The biggest names in women's golf have turned their attention to Saudi Arabia as they head east ahead of next month's back-to-back Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund and Aramco Team Series — Jeddah events. Taking place at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, the duo tournaments — which together form the Kingdom's debut Women in Sport Season — will see leading stars on the Ladies European Tour compete for a total of $2million in the space of a fortnight. First will be the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund (Nov. 4-7), where close to 100 players from around the world will go head-to-head for a share of $1million. Then, taking place Nov. 10-12, will be the final of four Aramco Team Series events, with the Jeddah leg following tournaments in London, Spain and New York, which launched on the LET for the first time this year. The new format sees three professional players team-up with an amateur player. As teams, they then compete to win a share of $800,000, with the best individual scorers also battling for a $200,000 prize-fund. The individual category of this month's New York leg was won by England's Charley Hull, who returns to Saudi Arabia after competing in last year's debut tournament. And the 25-year-old admitted she can't wait to get back out playing in the Kingdom. Speaking after her win in New York, Hull said: "I've loved the Aramco Team Series and played in every event so far — London, Spain, New York and Saudi Arabia is now next, and I can't wait. I played in Saudi Arabia last year and just thought it was a great event. The golf course was lovely so I'm really looking forward to getting back. "The Aramco Team Series isn't just a great event for the women on Tour but also for the amateurs who get to play and the fans who get to watch. It's a lot of fun. "For me, it will be great to get back to Saudi Arabia, especially with the support Golf Saudi and Aramco are giving the sport. Since last year's first event I've heard that a lot of young girls out in Saudi Arabia are taking up golf, which is so good to hear." Joining Hull at Royal Greens will be Denmark's Emily Kristine Pedersen, who recorded a clean sweep in KSA last year when she won the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund, then both the team and individual elements in what was then the Saudi Ladies Team International — the precursor to the Aramco Team Series. Pedersen said: "Last year was such a fantastic experience for me in Saudi Arabia. I loved the course, the weather, the people were so nice, and it was just a great ten days. I obviously have such fond memories so going back will certainly be special for me. "The Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund felt like a big moment in women's golf — something the Aramco Team Series has really built on this year, growing our game even further. All three ATS events so far this season I've really enjoyed so know the final one in Jeddah will be awesome too." Hull and Pedersen will be joined in Saudi Arabia by many other big-name players, including England's Annabel Dimmock — who posed alongside the pair in New York — Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), Minjee Lee (Australia) and Georgia Hall, also of England. Tickets for both tournaments at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City are available now, free of charge. — SG
