You can catch up will all our coverage by visiting the website HERE, or alternatively scroll through the ISSUU links below — from Jason Kokrak and Cam Smith to the Aramco Team Series — or download to your favourite device for later.

Issue No.1 – January 2022

Issue No.2 – April 2022

Issue No.3 – August 2022

Issue No.4 – October 2022

Issue No.5 – January 2023

Issue No.6 – April 2023

Issue No.7 – August 2023

Issue No.8 – October 2023

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Royal Greens serves up two memorable Saudi International treats to pave way to the future

History was made in Saudi Arabia in February as some of the best golfers in the world — male and female — descended on Royal Greens Golf & Country Club for two of the most fascinating and memorable golfing competitions in the Kingdom.

First up was the Asian Tour’s flagship PIF Saudi International, where Mexico’s Abraham Ancer warmed up for his LIV Golf homecoming at Mayakoba with a thrilling victory over American Cameron Young and Aussie Lucas Herbert in the Red Sea breeze, taking home $1 million for his troubles. It was one of the strongest fields ever assembled on Saudi shores, with the likes of Cameron Smith, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed all teeing it up. None of them could lay a glove on Ancer, however, who registered a wire-to-wire success to follow in the footsteps of Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Harold Varner III as champions.

The week in early February also saw a new dawn for golf in Saudi Arabia as Faisal Salhab and Saud Al Sharif were unveiled as the Kingdom’s latest professional golfers, joining Othman Almulla in the paid ranks and beginning their journey to inspire the next generation of young golfers. Both Faisal and Saud impressed in the Asian Tour’s first two International Series events, making the cut at Oman and Qatar respectively. 

With no time for the dust to settle after the men departed, the Ladies European Tour came to town just outside Jeddah, with no less than 13 major champions in tow as part of a field of 120 competing for the groundbreaking $5 million purse — the biggest prize outside the majors and equal to that of the men in the Saudi International. In Gee Chun, Anna Nordqvist, Lexi Thompson and defending champion Georgia Hall all fought it out with the likes of Ashleigh Buhai, Patty Tavatanakit, Hannah Green, Danielle Kang and Hyo-Joo Kim. But it was a dream return to action for world No. 1 and newly-wed Lydia Ko, who held off the sensational Aditi Ashok (win, third, second in her first three outings of the year) for her second success in the tournament and the $750,000 top prize. 

Ko gave credit to new hubby Jun Chung and a rigorous off-season that included eight (8!) rounds of golf during her 12-day honeymoon in native New Zealand for her ability to hit the ground running in her first competitive outing of 2023. It certainly looks like that devotion and dedication paid off big time. Hopefully Jun got a belated Valentine’s Day gift for his understanding! 

As we delve further into the year, eyes are beginning to look to September and the looming Solheim Cup date between Europe and America, and already things are beginning to take shape with familiar front-runners staking their claim for an automatic spot. 

When it comes to the captains’ picks, however, things are getting really tricky as old favourites such as Anna Nordqvist and Lizette Salas are struggling to find form, while emerging stars like Chiara Noja and Lilia Vu are throwing their hat into the ring.

How both captains would be wishing Ashok and Ko were in their ranks too. 

For all the stardust on show at Royal Greens, it is always refreshing to see the next generation thrive, and the likes of Noja, Vu and Albane Valenzuela grabbed the opportunity on the biggest of stages with both hands, with all three in the mix until Sunday and finishing in the top 15.

The Aramco Saudi Ladies International was about so much more than just the on-fairway action of course, with its groundbreaking prize money, on-site golf clinics and talks setting the foundations and framework for equality and parity throughout the game as more tournaments across the globe are set to follow suit and put up equal purses for men and women. 

During all the thrills and spills at King Abdullah Economic City, Golf Saudi also welcomed its new CEO, Noah Alireza, who was on hand at Royal Greens to oversee the trophy presentations to Ancer and Ko, and set out his vision for the future of the sport in the Kingdom, through mass participation programmes and increasing access to golf in the country.

While the moveable feast departs Saudi until November, that doesn’t mean the drama is done. Not by a long shot. 

The LIV Golf League 2023 is just getting into its stride following its curtain-raiser in Mexico — where the likes of new signings Mito Pereira and Thomas Pieters took their bows — with dates in Arizona and Florida coming up ahead of the highly anticipated bow on Australian shores at The Grange in Adelaide. 

Oh, and the Masters is just around the corner too, where former chums Mickelson and Tiger Woods will meet face-to-face at Augusta in what is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing majors in recent history. 

