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Ladies European Tour

Korda-sisters set for sun-drenched showdown at the Aramco Team Series in Sotogrande

American superstar sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda are heading to Spain for the first time, with both confirmed for next month’s $1million Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande. The sibling pair will tee-it-up in front of their maiden Spanish crowd at La Reserva Club, August 18-20th, in what will be their second Aramco Team Series presented by PIF event.

The Kordas can build on great successes

Both Nelly and Jessica were part of history when they played in last year’s debut Aramco Team Series – New York, the first ever Ladies European Tour event to be played on U.S soil. And for older sister Jessica – a six-time LPGA-winner – that was just the start of a history-making week, as she captained her team to victory in the event’s unique fourball format.

Former world number one and US Olympic Gold medalist Nelly was one-shot shy of bagging the same tournament’s concurrent solo contest.Now, both will return to battle it out against the biggest and best names on the Ladies European Tour under the Sotogrande sun this summer.

Both sisters will be in Spain for the first time

“I’m so excited to be heading to play in Spain for the first time,” said major-winner Nelly, currently ranked world #3.

“It’ll actually be my first ever time visiting Spain, so I’m really looking forward to getting there and seeing and experiencing what I’ve always imagined to be this amazing culture. The golf course at La Reserva looks incredible too so it should be a great week.”

“Jess and I both played in the Aramco Team Series event in New York last year and loved the format. It’s something different having the separate team-individual formats going on at the same time which is fun.  With the Solheim Cup taking place just round the corner from Sotogrande next year, this will also be the perfect opportunity for me and some of the other Americans in the field to get a bit of a lay of the land and a feel for playing in Spain, with the hope of being back there 12 months later. I’m excited to get out there and can’t wait to see what Sotogrande has in store for us.”

“Spain has had such a massive influence on golf”

Jessica – who has finished in the top ten in all five women’s majors – said: “New York’s Aramco Team Series was a great event. Having won the team side of it was a lot of fun! I am looking forward to getting a chance to play that same format again.

“I’ve never actually played in Spain – this will be my first time. Spain has had such a massive influence on golf, from big name players like Seve, Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm to Carlota Ciganda and the many Spanish girls making an impact on both the LPGA and LET.

“The Spanish fans are known to have some fiery passion too, so I can’t wait to tee it up in front of them for what should be a pretty special atmosphere in Sotogrande.”

The headline pair will be joined in Sotogrande by a host of big-name Spanish golfers, including Solheim Cup hero Carlota Ciganda, rising talent Ana Peláez Triviño, Nuria Iturrioz and Carmen Alonso, as part of a field packed with global stars, more of whom will be announced in due course.

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Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Manon De Roey wins the individual classification

On the third and last day of the Aramco Team Series in Bangkok, the best women golfers played for victory in the individual classification. After Whitney Hillier’s team had won the team ranking the day before, Manon De Roey celebrated her first victory on the Ladies European Tour on the third day in Bangkok. She closed the tournament with a bogey-free round of 66 to win by three strokes over her pursuers Johanna Gustavsson (10-under-par) and Kylie Henry and Patty Tavatanakit (both 8-under-par).

Interview with the happy winner

All highlights of the third day in Bangkok

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Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: This team wins the team ranking in Bangkok

The Aramco Team Series 2022 includes five tournaments, on which there is both a team ranking and an individual ranking. The first of the season’s five tournaments takes place this week in Bangkok at Thai Country Club. The players have already completed 36 holes and the winning team has been determined: Chonlada Chayanun, Krista Bakker and amateur Pattanan Amatanon win the team classification together with team captain Whitney Hillier. Tomorrow’s third and final day will see the top 60 and stroke ties play for their placements in the individual standings.

