Sotogrande Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

WATCH: Highlights from Day 2 of the LET Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande

Matt Smith — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 11:39:50 +0000

By Matt Smith
Jessica Korda landed the team title and carved out a sizeable lead in the individual event on Day 2 of the Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande on the LAdies European Tour at La Reserva Club in Spain.

Watch the highlights below:

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Ladies European Tour: Jessica Korda out to make history at Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande

Matt Smith — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 11:14:56 +0000

By Matt Smth
Jessica Korda is on something of a roll in Spain as she maintained her push for a historic Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande double thanks to a second-round 68 at La Reserva Club de Sotogrande.

She already has secured one of the two titles on offer, having led her quartet to victory in the team event.

And on Saturday the US star will go in search of individual glory after following up her stunning opening-day 61 with another excellent effort that leaves her at 15-under-par, six clear at the top from Pauline Roussin.

Korda, 29, started day two at the 10th hole and traded a birdie brace for a pair of bogeys as she went out in level-par for the day.

But she regained something of that first-day magic on her back nine, recording four birdies — including three on the spin from the fourth.

It left her in near-complete control of the tournament with just 18 holes left and she was understandably very happy with her position after two days.

“It’s awesome,” said Korda. “I had a really good round yesterday and was able to play well today. What happened yesterday wasn’t even on my mind. Just the way that the golf course was playing, it was not the same at all.

“The wind was up, we played earlier, the turnaround was really short, just a completely different day. It was tough out there to play. I made the turn at even par, which I wasn’t too pleased about but I settled in nicely on the back and made some putts.”

After an early start to her day Korda admitted she was off to catch up on some sleep rather than keep tabs on her afternoon pursuers. When asked if she’d look be looking at the leaderboard, she offered a prompt response — “for my tee-time.”

Korda will be joined in the last group out by Roussin — and also her sister Nelly. The younger Korda made a couple of late gains to get to eight-under, one back from Roussin who signed off with an eight-foot birdie putt at the last.

More: Chiara Noja named Golf Saudi ambassador
WATCH: Highlights from Day 1 of Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande
Jessica Korda smashes course record at ATS — Sotogrande
Chiara Noja set for Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande

Roussin — after her 68 — said: “It was a good round and I’m happy I finished with a birdie to finish on a good note, especially putting-wise. It’s golf – anything can happen. I’m just going to keep doing my thing.”

Fourth-placed Palaez heads up the Spanish challenge on seven-under-par after tagging a second-round 69 to her first-day 68. And she certainly has not given up on rising to the summit.

The Malaga golfer said: “I still have 18 holes. Nothing is impossible. Maybe I have my 12-under round, I don’t know…”

Jessica Korda’s quartet won the team event with a 33-under-par total, one better than runners-up led by Roussin.

Korda also captained the winning side in the Aramco Team Series New York last October. In Spain she was partnered by Tereza Melecka, Noora Komulainen and amateur Malcolm Borwick, who is an English international polo star.

Korda said: “I think we just really had a good vibe out there. We tried to keep it as light as possible. Everyone played and contributed. When somebody was out, another person had their back – the beauty of team golf. Malcolm played great. I think he shot the lowest round he’s ever shot today, which is phenomenal. He was just a joy to be around and brought such a positive outlook on everything.”

Borwick, who received four strokes said: “I’ve had an incredible couple of days. I’m going to go back to playing polo. The nerves you get playing tournament golf is aging me as the days go by. But it’s been incredible. Playing with the girls, frankly the level of professionalism and the purity with which they hit the ball consistently is amazing.”

On Satiurday, Korda will aim to create a little piece of history by winning both of the titles on offer at Aramco Team Series event.

There is a new format this year for the Aramco Team Series, which launched in 2021. 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 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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Dubai-based Spaniard Adri Arnaus backs LET Aramco Team Series as the way forward

Matt Smith — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 12:09:56 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai-based Spaniard Adri Arnaus is over in his home country at the moment to take in the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande event.

The ground-breaking $1 million team and individual competition is being held at La Reserva Club in Cadiz this week and Arnaus is already impressed with the set-up and format.

The DP World Tour star and 2018 Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final winner played in a charity match to raise funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation on Wednesday alongside fellow Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, renowned chef Dani Garcia and Carmen Ballesteros, daughter of the legendary golfer Seve.