Watch this space…

The post Editor’s Letter: A fight to remember appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

We also look ahead to the LIV Golf League season-opener in Mexico and catch up with Lydia Ko ahead of her trip to Royal Greens Golf & Country Club for the Saudi Ladies International. 

James Piot talks about how the LIV Golf opportunity was too big to pass up and we take you through 2023’s must-have drivers in Part One of our Hot List.

All this and much, much more in the February 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

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.

The post Get the February 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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.

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Moroccan prepares to revisit the place where it all began at KAEC

By Matt Smith
The Arab world discovered a new star in September when Morocco’s Ines Laklalech claimed her first crown on the Ladies European Tour.

The 24-year-old made history at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville as she defeated Meghan MacLaren in a playoff at Golf Barrière.

With the victory she became the first Moroccan, Arab, and North African woman to win a title on the Ladies European Tour.

Now she is aiming to make more history as she prepares for the Aramco Team Series — Jeddah event from November 10-12. 

It was only two years ago that Laklalech teed it up at the inaugural Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens as a young amateur and now she is coming back to KAEC for the ATS finale as a professional as her first full season on as a Ladies European Tour card-holder comes to a close.  

The Casablanca native, who also competed at the Saudi International in March and narrowly missed the cut, is aiming to show what she can do back in Jeddah now she has that first LET victory under her belt. 

There is another mission that drives Laklalech to do her best and that is to inspire the next generation of Arab girls across the world, who she believes — like her — have greater opportunity than ever before to chase their own ambitions.

Laklalech, who holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from University College London, said earlier this year: “The Saudi Ladies International was actually the first LET event I played as an amateur back in 2020 and I made the cut. In 2020 it was a great, great tournament and experience, I loved it — particularly because it was in an Arab country, which to me made it even more special.”

Laklalech now knows the course a little better and knows what to watch out for.

“I know what to expect a little more,” she said of Royal Greens. “The course is great, the windy conditions mean things can get very interesting and tough out there.”

That debut Aramco Saudi Ladies International back in 2020 was a landmark moment for women’s sport within the Kingdom as it was the first ever professional, international women’s sporting event to be held in Saudi Arabia.

Now, there is no looking back as the Aramco Team Series returns for its second edition in Saudi Arabia. 

“For me, the high-level golf always happened in the US and Europe,” Laklalech said. “Now today, we’re seeing such a strong field of players playing in both the men’s and women’s events in Saudi Arabia. I would never have thought of competitive golf being played in Saudi Arabia before, especially a women’s event. To see this now though is so good for the future of golf and for all women in the Arab world.

“This shows Arab women that if they want to make a living out of their passion — be that in sport or anything else — they can, just as much as a man would. It shows that women can play competitive sports no matter what their background and no matter where they’re from.”

Laklalech first lifted a golf club aged 10 in one of the few places in Casablanca “with a green field and lots of trees”, and quickly going on to join then beat the boys’ club — of which she was one of only two girl members — at her local course, aged only 12.

“I’m excited to see what the next years hold for me,” said Laklalech. “Anything new is exciting, and this elite golf is all new to me.” 

Laklalech is only the second Arab woman to play on the LET, following fellow Moroccan Maha Haddioui, and now she is looking ahead to the future following her victory in France.

“I’ve always had very strong women in the family who I look up to. I’m hoping more North African and African women can accomplish things in sports and just pursue their dreams,” she told the BBC in Deauville.

“There is no difference between the African woman or the European one. I hope this win can prove that it is possible. I got a very warm welcome from the Moroccans who came to congratulate me at the airport, with even the policemen saying congratulations. I’m just very humbled by that and happy about it.

“Before the start of the season, I wrote down my goals. Starting a professional career, you have a certain time to get comfortable at the first tournaments. I didn’t make the first three cuts. I was very tense, very nervous. After that, there was just a click that I can’t really explain, and that made me play to my potential without thinking of what I was doing.

“I’m very happy that I passed this first step. Now I can focus on other things that I’m dreaming of.”

One dream would certainly be either holding aloft the individual or team titles in Jeddah on November 12, in front of an Arab crowd.

The post Ines Laklalech: Ready to make more history appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

After being congratulated on the final green by Solheim Cup team member and good friend Emily Kristine Pedersen, a clearly delighted Hall showed how much the win – her first on the Ladies European Tour since her only other Tour victory, the 2018 Women’s Open – meant. 

“It’s fantastic to win in March, so early in the season,” said the world #25. “I really love this place and love the golf course. I was fine after 18, and then Emily started crying, and it made me cry.  I was just really proud of the way I played today.”

