World’s top female golfers preparing to compete in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time with Georgia Hall, Amy Boulden and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth heading to the renowned Royal Greens Golf and Country Club next month

26th February 2020, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: English golf star Georgia Hall is the latest big name to be confirmed for the history-making inaugural Saudi Ladies International – in what will be the first time that professional female golfers have played competitively in the country.

Hall stunned the golfing world when she won the 2018 Women's British Open – the first woman from England to do so in 14 years. The 23-year-old won the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit in both 2017 and 2018 as well as winning the ‘Player of the Year’ accolade.    

Last year saw Hall part of a victorious European team that shocked the USA for a first Solheim Cup victory in six years, with the Bournemouth-born star competing in four matches in a tightly contested cup which saw Europe win 14 ½ points to 13 ½ 

The Saudi Ladies International marks the first-ever professional women’s golf tournament held in the Kingdom, with Hall confirmed as one of many headline names competing at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), near Jeddah, from March 19-22. 

“I am pleased to be part of the first Saudi Ladies International as they look to make golfing history in the country,” said Hall.  “From what I’ve seen of the golf course it looks a stunning set-up on the Red Sea and a pretty challenging test which will help us showcase the LET to newcomers to golf.”

Amy Boulden, who broke onto the golfing scene in 2013, will also compete in the debut tournament. She said: “Our game continues to break new ground and coming to new places like Saudi Arabia for the first time shows the ambition of Golf Saudi and the Tour.  I want to play well in a big event that can give me some momentum for the season.”
 
Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth is another big name in the field. Looking ahead to the tournament, she said: “Playing golf in front of new fans is the best way to grow the game and hopefully we inspire more girls to pick up a golf club and get involved in our great sport so I hope to see many people at the Championship next month.”

A field of 108 female professionals will contest for the $1 million prize fund – one of the richest prizes on the recently expanded Ladies European Tour calendar. The event has attracted players from across the golfing globe to tee it up in the Kingdom for the watershed tournament. 

Amongst the big names are the likes of Thailand’s teenage sensation, Atthaya Thitikul, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour at just 17 years of age, as well as experienced South African star Lee-Anne Pace, who has 12 worldwide victories to her name. 

Order of Merit winner Beth Allen, three time LET winner Carly Booth and Solheim Cup winner Azahara Munoz are the other big names announced to date. 

“Hosting another prestigious Championship in Saudi Arabia adds to an exciting golf calendar for fans in the region and with top female golfers from around the world coming to compete it is sure to excite in what is the first time we are seeing elite female golfers compete in the country,” said His Excellency Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, looking ahead to next month’s first-ever tournament.

“The championship is open for everybody to attend throughout the four days and I’d encourage everybody to go along, watch world class sport and enjoy the sport and entertainment on offer.” 

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, which is set within King Abdullah Economic City, has had an incredibly busy start to 2020, already playing host to the European Tour’s Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers.

At last month’s second staging, Major champion Graeme McDowell came out on top, marking his first title on the European Tour since 2014 – and pushing his world ranking from 104 to 47.

For information about Golf Saudi and the Saudi Ladies International, please visit:  www.golfsaudi.com/en-us/ladies-international/