Momoka Kobori has a special guest alongside her at this week’s PIF Saudi Ladies International as her brother Kazuma will be caddying.
It is a rare opportunity for the sibling duo as Kazuma, who is a rookie on the DP World Tour, is on an off week so he has come to help his older sister in Saudi Arabia.
“The idea happened probably late last year when we found out about the schedule,” said Momoka. “We were running through both of our schedules because he plays on DPWT, and we were just seeing what matches and we realised that this event just happened to fall on his off week.
“I didn’t really have a caddie set up at that point and he put his hand up to come over for a week in between. It just worked out really well with both of our schedules, which was really nice.
“I caddied for him recently, last year in the summer on the Korn Ferry Tour. He has caddied for me when I played my first LET event, the New Zealand Woman’s Open when there used to be one. He jumped on the bag then, but that was also when I was about 15 years old, so it’s been a while. It’ll be good fun.”
The PIF Saudi Ladies International will take place from February 13-15 at Riyadh Golf Club with a total prize fund of $5 million USD up for grabs.
It will be the first time that Kobori is teeing it up in the prestigious event, which will see a 54-hole individual stroke play alongside a 36-hole Team competition, but she has played at the golf course at other events.
“It’s actually my first time playing this event and with it being the biggest event on our schedule, I was actually really looking forward to being able to be here,” explained Momoka.
“With my category from last year, I’m really happy to get the opportunity to compete out here. It’s a great event, a great venue and a really cool place to be and start the season.
“It is always nice to know the course before you get into it, especially at a big event like this. We were quite lucky that we were only here about four months ago and not much has changed in terms of the course. It’s nice to come back to a familiar environment and go into it feeling like you’re a bit more prepared as well before you even start the week’s prep.”
With his next tournament in Kenya, Kazuma hadn’t planned to go home in the week between his events and so caddying for Momoka seemed the best plan.
The siblings, who began playing golf at around the same age growing up, are hoping to have fun in Riyadh.
“I’m just looking to help her out as much as possible,” said Kazuma. “I didn’t realise it was the biggest event on the schedule when I volunteered for this gig. I’m looking forward to the week, it should be fun.
“I wasn’t planning on touching a golf club anyway. My next event is in Kenya, so it wouldn’t make much sense for me to go back home. I thought I’d keep myself busy and she caddied for me in Chicago last year, so I’ve got to repay the favour.
“We started golf at pretty much the same time. She was definitely better early on; she probably is still better. She’s done very well with her game and is someone that I look up to. It’s great to see her do well.
“I think our parents are pretty stoked with our career so far, to say the least, but they haven’t had the opportunity to watch my sister play yet, so hopefully in the future they can come out to Europe and watch us play if the schedule aligns.”
Kobori was drawn as part of Team Henseleit and will be teeing it up at 9.57 am (local time) in the first round alongside Germany’s Esther Henseleit, Morocco’s Ines Laklalech and Spain’s Fatima Fernandez Cano.
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