Hall’s one-under-par round started with two birdies in the first three holes to extend her overnight lead to seven shots, from where she never really looked back.

“That was the plan in my head,” said the 25-year-old. “The front nine is a little bit easier, a little bit less wind than we’ve had, so I tried to take advantage and hit some really good shots on the front nine to get me further ahead, and that kind of settled me.”

Despite four bogeys – on five, 10, 15 and 16 – the chasing pack never got closer than four shots. Hall – a runner up at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in 2020 – sealed things with a birdie three on 17, rolling in a 15-foot putt. 

She continued: “Even on 16, I thought it was a pretty good shot. It just didn’t come back. It was so tough. It was windier than yesterday, and 15, 16 can be very tricky, so I tried a few damage limitations there. Obviously really happy with the birdie on 17.

“To lead all week is very special. I think the first round really was very important for me. I played incredible that round. It really set me up for the rest of the week. Sometimes it’s not always easy with a five-shot lead into the last day, it’s a little bit more pressure on you, but I was really happy with the way I conducted myself today.”

Joint second place went to the former Czech Republic international footballer cum LET rookie Kristyna Napoleaova, and Johanna Gustavsson of Sweden. 

It was fairy tale stuff for 25-year-old Napoleaova, who was competing in only her second event as an LET professional, and who had shared the Day Two lead with Hall.

“To be honest, it’s kind of like a dream,” she said. “I didn’t expect even to get into the event. Golf Saudi provided me with an invite, which was incredible. What happened this week is like a fairy tale. It’s been an absolutely incredible week. I’m so grateful to have been here and can’t wait to come back again.”

Napoleaova picked up US$75,000, a cool $71,300 more than her maiden LET event. 

She said: “To be fair, I had no idea what the prize money is. I’m glad I didn’t look because then I would have been like slightly nervous on the last hole, which I was anyways, so better not to know!”

The best round of the day came from breakout US golf star Kelly Whaley, who set a new Ladies European Tour record with an incredible eight birdies in a row, to finish joint sixth. 

The 24-year-old went -8 from the fourth hole through 11, en route to equaling Royal Greens’ course-record 63.

It was the first time in history any player has bagged more than seven consecutive birdies in a regular-season LET event.

Whaley – who turned pro in 2019 and was competing in her first event outside the States – said: “It is the best round I’ve ever had in a tournament. My whole goal today was to just enjoy it and have fun, being my first international professional event. I’ve never had eight birdies in a row. That’s something memorable for anyone!

“Once I made about four or five, I said, ‘Okay, you’re in it now – you can’t stop!’. So, I just kept giving myself opportunities and it was a lot of fun. I think in these situations pressure can get to you, and it becomes almost daunting, but I really approached today trying to just enjoy every shot and find something about every hole that I loved, whether it be the view or just something else. It was just a really memorable day.” 

The post Georgia Hall romps to five stroke Saudi Ladies International victory appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 24-year-old went -8 from the fourth hole through 11, en route to equaling Royal Greens’ course-record 63. It was the first time in history any player has bagged more than seven consecutive birdies in a regular-season LET event.

Whaley – who turned pro in 2019 and was competing in her first event outside the States – said: “It is the best round I’ve ever had in a tournament. My whole goal today was to just enjoy it and have fun, being my first international professional event. I’ve never had eight birdies in a row. That’s something memorable for anyone!

“Once I made about four or five, I said, ‘Okay, you’re in it now – you can’t stop!’. So, I just kept giving myself opportunities and it was a lot of fun. I think in these situations pressure can get to you, and it becomes almost daunting, but I really approached today trying to just enjoy every shot and find something about every hole that I loved, whether it be the view or just something else. It was just a really memorable day.” 

Breaking down her incredible run of eight on the bounce, the Floridian explained: “The par-5s out here I really tried to take advantage of. I birdied both of them, holes four and nine, where they’d moved the tees a little bit, making it a little more reachable for me today. Those were nice.

“The really nice ones were ten and 11. The back nine are tricky, and the winds tend to pick up. The pins were tucked today, and they were hard. I really trusted my yardages. On 11, I stuck it to eight feet, and on ten I stuck it to less than a foot. I mean, those are nice because you get up there and you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, a tap-in!’. 

“I was just proud of myself. I stuck to my game plan and hit some really close shots.”

Before today, the LET record of seven in a row was shared by Linda Wessberg (SWE), Marine Monnet-Melocco (FRA), Nicole Garcia (RSA), Kristie Smith (AUS) and Stacey Lewis (USA).

