lauded as Alison leads Minjee on record opening day at Aramco Team Series — Riyadh appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Solheim Cup star fell agonisingly short of a fourth Ladies European Tour (LET) title last time out losing to the Dubai-based German teenager in a playoff at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

Back in Saudi Arabia one year on, Hull is eyeing another big week as she looks to go one better and finish the season strong.

“It’s definitely a motivation,” the World No 8 said when asked about last year’s result. “So 100 per cent it would be fantastic to get a win. As anyone will say, it’s important to finish the season strong. So it would be good to do that and then go even stronger next year.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve never played here before and it was my first time seeing the full 18 holes today. It’s a different golf course so different memories, but let’s go make some new ones.”

Hull, winner of the 2021 Aramco Team Series — New York Individual title, returns to the LET for the first time this week since helping Team Europe retain the Solheim Cup.

Since then, the Englishwoman took some time out to recover from a neck injury before finishing T40 at The Ascendant LPGA benefitting Volunteers of America — the site of her last career victory in 2022.

On the injury, Hull said: “My neck is now much better. I still feel like my swing is a little out of it, because before I was swinging to protect which got me into a bad habit. So I’m going to spend some time at the range today and straighten things out. Hopefully it will be good for the week ahead.”

Off the course, Hull is boosted this week by having her boyfriend with her in Saudi Arabia as well as best friend Georgia Hall, who is also returning to LET action for the first time since the Solheim Cup.

“It’s nice to have some home comforts,” the 27-year-old said. “I like visiting here. Me and my boyfriend went to downtown Riyadh last night, we hired a car so it’s been really good so far.”

In this week’s Team competition, Hull will once again play with Isabella Deilert after picking the Swede in the Draft on Wednesday. The duo are joined by France’s Emma Grechi.

Elsewhere, it was announced this week that Hull will be teeing up alongside fellow English star Justin Rose at the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational in December month — a new mixed team event co-sanctioned by the LPGA and PGA Tour.

“I only found out yesterday but I’m really excited for that,” Hull said. “It should be a lot of fun and it’s really cool what they’re doing there.”

Main image: Charley Hull. LET

By LET

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“I think team tournaments are always super fun,” Vu, the two-time 2023 major winner, said. “I played college golf and then the Solheim [Cup], so I really love the team aspect. I think it’s really fun and I think we’re gonna have a good week.”

Sitting alongside Vu in the media conference on Thursday was someone who certainly knows a thing or two about team golf.

Carlota Ciganda. Neville Hopwood

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda sunk the winning putt to ensure Team Europe retained the Solheim Cup in September and also claimed the ATS Florida event in May.

“I love playing for the team,” she said. “Solheim is always very special and these weeks they are fun, too, because you play with two pros and an amateur and you are part of a team. You are trying to do the best for the team. I think it’s a great week and I’m very happy to be here.”

Ciganda chose her fellow Arizona State University graduate Alessandra Fanali to join her team in Riyadh this weekend, something the Spaniard is sure will be an asset in Riyadh.

“I didn’t play with her on the team because she’s much younger, but I live in Scottsdale and I do go and practise where she used to play.,” Ciganda said of the Italian 24-year-old. “I know her well. I mean Spanish and Italians always pretty close and good friends. But yeah, I’m very happy to play with her. I haven’t played much with her. But I know she’s a pretty solid player. I’m just happy to go out with her tomorrow and have a good time.

Ciganda is also a Golf Saudi Ambassador, and is delighted to here and be part of the team that is revolutionising the game.

“I think it’s amazing what Saudi’s doing,” she said. “I think in the world in general with sports they invest in. I think in every sport, we can see with Formula One, with LIV with pretty much everywhere in the world. I think they want to try to put Saudi on the map. And hopefully we can. I’m very happy to be here and try to help grow the game. For me, it’s been it’s been great playing these events, played in Jeddah, played here, played a few other around the world. They do such a great job with all the marketing, all the grandstands. I mean, it feels like major tournaments. I think it’s fun to play as a team fun to play those three days. And hopefully, we can keep doing this. And we can see more golfers here we can see girls getting into golf. I think that’s the aim that we are all trying to do and hopefully we can do it. And in a few years, we can see more and more golfers here in Saudi.”

Vu has just had a standout career year that any golfer would be dreaming of, with two majors — the Chevron Championship and AIG Women’s Open — and a third-place finish in the Aramco Saudi Ladies International at the start of the year.

“I think the reason why I did so well this year is because I came into the season with no expectations,” she said. “I knew that last year at the end of the year, I got really down on myself by not performing where I wanted to. So I was pretty lenient with myself at the beginning of the year and then just tried to have fun throughout the year and let my golf just naturally happen.

