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Highlights Tours

Countdown to the 2023 Solheim Cup begins

(Photo: Interface Tourism Spain)
(Photo: Interface Tourism Spain)

An extraordinary celebration event, called “One Year To Go”, made up of various events, marked the start of the countdown to the 2023 Solheim Cup coming to Spain for the first time. There is only one year left until the most important women’s golf competition in the world comes to Finca Cortesín, Málaga, from 22 to 24 September 2023.

To highlight those 365 days that will be crossed off the calendar for the European and US teams to meet on the Costa del Sol, the dyke of the emblematic Puerto Banús in Marbella (Málaga), brought together 365 children from different golf schools in Andalusia in which, in unison, they did the “Longest Swing”.

The little golfers took their places and, forming a huge multicoloured wave, hit an approach shot into the sea with totally biodegradable balls.
Afterwards, the captain of the European Solheim Cup team, Suzann Pettersen, arrived by helicopter and, with the magnificent tournament trophy in her hands, greeted each and every one of the children.

Exhibition match at Finca Cortesín

A few hours earlier, the protagonist was the new hole 1 at Finca Cortesín, where an exhibition match took place in which Suzann Pettersen challenged the model and actor Andrés Velencoso and the guitarist of the group D’Vicio Alberto González, “Missis”, while the ambassadors of the tournament recreated the great atmosphere of the Solheim Cup.
The European captain highlighted the design of hole 1, perfect for an event like the Solheim Cup and wished it to be “a very noisy hole, with all the Spanish passion cheering on the European team”.

Vicente Rubio, general manager of Finca Cortesín, recalled how the LET “honoured us naming us as the venue for the 2023 Solheim Cup and since then, our team has been working to make it a success. And over the next 12 months we will continue in this line of improvements to guarantee both players and fans a unique and unforgettable experience”.

This moment concluded with a tribute to Raquel Carriedo, the first Spaniard to play in a Solheim Cup and who shared with all those present her memories of that historic experience in the 2000 edition.

Triple countdown

The celebrations of this “One Year To Go” had as an extraordinary culmination the launch of three countdowns, one in each of the municipalities involved in the organisation of the Solheim Cup 2023 (Benahavís, Casares and Marbella), to remember the time left for the celebration of this great event.

The Mayor of Benahavís, José Antonio Mena, was in attendance, accompanied by Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation.

“We have been fighting for a long time for the arrival of this tournament in Spain and Andalusia, and now there is only one year to go. Once again, Andalusia will once again be the world epicentre of golf and women’s sport thanks to the Solheim Cup,” said Mansilla.

“The golf industry is perhaps the most important industry in Benahavis and therefore, from the first moment we have wanted to be part of the Solheim Cup, and this commitment will bring numerous benefits, both to our municipality and to the entire Costa del Sol,” said Mena.

José Carrasco, Mayor of Casares, said he was “very proud to be able to offer our innumerable tourist resources and I am convinced that the Solheim Cup will mark a before and after for our municipality and for Andalusia”.

And Manuel Cardeña, Deputy Mayor of Marbella and CEO of Acosol, stressed that “the arrival of the Solheim Cup for the first time in Spain, and more specifically on the Costa del Sol, offers us a great opportunity to strengthen our position as a tourist destination and to be the epicentre of world golf in 365 days, something we have to take advantage of”.

Cardeña was accompanied by Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport of the Junta de Andalucía; Francisco Salado, President of the Diputación de Málaga; and Margarita del Cid, Vice President of the Diputación de Málaga, among other personalities such as Alan Solheim, representative of the firm that gives its name to the tournament, and people from the Ladies European Tour (LET), the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and Deporte & Bussines, the organising company.

Arturo Bernal was in charge of bringing to a close a marathon programme of events that has focused on the arrival of the Solheim Cup in Spain in just twelve months.

“The celebration of the Solheim Cup next year will allow Andalusia to demonstrate once again that we are the best destination in Europe for the organisation and development of major sporting events in general and golf in particular,” concluded.