England’s Bronte Law made a sequence of nine back-to-back birdies at LET Q-School in 2018, but not during a regular-season event.

Asked how it feels to be a record-holder, Whaley, who plays on the Epson Tour and was an invite to this week’s $1million Jeddah event – won by England’s Georgia Hall – said: “It’s great! Any record you break, you want to stay there. The athlete in me just wants to break it more!”

Whaley’s birdie storm propelled her to a sixth-placed finish in Saudi, a cheque for $31,000, and a share of the course record at Royal Greens.

However, she still believes her final round score could have been even better.

She said: “I left some out there, but I’m thrilled, don’t get me wrong. I would say, even though I had a great score, there were some clubs that weren’t dialed in, and I had some mistakes. I left one in the bunker on 17 and had to kind of grind it out. So even though you have the best round of your career, there’s still mistakes, which is just the crazy part about this game. It was a good learning experience, for sure.”

Whaley – the daughter of former PGA of America President, Suzy Whaley – added: “I got here Tuesday morning, and we came here right away. This is the most beautiful course I’ve played tournament golf on this year or last year. It’s just so special. I was telling Golf Saudi and Aramco they put on an amazing event. I hope I get the opportunity to play more because this was special, and I know all the girls really appreciate everything.”

The post Whaley into LET record books with Saudi Ladies International birdie-fest appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Special Correspondent
It was a moment that will live long in the memory of golf fans around the world: Harold Varner III’s colossal 92ft eagle putt to win last month’s $5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

A month on, the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund challenged some of its biggest names to try their hand recreating the wonder-stroke. Major-winner Georgia Hall, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Olivia Cowan of Germany were just a few of the big-names to give it a try, alongside popular golf content creators Mia Baker and Sinéad McGrath, in a challenge hosted by TV favourite, Gabbie Partington.

Needless to say, they had mixed results. Enjoy!

An outrageous 90ft putt won @SaudiIntlGolf this year for @HV3_Golf ?

Can it be done again? Find out here ? https://t.co/wjHuYKIKvL pic.twitter.com/XdWI1LXt4I

— Aramco Saudi Ladies International (@AramcoLadiesInt) March 18, 2022

The post LET stars attempt to replicate HV3’s winning 92ft eagle putt at Royal Greens. The results were, ahem, mixed… appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The ground-breaking event will tee-up at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, in just over two weeks’ time – March 17-20th.

It returns with a $1million prize-purse and a superstar field led by defending champion, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.

Major-winners Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall are also KAEC-bound, as are Solheim Cup stars Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law, past-LET winners Marianne Skarpnord, Olivia Cowan, Pauline Roussin Bouchard, Steph Kyriacou and Anne van Dam, and the tournament’s debut 2020 champion, Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark.

The new date means the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF now occupies a far earlier spot on the LET calendar, taking place eight months sooner than usual in a season shake-up that will now see the Tour visit the Kingdom twice, latterly for the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah event, which returns in November.

With the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF and the Aramco Team Series expanding to five individual $1million events in 2022, this year will mark a record season for the Ladies European Tour, where its biggest ever pool of prize-money will be up for grabs.

Alexandra Armas, Ladies European Tour CEO, said: “It’s great to be heading back to Saudi Arabia for the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF – and much earlier in our schedule.

“There’s no question that every event we’ve had to date at Royal Greens has been a huge success. The Saudi Ladies International is a week all our players look forward to enormously, with the quality of field and prizemoney adding an extra edge to what is a stunning course and venue for elite tournament golf.

“We also feel the impact of our members playing in Saudi Arabia and the good that’s doing for women’s golf. We all have fond memories of our landmark first event in 2020 which inspired more than 1,000 Saudi women and girls to sign-up to learn the game for the first time over the tournament weekend. We are very proud and encouraged about what has been achieved so far and are motivated to continue inspiring more women and young girls into the game.”

Five-time LET tournament champion Marianne Skarpnord has played in both Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF events to date. The Norwegian was also the individual winner in the Tour’s debut Aramco Team Series event in London last year, another Golf Saudi-backed initiative.

She said: “When the Saudi Ladies International first got added to the LET calendar two years ago, it was a big moment for us as players as it was a huge investment in the women’s game at a time when we really needed it.

“The events have since proved to be some of the very best on Tour, with Royal Greens a spectacular place to play golf, so we all now look forward to them for so many reasons. Bring on this month – and November!”