“I have to say it’s pretty impressive,” Arnaus said. “Every player I talk to, they are thrilled to be part of this event because there are very good fields and also the organisation is second to none. I think they feel special when they come around. Also playing courses like this is a very good treat for them. I think they are doing a great job and I’m happy for the ladies’ tour and I’m sure it’s going to be a growing relationship.”

Arnaus, who achieved his breakthrough DP World win earlier this year at the Catalunya Championship, was inspired as a youngster by Spanish stars such as Seve Ballesteros.

Role models such as Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz have done a similar job for aspiring female golfers in the country. Arnaus believes that the future is bright in terms of more Spanish girls emerging on the world stage in years to come.

He added: “I am quite familiar with the way of raising female golf in Spain. It’s fantastic. They’ve always done a good job starting from Carlota, Azahara — all these big names that we’ve been able to have. And I’m sure there’s going to be many more. Maybe some amateurs right now that I know and a few others that are already about to make their click — so, for sure, there’s good names coming through.”

The Aramco Team Series tournaments are famed for their unique format, in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player, with the teams competing over 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 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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Ladies European Tour: Jessica Korda smashes La Reserva course record at Aramco Team Series Sotogrande

Matt Smith — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 08:16:46 +0000

By Matt Smith
It was meant to be a sight-seeing trip to Spain of sorts for the Korda sisters as they played in the country for the first time. The American siblings Nelly and Jessica arrived in Spain to compete in the innovative Ladies European Tour Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande to get a feel for the place ahead of the 2023 Solheim Cup at nearby Finca Cortesín next September.

So even the world Nos. 3 and 14 did not expect to light up La Reserva Club in Cadiz in such spectacular fashion.

Younger sister Nelly was first to hit the front of the pack — sitting seven-under with four to play and one stroke ahead of Belgium’s Manon de Roey. However, a double-bogey seven on the sixth — her 15th — stalled that progress and she had to settle for a five-under 67.

Nelly Korda at the Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande. LET

Enter Jessica.
The 29-year-old had an afternoon start and simply carved her way through the field with a course-record 11-under-par 61.

The American went on an amazing scoring spree as she made no fewer than three eagles in smashing the ladies’ course record – and equalling the all-time low round on the LET.

She raced to seven-under inside seven holes with the help of eagles at the par-5 second and sixth holes. The birdies were flowing, too, and the only time she ever came under serious pressure was on the eighth where she visited the water off the tee. But Korda escaped with a bogey before normal service was resumed on the back nine as she collected further gains at the 10th, 11th and 13th.

To cap a stunning round she made a third eagle, rolling home a 15-foot putt at the 16th before closing out with pars to beat the previous course best by four shots.

It equalled the lowest 18-hole score of Korda’s professional career and she as a more-than-comfortable overnight lead of five strokes from De Roey and Pia Babnik.

MORE: Korda sisters ready for Aramco Team Series challenge

The Korda quartet, featuring Tereza Melecka, Noora Komulainen and amateur Malcolm Borwick, also lead the team event on 19-under-par.

“It was an awesome round.’ Jessica said. “These rounds are spectacular — you cherish every single one that you have. Just when things go right, they go right. I’ve never made three eagles in a round, so I’m definitely going to remember this one.

“We had a great vibe in the group and so I was really relaxed. It’s probably the first round in about three weeks that wasn’t 20mph winds. That was really nice, just to be able to settle into the golf course. I was just keeping it in play and giving myself opportunities and converting a lot of those. For the last month, I think I just haven’t really been converting any putts and the floodgates opened today.”

Korda was actually suffering with a sore throat during her first-round blitz but joked: “If I was feeling physically good, who knows what would’ve happened — probably over par!”

De Roey and Babnik underlined that they are Aramco Team Series specialists with strong opening-day displays. De Roey, 30, clinched her first LET title when she won the Aramco Team Series — Bangkok in May and is in contention again after packing seven birdies into her first round.

The Belgian star said: “I just love Aramco events. When you play good as a team — if people support you — it pumps my game as well. I am very happy with my round today. I had a lot of birdies. I couldn’t wish for a better start for the first day.”

Babnik, who won the ATS in Jeddah last November, kept a flawless card in mounting a strong start to the tournament. The Slovenian, 18, said: “I hit many good shots. I’m really happy with my putting today because I made some long putts. Everything came together.”