“[The Saudi International] was my first tournament of the year. And I remember kind of just being really worried about the stuff that I worked on in the off-season wasn’t where I wanted it to be and then playing that tournament gave me a lot of confidence going into the season.”

With two majors under her belt, the confidence must be sky-high right now.

The post Lilia Vu and Carlota Ciganda are real team players at Aramco Team Series — Riyadh appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Staged at Riyadh Golf Club for the first time, 84 players from 24 nations will tee up vying for their share of $1,000,000 in both the Team and Individual competitions.

Before play gets under way in Saudi Arabia, here are some takes to get you up to speed…

Carlota Ciganda. Angel Martinez

Solheim stars set for action

One month on from their historic retention of the Solheim Cup in Spain, four stars from Suzann Pettersen’s arsenal are in town looking to add further success to their 2023 seasons.

Still on a high after earning the all-important point for Team Europe at Finca Cortesin, Carlota Ciganda will be in action aiming for a second Aramco Team Series title following her Florida triumph in May.

Joining the Spanish heroine are the English duo of Charley Hull and Georgia Hall — the latter chasing more silverware in the Kingdom after winning the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in 2022.

Completing the European line-up is Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, while major winner Lilia Vu adds further Solheim star power to the field teeing up for the second Aramco Team Series event in a row.

Minjee Lee. Dylan Buell

Lee hot in form

Another world-class player competing this week is Australia’s Minjee Lee. The two-time major winner arrives in Riyadh in incredible form having just claimed her 10th LPGA title at the BMW Ladies Championship.

The world No. 7 has prior ATS experience finishing 11th in London two years ago and returns for tournament two at no better time after defeating Alison Lee in a playoff last week.

Talking of her namesake, the American Lee is also teeing up this week and will be hoping to go one better after falling agonisingly short in South Korea.

A regular feature in the Aramco Team Series, Lee has featured in six events winning the Sotogrande Individual title in 2021.

Battle on the bubble

With just three events left of the season, this week is a crucial one for many stars trying to play their way into the last two tournaments of 2023 and affirm their full LET card for next year.

Both the Mallorca Ladies Open and Andalucía Costa del Sol Open De España involve the top 64 in the Race to Costa del Sol (as well as eight invites), with the top-70 in the standings earning Category 4 status for 2024.

This means those competing in Riyadh who are currently outside the bubble face a potentially make-or-break week if they are to compete in Spain next month and cement their full status.

Those in question facing big battles include Leonie Harm (70th), Laura Beveridge (72nd), Sanna Nuutinen (74th), Elin Arvidsson (77th), Linnea Johansson (78th), Maggie Simmermacher (79th), Marianne Skarpnord (92nd), Michele Thomson (101st) and Becky Brewerton (117th).

Dagar on the brink

As the Race to Costa del Sol heats up, it looks like this could be the week France’s Celine Boutier finally gets knocked off top spot with India’s Diksha Dagar on the brink of moving into the highly sought-after position.

Fresh off a third-place finish on home soil at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, the left-hander has now leapfrogged Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson and sits just 78.27 points off the major winner who is absent this week.

A ninth-place finish or better would do the job for Dagar in Riyadh, while Gustavsson can also jump into top spot if Dagar fails to do so and she finishes inside the top three.

Chiara Noja. Image supplied

Teenage kicks

It was one year ago that German teenager Chiara Noja announced herself to the golfing world defeating her hero Charley Hull in a playoff to win the Aramco Team Series — Jeddah Individual event.

Now back in Saudi Arabia 12 months on, and having recently returned to action after an injury spell, the 17-year-old will no doubt be feeling nostalgic as she aims to put on a performance in the tournament where she claimed a historic maiden LET title.

Unique format

Once again the format is the same as other ATS events with the Individual and Team competitions being played simultaneously. The Team competition will be played over 36-holes over the first two days with the best two scores counting, while the Individual is a 54-hole stroke play competition with the last round just having the top-60 professionals and ties competing.

There are 84 professionals teeing it up this week and there will be 28 teams contending for the top prize. Each team will consist of three professionals and one amateur.

Main image: Warren Little/Getty Images

Story by LET

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Now she is in Saudi Arabia after receiving an invite to compete in the Aramco Team Series finale at Riyadh Golf Course as the youngest amateur at the first ever professional golf event in the Kingdom’s capital.

Golf Digest Middle East caught up with Maya, her father Stephen, and coach (and caddie this week) Yasin Ali, the head professional instructor at JA Resort and Golf in Dubai, following some practice holes with Minjee Lee and as they awaited to hear the draw on Wednesday evening and discover which team the 13-year-old will be playing for Friday and Saturday.