Majed Al Sorour is Deputy Chairman and CEO of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation. He said: “We are thrilled to be once again inviting the best golfers in the world here to King Abdullah Economic City to compete in the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF.

“Our ambition with all our flagship golf events is to elevate the game on a global scale and to inspire what we see as being the first generation of homegrown golfers in Saudi Arabia. Both Saudi Ladies Internationals to date have been incredible and helped to take women’s golf to that next level, while having a direct impact on golf on the ground level here in Saudi Arabia.”

Talal Al-Marri, General Manager of Public Affairs at tournament sponsor Aramco, said: “Events like this help to break boundaries in sport and we are thrilled to be part of it. The tournament has already changed the landscape of the women’s game and it aligns with our efforts to champion female empowerment at Aramco.

“Our sponsorship also represents the continuation of our association with the sport that dates back to the 1940s, when Aramco built the first golf course in the Kingdom.”

The post Champion Lydia Ko confirmed for 2022 Aramco Saudi Ladies International as $1million LET event returns this month appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 24-year-old turned a four-stroke overnight lead into a five-shot victory with a Sunday 65 at the $1million Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF.

Thai Atthaya Thitikul finished second, the 18-year-old’s closing 66 pushing her five-clear of Carlota Ciganda (Spain) and Alice Hewson (England) and sealing the LET’s season-long Race to Costa del Sol champion in her rookie year.

But this was Ko’s moment. The Korean-born Kiwi birdied the 1st at Royal Greens Golf & Country and never looked back, finishing -23. But she did look forward after her sixth LET triumph in the second edition of the Golf Saudi sanctioned event.

In its inaugural year, the Kingdom boasted fewer than 20 female players but the event inspired 1200 women and girls to sign-up to learn golf over its four days, all through Golf Saudi’s world-first free golf initiative, the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco.

“Hopefully, with the tournament being on here for the last couple of years, more and more women have the courage to take up golf and want to, in the future, come and play this event,” said Ko.

“It was really cool meeting a few of the Ladies First Club members over these past few days and to them, I’d just say keep working hard and show the power of women.”

? GO GO LYDIA KO ?

After a final day score of 65 (-7) Lydia Ko is the @aramcoladiesint Champion ?

What a sensational Saudi performance ?#RaiseOurGame | #SaudiLadiesIntl pic.twitter.com/lTVL1sLGaQ

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 7, 2021

After ending a near three-year title drought at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship in April, the pressure has lifted from the former world No.1’s shoulders.

“When I was out there I was just trying to play the best golf I can,” Ko said of her final day strategy.

“I knew a lot of the top names were playing well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I just tried to have my share of them, have fun out there and enjoy the experience at Royal Greens.

“It helps going into the final round and you have a four-shot cushion, as we could possibly shoot the same score but I still have those shots from the last three days. I birdied the first hole then holed two really good putts for par on two and three and I think that kind of set my momentum and I just tried to not look back and keep going forward. I’m delighted to have won.”

Thitikul was pretty chuffed too even if Ko never gave her a sniff of victory.

“It was a good fight today. I just did my best out there but Lydia Ko is just the best – brilliant. She was really good with her putting, her approach shots, everything she did this week. I will definitely learn from her to get better myself,” said Thitikul.

Atthaya Thitikul.

“It’s an honour and really an amazing feeling for me to win the Race to the Costa del Sol this year, on my rookie year as well. Words cannot describe it.”

On her shared third-place finish – secured with a closing day four-under-par 68 – Spain’s Ciganda said: “I played pretty solid. I hit a lot of fairways and lots of greens. I didn’t make as many putts as I would’ve liked to but some weeks they go in and some weeks they don’t. I’m happy with the week – Lydia and Atthaya played incredible.

“It’s been a great week. I love the course and think it’s a great set-up for us. Everything’s been great – the hospitality, the hotel. I know it’s a little bit hot but it’s a great place and it’s been great for Saudi women and Saudi sports to have a women’s golf tournament like this.”

England’s Hewson added: “I’ve had a really great week. I struggled a little bit off the tee the first few days but straightened things out today. I’m delighted with third. This is probably one of the strongest fields we’ve played this year with a lot of LPGA girls here this week, so I’m very happy.”

The Ladies European Tour action continues in Saudi Arabia later this week with the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah, the last of four new $1million team tournaments added to the Tour this season and taking place at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Nov. 10-12.

Lydia Ko wins the @AramcoLadiesInt by five shots on -23 ?

All final scores ??#RaiseOurGame | #SaudiLadiesIntl

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) November 7, 2021

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