Nelly and France’s Pauline Roussin are at five-under, while Ana Palaez heads the home challenge after a solid 68.

The competition was hot in the team event with Jessica’s quartet hold a slender lead at 19-under-par. Teams De Roey and Roussin are a stroke back on 18-under-par.

Starring in the Roussin team was 14-year-old Ana Luisa Hernandez. The Madrid teenager, receiving eight strokes, made a pair of twos — one for a net eagle — to really impress her captain.

Roussin said: “Ana played amazing. She hit it far for her age and her size and she had a good short game, very good putting. She helped us out a lot.”

Hernandez added: “It was a really good experience, definitely something I’m never going to forget – I had a great time.”

There is a new format this year for the Aramco Team Series, which launched in 2021. 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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Dubai teen Chiara Noja gears up for LET Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande challenge as captains set their teams

Matt Smith — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 08:16:58 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai teen star Chiara Noja is raring to go for the Ladies European Tour Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande competition this week at La Reserva in Spain, having discovered her teammates in the draft.

The 16-year-old German, who plays out of Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, was selected by 2021 Sotogrande individual champion Alison Lee at the ceremony on Tuesday evening and will tee it up alongside the 27-year-old American and French star Manon Gidali, who won the 2021 South African Ladies Open.

Each team is made up of four players — three professionals and one amateur — with the captains getting one pick in the draft and they are then allotted one random professional and one amateur to make up their quartet for the weekend.

Noja has hit the headlines this year as she has soared to the top of the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit rankings in her first year as a pro, with nine top-10 finishes and an outright runaway victory at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge.

“Really looking forward to playing on Team Lee,” Noja posted on Twitter along with a video of her practising on the range at La Reserva.

Really looking forward to competing in Team @alisonlee @Aramco_Series @lareservaclub_ pic.twitter.com/QEHSReiE3j

— Chiara Noja (@thechiaranoja) August 17, 2022

The young team will have their work cut out if they are to taste success this week as a host of big names are in town, including the Korda sisters Nelly and Jessica, Solheim Cup hero Anna Nordqvist, 2022 Aramco London champ Bronte Law, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Linn Grant, Olivia Cowen and local hero Carlota Ciganda.

Noja’s fellow German Cowan selected Isabella Deilert as her captain’s pick and another Dubai-based star — Czech Kristyna Napoleaova — completes the pro side of her team.

“Isabella is a good friend of mine and she’s playing really well at the moment, so, yeah, she was my first pick so I was really happy she was still available,” said Cowan. “I think it helps when you have a friend on the team that you can just have a good laugh with. When you’re having a good time good golf follows, so think that it’s definitely a key.”

The captains have made their picks ? What a week we're in for ?

Which team are you backing? ?

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) August 16, 2022

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Nelly and Jessica Korda ready for Aramco Team Series challenge in Sotogrande

Matt Smith — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 10:18:30 +0000

By Matt Smith
American superstar sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda are set for their Spanish debut as they join the field for the for Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande this week.

The third event in the 2022 ATS season sees the players return to La Reserva Club, and the Korda siblings will be joining them for their first ever tournament in Spain.

Having just arrived in the country, World No. 3 Nelly and No. 14 Jessica have yet to get out and about, but plan to squeeze in a bit of sight-seeing along with the business side of affairs.

“I haven’t gotten much time to explore,” said Nelly at the press conference on Tuesday. “Hopefully maybe tomorrow. I’m really excited to kind of explore Spain a little bit since it is our first time here.

“But it’s beautiful. Pretty much all that I’ve seen is the hotel and the golf course. I got to play the front nine yesterday, and it’s really, really nice. Windy, but really nice.”

MORE: Ciganda targets Spanish success at Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande

Nelly just missed out on victory at the ATS event in New York last year, and is eager to get out and enjoy the team format once again.

“I think it’s a super exciting format,” she said. “It’s always really exciting when you kind of get to do something a little different, a little unique. I think it brings in a little bit of new energy.

“I definitely enjoyed my time in New York, and I was really excited to come here to Sotogrande, especially I’ve heard so many great things about Spain and the golf course.

“I think it’s always fun to do something a little different. It’s kind of exciting to do something a little different throughout the year when you’ve played so many events.