May with Minjee Lee. Supplied

“Augusta was amazing, and we got to hang around to watch the players play the Masters on the weekend,” she said. “Following that, we headed back up north to practise in cooler weather and kind of try to stay locally and compete in a few events around New England so I could stay in a community. It accumulated when I won the New England PGA Player of the Year award.

“I was moved up from the 13-and-under group as we decided it was the best way to go and gain experience.”

“Yes, these were proper events, minimum of 36 holes, multiple days, no caddies and no spectators,” added Stephen. “I had to wait at the clubhouse as we were not allowed out on course. So she was literally on her own out there.”

Despite a whirlwind year, Maya’s career is still in its very early stages, and she has to concentrate on school studies, too.

“I started two years ago in seventh grade with the US Performance Academy, which is basically an online school, which is great to help balance my school and golf,” she explained. “You pretty much roll out of bed, go to the computer and you are at school, then afterwards I go to the golf course or range. It gives me more time and more leeway. If, say, I had a tournament in the middle of the week, I wouldn’t do any school during the event, but I would do more before and after to keep up. Just like I am doing this week in Riyadh.”

Dad adds: “The USPA virtual school system is something we wouldn’t have even considered until Covid came around. But it has been around for a lot longer than that, and was set up by a bunch of Olympic athletes, to help others who maybe have to go to Switzerland for skiing or Australia for sailing. So it is great for young kids who want to pursue their athletic ability but also combine it with their schooling.”

Covid did bring other issues, however, and the family kitted out one of the rooms with a hitting net, cage to keep the windows safe, and a SkyTrack system.

“We jerry-rigged all this ourselves and attached a monitor so it was like playing on the course when we were stuck at home,” explained Stephen.

Coach Yasin has been a vital cog in Maya’s development, both online and in person when they get the chance to meet up, like in Riyadh this week.

“It is great doing virtual work with Coach, but it is always better to meet in person, so he can help me with my swing,” Maya said. “He is also a great caddie so I am thrilled he will be with me out on the course this week. He really helps out with the technical stuff in his head, then tells me the club and shot. It helps keep me calm, and when I am calm, I play much better.”

Stephen added: “I have played a lot of sports over the years, and I have never seen as great a coach as he is on a one-to-one basis. You see it in his personality — very warm, friendly, he knows when to push and when to back off.”

When the draft was finally made on Wednesday evening, Maya learnt her playing partners — captain Pauline Roussin, the French star who claimed the ATS Singapore Individual title. They will be joined by Linnea Johansson and Marta Sanz Barrio for the Friday and Saturday team competition before the final day of individual competition on Sunday.

“It is exciting to now know who my captain will be and I can’t wait to get out on the course with my team,” Maya concluded.

The post UAE teen Maya making history at Aramco Team Series finale in Riyadh appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In the fifth and final ATS event of 2023, two competitions will again take place side by side with 84 professionals competing in both the 36-hole Team competition and 54-hole Individual competition.

On Wednesday night at Riyadh Golf Club — the home venue hosting a Ladies European Tour (LET) event for the very first time — the Draft took place with 28 captains selecting one teammate from the field of competitors.

The third professional was randomly assigned before one amateur was added to complete the line-ups.

Captains were decided based on the 28 best-ranked players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as of Monday 16th October.

Recent LET winner Alexandra Försterling was afforded the first pick of the evening, opting for fellow rookie Emma Spitz from Austria. The close friends are joined by Scotland’s Kelsey Macdonald who has recently returned from injury.

At the other end of the order, World No 1 Lilia Vu selected Hannah Burke with the final pick of the evening. The AIG Women’s Open champion and in-form Englishwoman are joined by Wales’ Becky Brewerton.

Fellow Major winner and World No. 4 Minjee Lee from Australia chose Scotland’s Louise Duncan with the penultimate pick of the night. Another rookie, France’s Nastasia Nadaud, completes the trio.

World No 8 Charley Hull from England again opted for Sweden’s Isabella Deilert — the pair having teamed up at the Aramco Team Series — London event back in July. The close friends are joined by Emma Grechi of France.

In similar fashion, England’s Georgia Hall replicated her pick from Centurion Club by selecting Scotland’s Kylie Henry. After the pair claimed victory on that occasion, Sweden’s Elin Arvidsson completes the trio hoping to have similar success.

Another exciting grouping comes courtesy of Solheim Cup heroine Carlota Ciganda picking Italy’s Alessandra Fanali — both of which represent Arizona State University (ASU) alumni. Czech Sara Kouskova is the third and final professional in the group.

Three Swedes share a team after Lisa Pettersson picked the in-form Sara Kjellker before being assigned Camilla Lennarth.

England’s Gabriella Cowley picked ATS specialist Casandra Alexander from South Africa with Czechia’s Kristyna Napoleaova.

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