Latest news with #PIFSaudiLadiesInternational
CairoScene
11-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
PIF Launches USD 13 Million Women's Golf Series in Riyadh in 2025
The PIF Global Series features five events across three continents, offering one of the largest prize pools in women's golf. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been announced as the title partner of a newly restructured international women's golf series on the Ladies European Tour (LET), further expanding its investment in global sport and reinforcing its commitment to elevating women's athletic opportunities. 'These tournaments are well supported by our members through their end-to-end event experiences and competitive environments. This investment from PIF continues to raise the level of competition and commitment to the women's game, to ensure our players have the best possible opportunities to develop and succeed on the world stage,' Alexandra Armas, CEO of Ladies European Tour, tells SceneNowSaudi. Launched in collaboration with Golf Saudi, the PIF Global Series will feature five tournaments throughout 2025, with events scheduled across Asia, Europe and North America. The series will open in Riyadh with the PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club from February 13th to the 15th, 2025. This flagship event will offer a prize purse of USD 5 million, positioning it among the highest-paying tournaments in women's professional golf. Each of the remaining four events will feature a prize purse of USD 2 million, bringing the total series prize pool to USD 13 million. Alongside the Riyadh stop, tournaments will be held in Seoul, London, Houston and Shenzhen. The format will combine individual and team play, introducing a fresh competitive structure to the LET calendar. "The new PIF Global Series is another huge moment for the LET, as it continues to grow and offer more opportunities for players to play and win in amazing events around the world,' England's Charley Hull and Golf Saudi ambassador said. 'Golf Saudi and PIF have proven to be real game changers for women's golf, once again backing up their commitment to creating equal opportunities and raising the bar for the players. This marks another step in PIF's broader strategy to support women's sport on a global scale, following previous efforts through Golf Saudi and the Aramco Team Series.
Leaders
08-05-2025
- Business
- Leaders
PIF Drives Women's Golf Revolution with New Global Series Partnership
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) solidifies its role as a trailblazer in women's sports by announcing its title partnership today of a revamped global series. This initiative, unveiled in collaboration with Golf Saudi, elevates the Ladies European Tour (LET) through innovative formats. The series also introduces record-breaking prize money, setting new standards for women's golf worldwide. The newly named PIF Global Series features five tournaments across three continents in 2025. Additionally, each event adopts a novel format that includes both team and individual competitions. Notably, four of the tournaments will offer a prize purse of $2 million, which ranks among the highest in women's golf. The PIF Saudi Ladies International has been added to the 2025 tournament roster, strengthening the series' position. This event stands as a key fixture alongside the regular LET schedule and major competitions. The PIF Saudi Ladies International offers an impressive prize purse of $5 million, making it one of the largest in women's professional golf. Schedule of the PIF Global Series Events The five events comprising the PIF Global Series are as follows: PIF Saudi Ladies International: Riyadh Golf Club, Riyadh (12-15 February, 2025) Aramco Korea Championship: New Korea Country Club, Seoul, South Korea (9-11 May, 2025) PIF Championship: Centurion Club, London (8-10 August, 2025) Aramco Houston Championship: TBC, Houston (5-7 September, 2025) Aramco Shenzhen Championship: Mission Hills, Shenzhen, China (6-8 November, 2025) Today's announcement reinforces PIF's role as a prominent supporter of women's sports globally. The organization breaks down barriers, addresses critical challenges, and drives a promising future for women in sports. Voices of the Game Alanoud Althonayan, Head of Events and Sponsorships at PIF, stated, 'PIF continues to be a catalyst for the growth of women's sports. We are committed to delivering long-term transformative impact by inspiring and empowering female athletes at every level.' Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, expressed, 'We are humbled to partner with PIF to grow the women's game locally and globally. Hosting international tournaments has significantly boosted local interest, with over 6,000 individuals registering for our free 'GoGolf' lesson program.' Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, added, 'Our members strongly support these tournaments through their event experiences and competitive environments. This partnership with PIF raises the level of competition and commitment to the women's game.' Excitement from Golf Saudi Ambassador England's Charley Hull, Golf Saudi ambassador, remarked, 'The new PIF Global Series marks a huge moment for the LET. It continues to grow and offer more opportunities for players to compete and win globally. Golf Saudi and PIF have proven to be game changers for women's golf, creating equal opportunities and raising the bar for players.' Hull expressed her enthusiasm, stating, 'I can't wait to tee it up at series events throughout the year and inspire more young people to take up golf.' With its innovative formats and historic investments, the PIF Global Series redefines women's golf. As the series unfolds, it solidifies Saudi Arabia's role as a trailblazer in global sports development. Short link : Post Views: 17