“Every event that I play in I try to play my best and get to the top of the leaderboard. Sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn’t. But I always try and get there. So it would be nice to get the victory, as it would be any week.”

The Kordas are in town ?? pic.twitter.com/NaPbKoAA0E

— Aramco Team Series (@Aramco_Series) August 16, 2022

Jessica herself was the victorious team captain in New York, and she is keen to repeat the experience at the $1 million event.

“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s always fun to see people who really never come out a professional golf event. It was really fun and just so different to what we normally have. It was just such a cool experience. And then playing with a team, it’s just different than what we normally do week in, week out, so like Nelly says, you kind of shake it off a little bit. It’s just really fun to do that. I am excited to be here and have a very cool experience.”

Each team is made up of four players — three professionals and one amateur.

Both Jessica and Nelly are team captains, meaning they get one pick in the draft and are then allotted one random professional and one amateur to make up their quartet for the weekend.

“I think there are more team captains than they were in New York, so there is obviously less players to choose from,” said Jessica before admitting: “I’m not really familiar with some of the players that are on the list, so it’s just something that my caddie and I are going to kind of wing. I think I saw that Nelly and I are choosing -— or Nelly is choosing last and I’m second to last — so probably we’ll have to cross some players off.”

“At the end of the day we just really want to have fun out there and enjoy our time here, because that’s the whole point of this event.

Nelly added: “At the end of the day, you’re always just trying to grow the game of golf, get more people interested, show them it’s super exciting. I think this, the Aramco Team Series does that perfectly.”

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Aramco Team Series returns to Sotogrande, with in-form Ciganda targeting more Spanish success

Matt Smith — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 06:26:46 +0000

By Matt Smith
Carlota Ciganda is no stranger to winning in her home country of Spain of late and now she has set her sights on adding August’s Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande to her collection.

The 32-year-old claimed a wire-to-wire victory on home soil in the Ladies European Tour Estrella Damm Ladies Open outside Barcelona in July — and needed all her experience and nerve to hold off a pack including Scotland’s Laura Beveridge, Swedish pair Maja Stark and Elin Arvidsson and Argentine Magdalena Simmermacher. That followed up on her success at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de Espana last November.

The Pamplona native burst on to the Ladies European Tour scene with a flourish as she bagged the Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and Order of Merit titles as she made her bow in 2012 — claiming her first two titles in the Netherlands and China in the process.

Ciganda has never looked back, adding a further six top-flight crowns on the LPGA and LET series, registering five top-5 finishes in the majors, and winning the Solheim Cup three times in five appearances for Team Europe.

Now she has found her way back to the top of the podium with perfect timing ahead of a key part of the 2022 season thanks to her Estrella Damm victory just outside Barcelona, and nothing gives her more satisfaction and motivation than playing in her native Spain.

With two majors — the Amundi Evian Championship in Spain and the AIG Women’s Open in Scotland — taking place in quick succession ahead of the Sotogrande Aramco team competition back in Spain from August 18 to 20, it will be a busy time for Ciganda in Europe for the next month or so.

“I love playing in Spain,” she told Golf Digest Middle East. “It is great to get that home support, especially just now as there are quite a few events going on and I always seem to do quite well. When I won last year and even last week I had lots of family and lots of friends around me on and off the course, so it is always a lot of fun to aver that added element.

“Playing in front of them is always great and I can’t wait to be back playing at Sotogrande in the Aramco event.

“The team event is a great addition. I played last year in Saudi and it is a fun time, playing in teams over the three days. So I am excited to get there and get going.”

Tristan Jones / LET

Having been around for more than a decade now, Ciganda is thrilled to see the likes of the LET finally get the prize money and recognition she believes it has deserved for some time now, with the Aramco events and Saudi funding help boost purses and attract the top players. For example, the LPGA’s superstar sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda have signed up for Sotogrande at La Reserva Club and they will compete in Spain for the first time.

“I think that Aramco is great for women’s golf,” she said. “These five $1 million events on the LET are great for the tour and for the girls, bringing in more elite competition along the way.”

However, she insists more needs to be done.

“I would like to see more money on the LET tour. I know they have the events now, they did not have that many top-class events a couple of years ago, so if they can get some more money in to reflect that quality it would be great.