The Solheim Cup 2023, an event of exceptional public interest whose official venue is Finca Cortesin, is sponsored by PING, Costa del Sol and Rolex as global partners; and by the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte de la Junta de Andalucía, with co-financing from the European Union, Acosol, the Marbella Town Hall and the Benahavís Town Hall as official partners, and Reale Seguros as official sponsor. Solán de Cabras, Eversheds Sutherland, Casares Town Hall, Toro, Vithas, E-Z-GO and Jet Set Sports are official suppliers. Marca and Radio Marca are official media. Promoted and organised by Deporte & Business. LET, LPGA, RFEG, CSD and RFGA collaborate in its organisation.

(Text: Solheim Cup)

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Ladies Tours

Up 26%: R&A announces prize fund for AIG Women’s Open 2022

The AIG Women's Open 2022 is held in Muirfield, England. (Credit: Getty)
The AIG Women's Open 2022 is held in Muirfield, England. (Credit: Getty)

The R&A and AIG continue to increase the prize fund for the AIG Women’s Open with the winner set to receive USD 1.095 million.

The R&A announced that the total prize fund for the AIG Women’s Open, played from 4-7 August 2022 at Muirfield, will be USD7.3 million, a 26% increase on 2021.

With the support of title sponsor AIG, the prize fund for the Championship has grown by 125% since 2018, the year before AIG’s partnership with The R&A commenced.

Follow the AIG Women`s

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Last year we took a very bold step to substantially increase the prize fund of the AIG Women’s Open. This year at the AIG Women’s Open, the players will be competing for $7.3 million, which is an increase of 26% on last year and also sees the total investment into the prize fund increase by just over $4million or 125% since The R&A and AIG began our partnership in 2019.

“In AIG, we have the support of a deeply trusted partner, as we look to continue to elevate the AIG Women’s Open.”

Peter Zaffino, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of AIG said, “We are proud to be the title sponsor of the AIG Women’s Open and to serve as allies to women in golf, business and the communities where we live and work. Thanks to our great partnership with The R&A we continue to make progress on pay equity while raising the profile of women’s golf and showcasing the tremendous talent of the elite women athletes competing in this iconic Championship.”

How the AIG Women’s Open prize fund has grown

2022 – $7.3million
2021 – $5.8million
2020 – $4.5million
2019 – $4.5million (beginning of The R&A and AIG partnership)
2018 – $3.25million
The prize fund for the 2022 AIG Women’s Open

Place USD

1 1,095,000
2 720,028
3 521,498
4 402,734
5 323,565
6 264,183
7 220,638
8 192,929
9 173,135
10 157,299
11 145,419
12 135,522
13 126,813
14 118,898
15 111,771
16 105,438
17 99,899
18 95,147
19 91,190
20 88,019
21 84,857
22 81,686
23 78,524
24 75,353
25 72,584
26 69,815
27 67,037
28 64,268
29 61,499
30 59,123
31 56,747
32 54,371
33 51,995
34 49,619
35 47,645
36 45,662
37 43,687
38 41,705
39 39,722
40 38,141
41 36,560
42 34,978
43 33,389
44 31,808
45 30,620
46 29,432
47 28,244
48 27,056
49 25,868
50 24,680
51 23,893
52 23,099
53 22,304
54 21,517
55 20,723
56 19,928
57 19,142
58 18,347
59 17,560
60 16,766
61 16,372
62 15,971
63 15,578
64 15,184
65 14,783
66 14,390
67 13,996
68 13,595
69 13,202
70 12,808
71 9,559
72 9,338
73 9,117
74 8,896
75 8,675
76 8,454
(Press Release by R&A)

Categories
Ladies European Tour

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

Younger sister Nelly (left) and Jessica Korda (right) will compete in Spain. (Photo: Aramco Team Series)
Younger sister Nelly (left) and Jessica Korda (right) will compete in Spain. (Photo: Aramco Team Series)

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.