Highlights of the second day of play

Interview with the winning team Hillier

Best of the day: Scotland’s Catriona Matthew after the round

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Ladies European Tour

Captain Moriya Jutanugarn picks Catriona Matthew for 1 million Dollar Aramco Team Series

Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn will partner with Solheim Cup icon Catriona Matthew in one of the headline fourballs at this week’s Aramco Team Series. The hometown hero used her captain’s pick in last night’s pre-tournament draft to recruit the Scot, an 11-time Tour champion and Major-winner, but perhaps most revered for her back-to-back roles captaining Team Europe to Solheim Cup success. Spanish Ladies European Tour rookie Paz Marfa Sans will complete the professional side of the team, which will be completed with the addition of an amateur golfer, before play gets underway at Thai Country Club tomorrow.

The choices of the Jutanugarn sisters

“Playing in my home country is very exciting,” said Jutanugarn, who will be making her second appearance in an Aramco Team Series event. “I wanted to pick the legend Catriona as she’ll make me feel a lot more calm – maybe I can learn from her, as well. I’m really happy with my team. For us, I think it’s just a case of going out, enjoying it and having fun. If we do, I’m sure we’ll be good!” Asked if her captain for the week, the world #50, was a player she respected, Matthew said: “Oh, absolutely! I’ve played a lot with Moriya on the LPGA over the years. I haven’t seen her in a wee while, so I’m delighted to be playing together and being able to catch up.” Jutanugarn was one pick earlier in the draft than her younger sister, Ariya, who is also competing in the Aramco Team Series, an event added to the LET calendar for the first time this year.”

Like her sister, Ariya too used her captain’s selection to recruit a Scot – Laura Beveridge. Anne-Charlotte Mora of France was the third addition to the team. Asked about her captain’s pick, the two-time Major-winner said: “I’ve not known so much about Laura, but I had been looking at all the stats before picking her, so I’m pretty sure she’s going to help the team. Already we’re having so much fun, talking about what we’re going to eat today and where the good
Thai food is! I’m pretty sure we’re going to be a good team.”

For the first time: Aramco Team Series in Bangkok

This week’s debut Bangkok leg will be the first of five 1 million Dollar Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar for 2022 – and the first with the three-day event’s new format. Updated from last year’s inaugural Series, the teams will now compete over only 36 holes – the Thursday and Friday of the tournament – with 500,000 Dollar prizemoney 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 Dollar, this time in individual earnings.

Big names set to compete with the likes of the Jutanugarn sisters include fellow Thai superstar Patty Tavatanakit, who selected Finland’s Noora Komulainen as her captain’s pick – and who returns home to compete ranked as the world #13.
England’s Charley Hull has a blistering Aramco Team Series record, with three top ten team finishes and a solo victory in last year’s New York event. She chose good friend and fellow English golfer Lauren Taylor as her teammate for the week’s fourball action.
Australia’s Whitney Hillier leaned on her mother’s Thai heritage to recruit Chonlada Chayanun, whose home course is this week’s host course, Thai Country Club.
The Aramco Team Series – Bangkok kicks off 2022’s run of ATS events, and will be followed by four
more 1 million Dollar tournaments in London, Sotogrande, New York and Jeddah.

(Text: Aramco Team Series)

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Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Final Round Highlights Madrid Open 2022

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Ladies European Tour: Highlights Madrid Open 2022 Final Round

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Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Georgia Hall wins the Saudi Ladies International

England’s Georgia Hall delivered a measured final round 71 to win the $1million Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund by five shots at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, on the Jeddah coast.

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.”

Ladies European Tour: Georgia Hall seals the win

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.”

Napoleaova an Gustavsson in joint second place

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 picks up $75,000 USD, 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!”

Kelly Whaley carded record-breaking round

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 ever 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.”

(Text: Press release Saudi Ladies International)

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Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Swede Linnea Strom enters final day as leader

The Magical Kenya Ladies Open is taking place in Kenya this week. After Moving Day, Sweden’s Linnea Strom is in first place. Her 3-under-par gives her a two-stroke lead over second-placed Luna Sobron Galmes. The third place is shared by the two Germans Esther Henseleit and Sophie Hausmann with even par. Everything is still open for tomorrow’s final.

Linnea Strom in the interview and the highlights of the Moving Day

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Ladies Tours

Catriona Matthew received Lifetime Achievement Award

The captain of the winning Solheim Cup team, Catriona Matthew, was awarded for her achievements as a player and captain.