“But these five or so Aramco events are a great start in raising the standard and exposure of the women’s game.

“It is a fun format and something different, and the way we are looked after is great.”

The Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande is the third of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar this season, following May’s Bangkok opener and June’s London event. Sotogrande will be followed by Aramco Team Series events in New York and Jeddah, all of which are played to a unique format in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

Before all that, Ciganda will be contending at the Evian before heading to Scotland for a different challenge in the Women’s Scottish Open and the AIG Women’s Open, both played on links terrain that the Spaniard is not used to.

“I have had a few days off after winning the Estrella and now I am back practising. I am excited for the coming weeks playing in Europe as we have the Evian, which I am very excited about,” she said.

“It will be good to play the Scottish Open at Dundonald as a warm-up to the Open at Muirfield as they are both links courses. I hear Muirfield is a pretty tough course, so any preparation I can get will be good. I am excited for the challenge.”

Tristan Jones / LET

For a Spaniard more familiar with parkland courses, it certainly will be a challenge.

“I am used to playing the tree-lined courses in Europe, but obviously sometimes you have to play the links,” Ciganda added. “It is just more creative golf. You have to know how far the ball is rolling, plus all the different bounces you can get on a links course compared to the relative flat parklands. It is a fun, different challenge. We are not used to it but it is good for your game to challenge yourself on different courses and set-ups. If you are pushing yourself it can only be a good thing.”

And Ciganda is ready to put her experience to good use.

“I have 10-11 years on tour now and obviously that experience helps me,” she said. “I would say the level is going up and up and it is harder to win tournaments — on the LPGA, for sure. But I still see myself with chances and I always like to win again on the LPGA. So I just keep practising and working hard so I can get another win. That is always the goal.”

With a small Armada of Spanish stars already signed up for Sotogrande, team captain Ciganda was put on the spot when asked who she would opt for as her skipper’s pick with the likes of Nuria Iturrioz, Maria Hernandez, Carmen Alonso, Paz Marfa Sans, Elena Hualde, Elia Folch, Harang Lee, Luna Sobron Galmes, Marta Martin and Marta Perez taking part. Joining them will be Ana Peláez Triviño, the 2022 Madrid Women’s Open champion, who turned professional only a year ago at the debut Aramco Team Series — Sotogrande.

“Oh, I haven’t thought about it too much,” Ciganda confessed. “I guess I would like to play with one of the top Spanish players. It is always nice to speak the same language and have those things in common so hopefully I can get one of those girls.”

With individual and team honours to go for, regardless of whom she picks, Ciganda will be on hand to pass on her expertise and tips to the next generation.

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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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Golf Saudi’s innovative new Aramco Team Series, a fiscal game changer for the LET, proved an instant hit in London

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 10:20:36 +0000

Photos by Tristan Jones

If Dame Laura Davies deserves anything from her World Golf Hall of Fame career it is to be heard and especially so when the subject is the very future of the women’s game.

The 57-year-old Englishwoman might be a prolific champion with 85 wins worldwide but is not prone to hyperbole. All of which made her effusive praise of the Aramco Team Series worthy of repeating after the innovative concept’s debut in London last month.

“The more forward-thinking sponsors we get like this the better,” the four-time major champion said of the Kingdom’s petroleum and natural gas company which is backing the series’ four tournaments in London, Sotogrande (Aug 5-7), New York (Oct 14-16) and King Abdullah Economic City (near Jeddah, Nov 10-12) to the tune of US$4 million.

“They are doing an absolutely cracking job for us. And what they’ll hopefully do is make all the other sponsors move the bar up and realise that 108 pros cannot exist on a €200,000 tournament. I know times are hard and everything, but there’s not much to go round with that kind of prize fund.

“We are not asking every sponsor obviously to put a million euros in – or million dollars as it is this time – but it is just encouraging other sponsors who are doing such a great job.”

“Everything has to be viable – they [sponsors] have to have a tournament that works for them as well as the players. Maybe other sponsors will want to get a bit closer to the Aramcos of this world.”

Owned by Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation and sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET), the Aramco Team Series sees the LET’s best players and invited LPGA Tour stars team up with an amateur golfers to compete for a $1m prize fund at each venue.