Categories
Ladies Tours

Record: Double prize money at the Women’s PGA Championship

Preparations are underway for the Women's PGA Championship. (Photo: Twitter/@KPMGWomensPGA)
Preparations are underway for the Women's PGA Championship. (Photo: Twitter/@KPMGWomensPGA)

The organizers of the Women’s PGA Championship have doubled the prize money for the major tournament: a total of 9 million dollars is up for grabs this week. A record sum that the best ladies in golf would not have expected.

Record sums at the Women’s PGA Championship

Compared to last year, there is double the prize money this year at the Women’s PGA Championship. The president of the PGA of America, Jim Richerson, announced that this year there will be a total of 9 million dollars and of that 1.35 million dollars for the winner. Compared to the prize money of 2014, the year before sponsor KPMG stepped in, that’s a 300 percent increase. Richerson justifies the increase as part of a desire to elevate women’s golf: “We really wanted to make sure we utilised this event to showcase the best women’s players in the game and do that with one of the biggest purses.” Prize money for the five women’s majors now totals $37.3 million, up from $13.75 million in 2012.

Hysterical reactions to the announcement

Participants in the Women’s PGA Championship can hardly believe the doubling of prize money. LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan had sent an email to the players shortly before the public announcement informing them of the increase. “There have been been some ‘holy you know what’ and ‘oh, my God’,” she recalls.

The prize money will be a special incentive for the women in the field, who will have to compete against defending champion Nelly Korda, among others. The latter underwent surgery on her left arm in April and only returned to tournament action last week. Here she fought her way directly into a 3-way playoff, in which she finally had to give way to Jennifer Kupcho. A promising return to the tournament, which raises hopes for a top finish at the Women’s PGA Championship.

Several German players will also be competing: Isi Gabsa, Caroline Masson, Sophia Popov and Esther Henseleit. The two Swiss players Albane Valenzuela and Morgane Metraux will also be playing.

Categories
LPGA Tour

Two months after surgery: Is Nelly Korda about to make a comeback?

Nelly Korda could make her comeback to the LPGA Tour at the 2022 US Women's Open. (Photo: Getty)
Nelly Korda could make her comeback to the LPGA Tour at the 2022 US Women's Open. (Photo: Getty)

Nelly Korda, former number two in women’s golf is probably on the verge of her comeback. The 23-year-old was diagnosed with a blood clot in her left arm three months ago, after complaining of pain in her left arm at a press event in early March. After successful surgery in April, she was on the road to recovery, but there was no talk of a return to the LPGA Tour until now. Now there is news from Nelly Korda’s side. GolfCentral announced in a Twitter post on May 26, 2022, that Korda would attend the press conference for the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open in Southern Pines, North Carolina, a possible sign of her start at this important major in the women’s golf world.

Is Nelly Korda’s time off from the LPGA Tour over?

Korda won a total of four LPGA Tour titles last year, including her first major victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, as well as the gold medal at the Olympics. That’s when the unwanted time off due to the blood clot was a major blow to the young golfer. But just three months after the diagnosis and two months after surgery, she could now celebrate her return to the LPGA Tour. Because in addition to the announced press conference in the run-up to the tournament, she showed up again on Instagram with golf clubs on the driving range.

Although the American continues to wear a supportive sleeve on her operated left arm, her swing is promising. And sister Jessica Korda is also confident that she will soon be able to welcome her sister back to the tour. “It’s like you never left!” the elder Korda sister commented under the video.

