(L to R) Camilla Lennarth, Annabel Dimmock, Amy Boulden and Franziska Friedrich
Four fully-sanctioned Ladies European Tour (LET) tournaments, each carrying a USD$1 million prize fund, are set to take place across three continents this year thanks to an agreement with Aramco Team Series and Golf Saudi. The first tournament of the brand new Aramco Team Series will be held in New York, followed by one in London, then Singapore. The season will then culminate in a finale at the Royal Greens and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, situated near Jeddah.
#Aramco is sponsoring the “Aramco Team Series”, organized by @Golf_Saudi to support women’s sport and promote quality of life#LadiesFirst pic.twitter.com/rVtkUVbwit
— Aramco (@Aramco) February 3, 2021
The investment by Aramco, as the headline sponsor, along with Golf Saudi and the support of other Saudi partners makes Saudi Arabia one of the biggest backers of the women’s game. The series is a significant step forward for Saudi and women’s sport and follows the uber successful Aramco Saudi Ladies International. Presented by the Public Investment Fund at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, the maiden event, which was the first-ever regular tour one where scores of amateur competitors have a direct bearing on the final result, took place in November 2020.
“This is fantastic news for global sport, for women’s golf and for Saudi Arabia. Following the success of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, we are committed to building the women’s game and promoting female participation in sport in Saudi Arabia,” His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said. “I hope this series inspires people of all cultures and backgrounds to take up the sport and generate enthusiasm for the great game of golf.”
We continue our support to sports and promote a better quality of life through sponsoring the Saudi International Golf Tournament #SaudiIntlGolf
— Aramco (@Aramco) February 1, 2021
#Aramco@SaudiIntlGolf pic.twitter.com/kGiNnXlzOp
Ahmed A. Al-Subaey, Aramco Vice President of Marketing, Sales & Supply Planning, said through Aramco’s patronage of women’s golf, the global integrated energy and chemicals company aims to improve gender equity and “set the stage for future generations of female sports stars.” He added it is another example of Aramco’s diversity and inclusion pledge, which can be confirmed with their talented female work force that includes scientists and engineers.
2020 Saudi Ladies Team International Winning Team
The four tournaments will form an important part of a record-breaking LET schedule, which is set to be announced soon. Teams of four will compete in the tournaments, each one played over 54 holes. Captains will recruit one fellow Tour pro through a draft system similar to the NFL and NBA. Another Tour professional will be selected at random, while all teams will include one amateur player. Prize money for the winning team will be split between its three pro members.