The series employs a NBA-style draft system where selected team captains pick one pro teammate before being allocated a third via a random draw as well as amateur golfer who could end up putting for a major payday for their three professional team-mates. As well as competing for the team trophy, the professionals also vie for an individual title which carries Rolex (World) Rankings and Solheim Cup points, as well as being an integral part of the LET’s season-long Race to Costa del Sol money race.

Golf Saudi CEO Majed Al Sorour

Davies’ comments didn’t go unnoticed by Majed Al Sorour at the Centurion Club. The Golf Saudi CEO is adamant the Aramco Team Series is an important moment for not only golf but women’s sport.

“It’s encouraging to hear these kinds of comments from Laura,” said Al Sorour. “Golf Saudi is a champion of women’s sport and we hope our support of the Aramco Team Series events will make a big difference to the sustainability of women’s golf; something which is aligned to the ongoing women’s sporting movement in Saudi as part of Vision 2030.

“As is the case across global sport, women’s golf really does lag behind the men’s game in terms of prize money and exposure. Aramco’s continued commitment in golf across the next few years can hopefully provide the catalyst for other international backers to invest in the game and change this.

“We truly feel this could be one of the most exciting and innovative event formats in women’s sport today. We’re attracting the biggest names in women’s golf and shaking things up globally with the US sport style ‘draft’ and walk-on music. We’re always trying to innovate and make the game more appealing.”

Enhanced global broadcast coverage is part of Aramco commitment, now the most significant sponsor on the LET.

“The more broadcast exposure we can give women’s sport the better – we’re excited to see the Aramco Team Series being shown in 60 countries over the coming months,” Al Sorour continued.

Trailblazers

For the record, German Olivia Cowan captained her foursome to victory in the teams event in London while Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord captured the individual title in a playoff.

JA the Resort Ambassador Cowan led Sarina Schmidt, Diksha Dagar and amateur Andrew Kelsey to victory by three strokes from Team Skarpnord. It was a maiden LET title for Cowan who produced the pivotal shot of the final round, holing out for eagle from 72 metres with her 56 degree wedge to send her team back to the summit of the leaderboard.

Amateur Andy Kelsey, Captain Olivia Cowan, Sarina Schmidt, and Diksha Dagar

“I can’t put it in words how amazing it is. To share it with one of my best friends is just incredible as well,” Cowan said after selecting Schmidt. “I got really lucky with my team. I knew I wanted to pick Sarina two weeks ago and then to have Diksha on the team as well – I knew she was a great player and that she could hole some putts – so, I knew we had a good chance.

“We all just complemented each other. We were all so great out there – we are a proper team. We weren’t looking out to win the individual, we were going out there as a team to win the team event and that’s paid off.”

Skarpnord’s consolation was victory in the individual event although she was made to work for it after carding a superb closing round of 68 – five-under – to tie Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul on 13-under-par.

Marianne Skarpnord

A drained 12ft birdie putt on the Centurion Club’s 18th hole saw the Norwegian clinch her fifth LET title at the first time of calling in sudden death.

“It was won with a lot of nerves,” Skarpnord said afterwards. “On the short putts, my hands were nearly shaking. To win this event is very special. I think this concept is so, so good and we’ve had so much fun this week. I love the format. It’s so much fun when you’re a team and you have to do well for someone else as well, not just yourself.”

On to Spain

The series moves to the La Reserva Club, near Marbella, with a host of European Solheim Cup heroes set to up the ante. In for the three-day event in Sotogrande come Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Bronte Law, along with their winning 2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew. The Scot won’t mind the unique team format as she runs the rule over some key players ahead of September’s rematch with the U.S.

Women’s PGA Championship runner-up and four-time US Solheim Cup player Lizette Salas and Alison Lee will head the American challenge in Spain while Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and Lindsey Weaver, the 2013 and 2018 LPGA Rookies of the Year respectively, are others to watch.

Charley Hull is eyeing Sotogrande

Skarpnord is back too and can’t wait to kick on from London.

“It was awesome to win and go down in history as this tournament’s first-ever winner. London was so much fun so I already can’t wait to do it again in Sotogrande next month.

“Events like the Aramco Team Series go to prove that so much great work is being done to elevate women’s golf, so I know the opportunities I have available for these magical moments are only growing, which is fantastic – and great to be a part of.”

Dame Laura Davies happily concurs.

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