STELLAR FIELD ASSEMBLED FOR ARAMCO SAUDI LADIES INTERNATIONAL

Emily Kristine Pedersen

After the LET’s season-opener in Kenya, the second event of the year is upon us, with the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund taking place this week.

The Tour returns to King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Royal Greens Golf & Country Club plays host to the third edition of the tournament.

Emily Kristine Pedersen won the inaugural tournament in 2020, while she has also taken home top honours in the team events (Saudi Team International and Aramco Team Series – Jeddah) held at the venue.

The Dane will return once again in 2022 and is one of many stars in the field which consists of 108 players from 27 countries as they compete in a 72-hole stroke play competition.

There are six Order of Merit champions in the field including Pedersen, who won the 2020 Race to Costa del Sol title, as well as England’s Georgia Hall (2017, 2018), South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace (2010), Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (2012), England’s Trish Johnson (1990) and England’s Laura Davies (1985, 1986, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2006).

Also teeing it up at Royal Greens are several winners from 2021 such as Slovenia’s Pia Babnik (Jabra Ladies Open, Aramco Team Series – Jeddah, Individual), Australia’s Steph Kyriacou (Big Green Egg Open), Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord (Aramco Team Series – London, Individual), England’s Bronte Law (Dubai Moonlight Classic), France’s Lucie Malchirand (Ladies Italian Open), Ciganda (Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España), Pace (Investec SA Women’s Open) and Pedersen (Aramco Team Series – Jeddah, Team).

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who won last year’s AIG Women’s Open, is the best ranked player in the field as she sits at number 15 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

At the end of 2021, American Gabriella Then won LET Q-School by four shots to secure her card for the 2022 season and she will be making her first appearance of the season at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

While England’s Lily May Humphreys will compete in her second LET event of the year after claiming the LET Access Series Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year titles in 2021.

Follow all the action on @LETGolf on Instagram and Twitter and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurgame #SaudiLadiesInt.