The 5th edition of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is underway at the Riyadh Golf Club.
This year’s tournament is headlined by No. 3 Ruoning Yin, No. 4 Jeeno Thitikul, ninth-ranked Charley Hull and defending champion Patty Tavatanakit, who ranks 25th.
Already a well-established stop on the Ladies European Tour (LET), this year’s tournament also has a brand new title sponsor in the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). PIF is also a presenting partner of the LET’s Aramco Team Series*, a series of four team tournaments which each offer a prize purse of US$2 million.
The $5 million purse is the largest outside of the women’s golf majors and select LPGA tour events.
This year’s Saudi Ladies International also has a new team format. Out of the 112 golfers competing, 28 teams will also compete over the first two days for a $500,000 prize. The teams have been drafted in advance. The top 60 players, along with any ties from the initial rounds, will advance to the final round, where they will compete for the grand prize of $4.5 million.
Top ranked players competing the Saudi Ladies International:
3. Ruoning ‘Ronni’ Yin
4. Jeeno Thitikul
9. Charley Hull
22. Linn Grant
23. Patty Tavatanakit
25. Ina Yoon
30. Esther Henseleit
33. Akie Iwai
39. Carlota Ciganda
44. Ariya Jutanugarn
Korea’s Somi Lee leads after the first day of the event, shooting 7-under-par 65.
Australian Stephanie Kyriacou combined with Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Czechia’s Sara Kouskova, and England’s Liz Young to take the team lead at -17.
