LET announce ‘landmark’ purse for Saudi Ladies International
In what’s being hailed a “landmark moment for women’s sport”, the Ladies European Tour have announced the purse for the Aramco Saudi Ladies International will be matching the prize fund offered in the equivalent men’s event.
Starting in 2023, the tournament – funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – will bump its purse up five-fold from $1 million to $5 million, with the winner taking home $750,000.
This means female golfers competing at Royal Greens will be vying for the same prize money offered to the men in the PIF Saudi International, an event now being staged on the Asian Tour after the DP World cut its ties in 2021.
“The increased purse for the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF is a landmark moment for our Tour, and for women’s sport globally,” LET CEO Alexandra Armas said.
“It will allow the tournament to grow in every way, from its purpose and impact on social change to the delivery of exceptional experiences for fans and for players at the event and in the community.
“This is a message to all young women that golf is for them, and they can pursue the sport as a passion and as a career.”
Golf Saudi CEO Majed Al Sorour said: “We are delighted to offer the women equal prize money to the men from 2023 as part of our ambitious plans to attract the world’s best players and inspire homegrown talents.”
The announcement comes as part of a renewed agreement between the LET and Golf Saudi, a partnership which started in 2020 and established the Aramco Team Series.
Won by Georgia Hall in 2022, the Aramco Saudi Ladies International will assemble a field of 120 golfers from the LET, Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and sponsor invitations.
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George Cooper
A golf fanatic his entire life, George Cooper is NCG's man for all goings-on at the top level of the game, whether it's the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA or LIV Golf. He also looks after NCG's Twitter and Facebook accounts. George is a member of Woburn, but is not friends with Ian Poulter.