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lydia Ko clinches 23rd career LPGA title in Singapore, eyes 'even better' 2025
Lydia Ko clinches 23rd career LPGA title in Singapore, eyes 'even better' 2025 Lydia Ko had a dream on Saturday night that she'd won the HSBC Women's World Championship, only to wake up and realize, "Dang, it's not real yet." But Ko has been watching her dreams come to life for many years now, with the latest unfolding in Singapore. The 27-year-old Kiwi cruised to a four-stroke victory at Sentosa Golf Club over World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and Japan's Ayaka Furue. It marked Ko's first victory in 11 starts at the HSBC and her 23rd career LPGA title. "I think when you come to the same tournament, the same kind of venue, you get to know the people here," said Ko. 'I've made some great friendships and some junior girls that always come with signs with my name on it. They truly make it very memorable. Sometimes I've had good weeks out here, and sometimes I haven't played so well. "But regardless of whether I'm teeing off No. 1 or No. 10 or what time, they are always there for me. I think that's been the special thing about this event." Ko's closing 69 included three consecutive birdies on Nos. 6-8 to pull further ahead and then a 40-foot bomb on No. 15 to lead by four with three to play. The only player in the field to record three rounds in the 60s during a windy week in Singapore, the Kiwi finished at 13-under 275 for the tournament. Ko said she'd actually hit that same putt on the par-3 15th three times during the practice round and remembers saying she hoped she wouldn't have that same putt in the tournament. "That's why I think practice rounds are really important," said Ko, "and even though it is a golf course that I've played frequently, you just want to get a better idea of how greens are rolling and with the speed and slope as well. "In this case, my bad practice round putts ended up being effective as a good putt in the tournament." Charley Hull, playing in the final group alongside Thitikul and Ko, struggled to a closing 74 to drop into a share of fourth, six strokes back. After winning the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the LET to kickstart her 2025 season, Thitikul finished solo third in her LPGA season debut back home in Thailand. Her second-round 72 in Singapore snapped a streak of rounds under par on the LPGA at 32, leaving her two rounds shy of Jin Young Ko's record of 34. Thitikul's runner-up finish at Sentosa marks her 10th consecutive top-10 finish on the LPGA, dating to the 2024 FM Championship. "I'm just the type of person, not go like high-high and not go like low-low," said Thitikul. "That's the most important that I really want to keep it because the more really consistent that you are, it's giving you a good chance every week." Ko's winner's check of $360,000 moved her to second on the LPGA's career money list with $20,595,105. She edged ahead of Karrie Webb ($20,293,105) and remains behind only Annika Sorenstam ($22,583,693). The winningest active player on tour, Ko became the youngest member to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame under its currently criteria after her victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She then quickly added her third career major title at the AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews. Ko has become quite the closer over the years, winning five of her last seven events when holding a 54-hole lead. "You have such an incredible year, and you kind of think, is it going to be another good year, the following one?" asked Ko. "But I think I just kind of came to peace with it that if I have a good year, you know, that's great. But I'm not trying to prove anything to anybody else, and who is to say that, you know, I had a great year, and I can have an even better one."
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
These three former No. 1s make their 2025 LPGA debuts this week in Thailand
These three former No. 1s make their 2025 LPGA debuts this week in Thailand Jeeno Thitikul will celebrate her 22nd birthday during the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. She was 14 the first time she made an appearance in her home event. The World No. 2 makes her 2025 LPGA debut this week, though she's already found the winner's circle this season. Over the weekend, Thitikul collected her 17th title worldwide with a four-shot victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour. "Definitely gives more confidence because, like I said," said Thitikul, "if everyone watching my interview last week, I say I don't think my ball-striking is that good. That's why I want to work on still, which is what I focus on this week, too. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know that I'll do my best." Thitikul will play alongside good friend Ruoning Yin, currently ranked No. 4, in her opening birthday round at Siam Country Club. Thitikul is one of 12 Thai players in the field this week, including defending champion Patty Tavatanakit. Former No. 1 Lilia Vu joins fellow former No. 1s Thitikul and Yin in making her 2025 LPGA season debut this week. Vu collected her first LPGA title in Thailand in 2023, kicking off a season that culminated in two major championship victories and Player of the Year titles. Vu, 27, admitted to looking up to Thitikul in all aspects of life despite being several years older. "I feel like (Jeeno) is just always having fun, eating at great places," said Vu. "She has the most fun on the golf course. Her game is fantastic. Really no weakness. I think she's just a great person all around." Gianna Clemente, last year's AJGA Player of the Year, is competing this week on a sponsor exemption as an amateur. Former Solheim Cup player Brittany Altomare makes her first start on the tour this week since becoming a mom. Altomare gave birth to her son, Wyatt Giblin, in March 2024.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Fabulous fortnight fuelling Fuller's future'
