Pioneering research was being conducted at the 2026 PIF Saudi Ladies International by Ladies European Tour (LET) nutritionist Amy O’Donnell.
During the first tournament of the 2026 LET season, O’Donnell was conducting research as part of her PhD investigating energy expenditure of female professional golfers on the LET.
Players were wearing Actiheart monitors to measure their heart rate and accelerometery (movement) during tournament rounds to see the levels of energy expenditure.
The research, which is being supported by the LET Performance Institute (LETPI), The R&A and Golf Saudi, is one of the first of its kind especially in female professional golfers.
It is hoped that once completed, the research will be able to show any differences between male and female requirements, especially on the golf course, as well as providing further insight for players on how to fuel and recover well.
O’Donnell said: “We’re doing this research to help practitioners in different disciplines. Myself in nutrition, the S&C coaches and physios – everyone that is part of the LETPI. We want to give the players guidance on how they may fuel and recover better.
“It will also help the LETPI practitioners know how much players are expending in their S&C and physio sessions which gives better recovery strategies especially for our players.”
LET player Annabell Fuller, who was participating in the research in Riyadh, said: “Everyone is so good now, it’s about finding the 1%. Knowing how to fuel and how much [energy] you’re burning on the golf course, people don’t realise when it comes to those last few finishing holes how important it can be.
“I like to go to the gym a lot and train a lot so knowing how much I need to eat for practice round vs. a tournament vs. workouts. Recovery is a big part of that is what you’re eating and how much you’re eating. Knowing how much I should eat on different days could make all the difference.”
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