It’s cash that even the greatest critics of Saudi Arabian involvement in golf have had to admit has made a difference.
A million dollars is up for grabs in Sotogrande this week as the Aramco Team Series returns to the Spanish resort on the Ladies European Tour.
The huge prize fund has brought with it two of the global giants of the game – the Korda sisters, Nelly and Jessica – along with some of Europe’s biggest stars, including Anna Nordqvist and Anne van Dam.
Aramco’s sponsorship of the series has not been without controversy, since the tournaments are also being presented by the same Public Investment Fund that is bankrolling the LIV Golf Series.
At the Centurion tournament in June, Charley Hull, Bronte Law and Georgia Hall faced questions about the state-owned energy company’s involvement in golf given the country’s human rights record.
But Rory McIlroy has been among those who have pointed out the positive impact the Aramco Team Series has had on women’s golf and Nordqvist and Van Dam, who are both series ambassadors as well as being sponsored by Golf Saudi, say the company’s investment is transforming the lives of professional golfers in Europe.
“As a woman, we can’t just take opportunities for granted and it’s been really nice to see the Ladies European Tour growing over the last couple of years,” Nordqvist said.
“It has a lot of good talent out there and just seeing more and more tournaments being added to the schedule, and those that are out there growing, and so Aramco certainly has been a big factor in growing the women’s game.
“That’s what’s really important for women’s golf – to get opportunities because there’s so much talent all over the world.”
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She added: “If you look at the LET, I feel there hasn’t been enough events for a lot of the girls to even be a professional golfer all year round.
“They have to sometimes pick up a job in the winter to be able to play as a pro and I think that’s unfortunate because there is so much talent but there just hasn’t been enough opportunities.
“So I feel like ever since Aramco came in on the LET, a lot of those tournaments have grown and certainly you are seeing more players being able to live their dream as a golf professional. I think that’s very important.”
Van Dam, who along with Nordqvist will tee it up at Sotogrande for the first time, said she has been thrilled to see the growing field and the arrival of the Korda sisters this week – noting that more players now want to play in Europe as a result of the Aramco sponsorship.
She explained: “It’s been huge. They put a great amount of time, effort, and commitment into the European Tour and the girls playing there.
“It’s great for European golf. It was on a little bit of a downturn a few years ago, but it’s great to see them put this amount of money into it and what I hear is that they are very committed and only wanting, and hoping, to grow more and more.
“On the LET prize funds like this make a huge difference for most of the girls out there playing. A good finish could make them 50 or 60,000 – in the top five – and that’s so huge. At other tournaments, with a top five, you’re lucky if you get 10,000.
“So it’s a huge opportunity and it’s great for everyone playing on tour. From here, I hope we can keep growing and really build a very strong European Tour again.”
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