Catriona Matthew has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG). The Scot received the award for her achievements in her long career as a player and captain.

Catriona Matthew: “Very prestigious”

The Lifetime Achievement Award, which was introduced in 2011, has been given to Seve Ballesteros (posthumously), Alison Nicholas, Bernhard Langer and José María Olazábal, among others. “It is very prestigious to be following on from these fantastic names” commented Matthew, as she received the award at her home club, The North Berwick Golf Club. “I am delighted and honoured to be given this award. It is fantastic recognition for how I have played and performed over the years.”

The 52-year-old has had a successful career on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, and recorded her greatest success of her singles career in 2009 when she won the British Women’s Open. As a player on the European Solheim Cup team, Matthew claimed victory over her American counterparts on three occasions. Most recently, the four-time LPGA Tour winner captained the women’s continental competition in 2019 and 2021, leading Europe to victory each time.

“We are delighted to be able to recognise Catriona with this award for the significant achievements she has had as a player and more recently as a captain” commented CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell. “This year’s Solheim Cup success for Europe was one of, if not the, highlight of the golfing year and Catriona’s leadership of a team that contained 8 different nationalities from across Europe was truly outstanding. The fondness and respect that Catriona commands across the game is there for all to see and I could not think of a more deserving recipient of this year’s award.”

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Ladies European Tour Ladies Tours Live

LET Tour: Andalucia Spanish Open was a must to watch – Carlota Ciganda wins at home

The European ladies did it again! They proved once more that women’s golf can get as wild as the men events. Hundreds of people witnessed the Andalucia Spanish Open, and surrounded the fairways of Los Naranjos Golf Course, following their favorite players. The Spanish Open doubled its money prize from the previous year in 2019. The winner, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) pocketed a total of 90,000€. Ciganda started with a round of 70(-2), but she never let the guard down. The Spaniard shot rounds of (70-66-70-67) and took the trophy home with a total of 15-under par, finishing with a birdie on Hole 18 and having all the eyes on her.

Head Vs. Heart.

Carlota Ciganda feels loved at home but always returns to the LPGA Tour.

The Ladies European Tour struggles to offer high monetary rewards due to the lack of external support. The audience increased a little more since LPGA players take part in the Saudi Arabia events in New York that are part of the LET Tour. The sponsorships also reflect the big gap between LET Tour and LPGA.

The women players in Europe find it harder to find sponsors than the American players. The winner, Carlota Ciganda studied in the United States, and as much as she loves her country and to play for Spain, Ciganda remains in the LPGA leaderboards because of the economic benefits, among other things.

The leading players overcame all obstacles to finish on a high note.

Los Naranjos welcomed us with sunny days but yet some strong wind came through during the third round specially. Not to mention the perfomance of one of the referees towards the leading group. He made the time the protagonist instead of the players. Regardless, the scores didn’t show much red numbers except for Jessica Karlsson(SWE) who shot 68(-4), the best Scandinavian score of the day.

The last round started off calm and steady, until the wind picked up again half way through. However, the players faced it as what they are, professionals. Ursula Wikstrom(FIN) played in the second to last group fighting for the podium. Wikstrom had a strong long-distance game throughout the tournament, however her putting was not on her side and it hurt the scores by few strokes. The Finnish golfer finished 4-under par for a 7th position.

The Swedish, Maja Stark was 5-under par after round three, and she slipped into the leading group of the Andalucia Spanish Open. Stark was only 1 shot ahead from the fourth player, the Spaniard Fatima Fernandez Cano. At the end, Stark sped up and finished with a total of -11, only four shots behind the lead, and a 3-shot advantage over the third position. The Spaniard, Fatima finished strong in a 4th place after a great performance. She recently earned the LPGA card, but yet Cano behaves as if she had been competing in the Main Tour for many years now.