A more comfortable airplane seat was the first of what are likely to be many benefits accruing from a career-changing fortnight for young English golfer Annabell 22-year-old treated herself to an upgrade after fully capitalising on forcing her way into the PIF Saudi Ladies International last week. Once there, she was beaten only by world number four Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, and South Korea's Somi all the tournaments on the Ladies European Tour to do well in, this is the one. Worth a total of £3.9m it towers over the rest of the schedule on a circuit where making ends meet is the main is little wonder that Fuller asked for a sponsor invitation into the field, but unlike last year it was not the previous week's Lalla Meryem Cup, worth less than £375,000, suddenly acquired considerable value. "In Morocco I said to my caddie (Neal Herman) 'it's fine, we'll just get a top 10'," Fuller told BBC Sport.A finish of such magnitude in Morocco was the only remaining route into the Riyadh tournament. And she was true to her word, finishing in sixth place. "I was probably just as happy with that as I would have been if I'd won the tournament," Fuller said. "I so badly wanted to go to Saudi because it is one of our biggest events."The Roehampton golfer, who turned pro a year ago after attending the University of Florida, returned to Saudi Arabia a different player from the rookie of 12 months ago."I saw that if you made the cut in Saudi you would get $10,000, which is basically what I got for coming sixth in Morocco," Fuller said."So my little goal was to make the cut and that would be a stepping stone forwards again. And then, obviously, I did a little bit better than that."Fuller opened with rounds of 66 and 68 and in the final round battled back from early dropped shots to card a 71 that left her 11 under par, five shots behind the winner and in third place on her collected more than £205,000 which she agreed amounts to a life-changing sum. "That's one way of putting it," Fuller said."I still haven't comprehended what happened, but I changed a couple of my flights to upgrade a little bit. The whole outlook of this year has changed now. I've got different goals in mind than I had a week ago."Now I've got the same amount of points after two events than I got in 22 events last year."Twelve months ago Fuller told BBC Sport she would give her professional career an initial three years and see how much of her father's money she would end up spending."In one week, effectively I've built up my next three years without needing my dad," Fuller smiled. "I was on the flight back that I had booked and I saw Charley Hull sitting up front in business."And it was a weird, surreal feeling that that's going to be my life now too. It was cool, I kind of got giggles about it."Surviving on the Ladies European Tour is far from easy. Three-time LET winner Meghan MacLaren illustrated the point on a recent post on X, where she detailed her January included tour membership fees of nearly £700, almost £2,000 in flights, management fees of £2,688 as well as indoor practice fees, an Australian visa costing £214 and gym and physio all, the 30-year-old forked out £6,551.85 for the month. Another English pro, Eddie Pepperell estimates he pays £5,000 a tournament in costs, sitting at the back of planes to and from unless a player has generous sponsors, the only way of recouping such outlays is by performing on the golf course. Only those at the very top of the leading tours are spared what can be a hard, uncertain is a useful context in which to view Fuller's achievement because it was self generated. "It's a tiny, tiny mindset change, but knowing I had earned my spot into Saudi instead of getting an invite was, I think, a really big difference," Fuller said."My coach texted me and said 'go show them that you are meant to be there'. Now I believe in myself a little bit more."Fuller took inspiration from the performance of her friend and fellow Englishwoman Cara Gainer, who won the Moroccan tournament earlier this month."I looked up to her and how she organises herself and she is very driven," Fuller said. "Seeing her win, I knew I wasn't far off that week."Fuller says she reaped the benefits of returning to Florida for practice after Christmas and her new caddie Herman has helped her mindset on the golf course. "We get on really, really well," she said."We've been getting to know each other and chatting loads and I know it sounds silly but I was in a good mood and felt happy."Fuller's main goal this year was to improve from 66th on the LET's Order of Merit, which yielded around £73,000 last year, and reach the top 30. But now flights are not the only thing to have been upgraded."With a couple more good weeks I could make the LET top 10 which would take me into the final stage of LPGA Q School and maybe I can automatically qualify for some of the majors," Fuller said."Instead of going through qualifying, my goal now is to be high enough on the ranking to get automatically into the AIG Women's Open (at Royal Porthcawl from 30 July-3 August), so that would be quite special."Fuller is still in search of a first tour win, but now feels that is within her compass. As she proved last week, this young Englishwoman has come a long way in her first 12 months on tour since emerging from LET Tour School."It's completely different," she reflected. "Now I'm a bit more experienced travelling-wise and I have my own routines."A year ago it almost came out of nothing and I almost wasn't prepared for it. Whereas now, I've accepted this is my life."
