Golf Superstars Confirmed

Some of the biggest names in women’s golf will compete in the Aramco Team Series - London, the latest example of Aramco’s backing for sport in Saudi Arabia and internationally.

Taking place from July 8 to 10, the groundbreaking event features a new format that gives amateur golfers the chance to play alongside professional superstars. 

Big names taking part include US superstar Lexi Thompson, making it her only English appearance in 2021. She will be joined by the likes of 2018 Women’s Open winner Georgia Hall, Swedish double-major winner Anna Nordqvist and Danish winner of the 2020 Aramco Saudi Ladies International, Emily Kristine Pedersen.

They join a field of more than 100 Ladies European Tour (LET) players who will compete in teams of four – with three pros and one amateur on each team – for a total prize fund of $1 million at Centurion Club, near London.

It is the only event in world golf where amateur players will contribute to the final result.

Former ANA Inspiration champion Lexi Thompson, who at age 12 became the youngest golfer ever to compete in the US Women’s Open in 2010, said: “It is really exciting to have not only a brand-new format of event to look forward to, but to have another big event on the LET schedule in the UK. It’s a place I love to visit and play golf, so I can’t wait to get going in July.”

The London tournament will be followed by Aramco-sponsored events in Spain, USA and Saudi Arabia. These include the Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande (August 5 to 7), Aramco Team Series - New York (October 14 to 16) and Aramco Team Series – Jeddah (November 10 to 12).

The Jeddah event will take place just days after the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF, being held from November 4 to 7, the second edition following its debut last year. It was the first professional women’s golf event to take place in Saudi Arabia and received global acclaim, paving the way for Aramco and Golf Saudi to extend further support to the women’s game.

A trial run of the innovative Aramco Team Series format also took place in November 2020. Known as the Saudi Ladies Team International, it proved hugely popular among players.

European Solheim Cup hero Georgia Hall played in that event and is excited about the format becoming a regular feature on the LET.

“It’s a really great addition to the Tour that I think most of us can’t wait to get playing in,” she said. “It’s a new format and it’s different – and will only be a force for good in women’s golf.

“Investment like this is fantastic to see and to be able to take the game to new venues around the world and inspire the next generation of young golfers is a really wonderful thing to be part of. Starting in London will, for me, make it extra special.”

The addition of the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah to the 2021 Ladies European Tour schedule brings the total number of professional tour events in Saudi Arabia to three, including the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF and the men’s Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers. These events will continue to promote golf domestically, encouraging grass roots participation and showcasing Saudi Arabia’s commitment – both to the sport and to providing opportunities for its people.

Ahmed Al-Subaey, Vice-President of Marketing, Sales and Supply Planning at Aramco, said: “We are thrilled to be backing events that we believe have the potential to shake things up, truly elevate women’s golf internationally and spur its growth in Saudi Arabia. Participation by the sport’s elite in the Aramco Team Series highlights the exciting opportunities it presents. When the team concept was first introduced to us, we saw it as a natural fit for our investment into world sport, our continued support of women’s sport and women’s golf.

“As a company, we have a long history in golf. It is a sport we played a key role in bringing to Saudi Arabia for the first time in the 1940s. We now proudly add the Aramco Team Series – London and the subsequent team events to the backing we give both the Kingdom’s annual professional golf tournaments – the Saudi International and the Saudi Ladies International – as we look to increase the visibility of golf in Saudi Arabia and support the Ladies European Tour.”

The Aramco Team Series – London and the other Aramco-sponsored team events in 2021 are particularly unique, given their world-first format. They will see 36 captains lead teams of four players, paired together through a draft system, with each team featuring one amateur golfer.

In addition to the team competition, professional players will also compete for the lowest individual score, for which there is a $200,000 prize up for grabs from the overall pot, alongside world and Solheim Cup ranking points.

Ladies European Tour CEO Alexandra Armas said: “To the LET, the Aramco Team Series – London and the subsequent team events are a massive moment of elevation for the women’s game, and to have a field as strong as we do in London is fantastic.

“As a Tour, we are always more than happy to do things a little differently – take risks, try new things, mix up the way we play and experience golf. That’s certainly what the Aramco Team Series – London promises to do.

“The action at Centurion will open an exciting new chapter in women’s golf and one we see as playing a massive role in the continued growth of the game.”

The Aramco Team Series – London takes place July 8-10^th at Centurion Club, near London. For more information, visit aramcoteamseries.com.