Categories
Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Manon De Roey wins the individual classification

First victory on the Ladies European Tour: the beaming winner. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)
First victory on the Ladies European Tour: the beaming winner. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)

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

Categories
Ladies European Tour

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

Winners on the Ladies European Tour: Team Hillier in an interview. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)
Winners on the Ladies European Tour: Team Hillier in an interview. (Photo: Twitter/@LETgolf)

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

Categories
Ladies European Tour

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

The Jutanugarn sisters Ariya (l) and Moriya (r) with fellow Thai star Patty Tavatanakit (middle). (Photo: Aramco Team Series)
The Jutanugarn sisters Ariya (l) and Moriya (r) with fellow Thai star Patty Tavatanakit (middle). (Photo: 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)

Categories
Ladies European Tour

Ladies European Tour: Final Round Highlights Madrid Open 2022

Final round highlights of the Ladies European Tours Madrid Open 2022. (Photo: Ladies European Tour)
Final round highlights of the Ladies European Tours Madrid Open 2022. (Photo: Ladies European Tour)

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Ladies European Tour: Highlights Madrid Open 2022 Final Round

Categories
LPGA Tour

LPGA Tour Announces Change to Q-Series

LPGA Tour Q Series criterias will be changed beginning in 2022 (Foto: Getty)

The LPGA announced today that beginning in 2022, players must compete as professionals in Q-Series, the final stage of qualifying for the LPGA Tour. If an amateur player advances to or is exempt into Q-Series, she must turn professional to compete for the opportunity to earn LPGA Tour Membership.

All players who qualify for Q-Series through Stage II of Q School receive Epson Tour status. Amateur players can continue to compete as an amateur, which is permitted on the Epson Tour, or may elect to turn professional and compete for an opportunity to advance directly to the LPGA Tour.

The Epson Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour, has a mission to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful competitive career. Since its inception in 1999, more than 600 Epson Tour alumnae have earned LPGA Tour Membership, including major champions Nelly Korda, Lorena Ochoa and Inbee Park.

This decision, which came following feedback from the LPGA Tour Membership and the college coaching community, will provide the most fair and consistent pathways to the LPGA Tour. Requiring professional status for Q-Series competitors will set an equal playing field for those committed to competing full time on the LPGA Tour.

No Amateur Status allowed in Q-Series

“LPGA Q-Series is the final stage to competing on the LPGA Tour, which is a fully professional tour that requires that its Membership competes as professional athletes,” said Ricki Lasky, Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer for the LPGA. “Ensuring all competitors have made the same choice to be a professional player elevates the Q-Series competition and creates the most appropriate options for athletes at different stages of their careers. Providing Epson Tour status to those athletes who advance through Q School but choose to retain their college eligibility provides an appropriate pathway for those players to complete their college season or career and then immediately compete on the Epson Tour.”

In 2018, the LPGA began permitting amateurs who earned LPGA Tour status at Q-Series to defer their Membership until July 1 of the following year. This change gave the amateur athlete the option to finish her college season and/or career before turning professional. Of the 16 amateur players who earned LPGA Tour Membership in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (Q-Series was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic), Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi (both in 2018) are the only players who elected to defer. The remaining 14 amateurs all immediately accepted LPGA Tour Membership, with numerous other players turning professional and competing immediately on the Epson Tour.

The LPGA is committed to working with the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and its membership and will create a working group for further discussion on ways of providing the best opportunities for aspiring professionals to live their dreams. “I am very appreciative of the college coaches who have shared their thoughts on this process. These coaches are developing the future stars of the women’s game, and we want to make sure that they are providing the best opportunities to their players, just as we do at the LPGA Tour,” said Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, the LPGA’s senior vice president of Tour Operations.

2022 LPGA Q-Series, held over eight rounds in consecutive weeks, will be held Dec. 1-4 at Magnolia Grove (Crossings and Falls Courses) in Mobile, Ala. The second week will be held Dec. 8-11 at Highland Oaks (Highlands and Marshwood Courses) in Dothan, Ala.

Players finishing inside the top 45 and ties following the conclusion of the cumulative eight rounds of Q-Series will receive LPGA Tour status for the following season. All players finishing outside the top 20 and ties will also receive Epson Tour status.

Stage I of 2022 LPGA Q School will be held Aug. 18-21 at Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore and Palmer Courses) in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif. Stage II will be held Oct. 18-21 at Plantation Golf and Country Club (Bobcat and Panther Courses) in Venice, Fla.

(Text: LPGA Tour)