Ladies European Tour Andalucia Costa del Sol – Open de España
Course Los Naranjos Golf Club Malaga, Spain
Prize Money 600,000€
Defending Champion Carlota Ciganda (ESP)
Focus players Alice Hewson, Felicity Johnson, Gabriella Cowley, Hannah Burke, Maja Stark, Ursula Wikstrom
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Una publicación compartida de Maja Stark (@majastark1)

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Ladies European Tour

LET Tour: What do the girls earn after a tournament?

The Ladies European Tour was in Saudia Arabia last week where Lydia Ko took home the win with a five shot victory. She fired a final round of 65 to triumph by five shots at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund.

“When I was out there, I was just trying to play the best golf that I can. I knew a lot of the top names were playing really well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I was just trying to have my fair share of them and have fun out there,” said Ko on the official LET website

Atthaya Thitkul came in second after a final round of 66 (-6). Despite the heat the ladies gave it their all for one of the last tournaments on this year’s tour. Check out below what each player earned for their winnings.

Position Player Earned money
1 Lydia Ko (NZL) 129,680.70 
2 Atthaya Thitikul (THA) 77,808.42 
3 Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 45,388.25 
T3 Alice Hewson (ENG) 45,388.25 
5 Olivia Cowan (GER) 28,962.03 
T5 Whitney Hillier (AUS) 28,962.03
7 Alison Lee 22,910.26
T7 Nuria Iturrioz (ESP) 22,910.26
9 Stephanie Kyriacou (AUS) 19,452.11
T9 Georgia Hall (ENG) 19,452.11
T9 Tvesa Malik (IND) 19,452.11
T9 Sanna Nuutinen (FIN) 19,452.11
13 Lindsey Weaver (USA) 16,426.22
T13 Linnea Strom (SWE)  16,426.22
T13 Aditi Ashok (IND) 16,426.22
16 Magdalena Simmermacher (ARG) 15,129.42
T17 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 14,048.75
T17 Liz Young (ENG) 14,048.75
T17 Minjee Lee (AUS) 14,048.75
T17 Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN) 14,048.75
T21 Kim Metraux (SUI) 12,795.16
22 Gabriella Cowley (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Hannah Burke (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Laura Davies (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 11,267.81
T22 Bronte Law (ENG) 11,267.81
T22 Pia Babnik (SLO) 11,267.81
28 Michele Thomson (SCO) 9,250.56
T28 Becky Brewerton(WAL) 9,250.56
T28 Caroline Hedwall(SWE) 9,250.56
31 Morgane Metraux (SUI) 7,910.52
T31 Manon De Roey (BEL) 7,910.52
T31 Chloe Williams (WAL) 7,910.52
T34 Johanna Gustavsson (SWE) 7,910.52
35 Lina Boqvist (SWE) 6,916.30
T35 Tiia Koivisto (FIN) 6,916.30
T35 Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) 6,916.30
38 Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 6,267.90
T38 Cara Gainer (ENG) 6,267.90
40 Lejan Lewthwaite (RSA) 5,244.87
T40 Leonie Harm (GER) 5,244.87
T40 Laura Beveridge (SCO) 5,244.87
T40 Chiara Noja (GER) 5,244.87
T40 Becky Morgan 5,244.87
T40 Camille Chevalier (FRA) 5,244.87
46 Elia Folch (ESP) 4,257.85
T46 Nicole Garcia (RSA) 4,257.85
48 Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 4,257.85
T48 Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 4,257.85
50 Maha Haddioui (MAR) 3,803.97
T50 Carmen Alonso (ESP) 3,803.97
T50 Agathe Sauzon (FRA) 3,803.97
53 Manon Gidali (FRA) 3,342.88
T53 Noora Komulainen (FIN) 3,342.88
T53 Jessica Karlsson (SWE) 3,342.88
56 Luna Sobron Galmes (ESP) 2,896.21
T56 Emma Nilsson (SWE) 2,896.21
58 Emma Cabrera Bello (ESP) 2,766.52
59 Agathe Laisne (FRA) 2,680.07
60 Laura Gomez Ruiz (ESP) 2,593.61
61 Trish Johnson (ENG) 2,507.16
62 Harang Lee (ESP) 2,420.71
63 Amy Walsh (AUS) 2,334.25