As the Race to Costa del Sol draws towards its dramatic conclusion, the elite of the Ladies European Tour (LET) will compete for the inaugural Mallorca Ladies Golf Open this week in the penultimate event of the 2023 season.
Taking place between 16-18 November, the event marks the first professional women’s tournament of this level on the island, representing a significant milestone for both sports promotion and for Mallorca.
The Mallorca Ladies Golf Open will take place at the challenging Golf Son Muntaner course over 54 holes, with no cut, offering a prize pool of €400,000.
Marking the 28th event of the season, the event brings together a lineup of 72 players from 22 countries. The field is comprised of 64 players from the top of the Race to Costa del Sol standings as well as eight invitees.
Noteworthy is the participation of six players ranked inside the top ten of the Race to Costa del Sol, including India’s Diksha Dagar, Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab, Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson, Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino, Czechia’s Klara Davidson Spilkova and England’s Gabriella Cowley.
Also in the field are Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, star of the Solheim Cup in September, as well as local players Luna Sobron and Nuria Iturrioz – the latter a four-time winner on the LET.
With an impressive lineup and a fantastic showcase of the course, the event promises a unique spectacle for golf enthusiasts and sports fans alike.
The tournament, presented by Pilar Carbonell, the General Director of e|motion sports in Spain, features contributions from Edwin Weindorfer, CEO of e|motion, Francisco Vila, CEO of Arabella Hoteles e Inversiones de España S.A. (AHEISA), Bernardino Jaume Mulet, President of the Balearic Golf Federation, and professional Mallorcan players Iturrioz and Sobron.
On Friday morning, the official presentation press conference for the Mallorca Ladies Golf Open took place at Arabella Golf Mallorca – Son Muntaner.
Francisco Vila, director of Arabella Hoteles e Inversiones SA: “We are incredibly excited to once again host an event as significant as the Mallorca Ladies Golf Open at Son Muntaner. An international event of this caliber is very special to us, allowing us to continue working steadfastly to solidify the de-seasonalization of tourism in Mallorca. We see this as a gift for golf and sports enthusiasts, but above all, a highly positive initiative for the Mallorcan society.”
Edwin Weindorfer, CEO of e|motion Group: “Hosting an LET event in Mallorca is, first and foremost, yet another demonstration of e|motion’s commitment to Mallorca. If in 2022 we witnessed the best European players, this time it’s the women’s turn to highlight the role of women in sports. This is one of the commitments of the e|motion Group. A first edition with a stellar lineup of players, on a challenging course, with fantastic presentation, and the incentive of having two Mallorcan players among the participants. Unprecedented global media coverage with daily broadcasts, doubling down on our commitment to sustainability, which is easily achievable at Son Muntaner as Arabella has been working in the same direction. In summary, the best promotion for golf and for Mallorca.”
Bernardino Jaume, President of the Balearic Golf Federation, expressed immense satisfaction in “continuing to have a tournament of this caliber, as it signifies recognition for the work done in recent years and a great promotion for Mallorca as a golf destination. He thanked Edwin Weindorfer for e|motion’s commitment to sporting values and Mallorca, Arabella and their team for their excellent work, and the sponsoring companies and collaborating institutions for illustrating that public-private collaboration is the answer. He concluded by wishing luck to Luna and Nuria and highlighting the presence of amateur players Sandra Vázquez and María Mora.”
Sobron expressed gratitude to e|motion Group for making this first professional women’s tournament in Mallorca possible. She noted, “It’s an honour to play a circuit tournament in Mallorca, so close to my home.” She reminisced about her early steps in golf, starting at two years old with a pacifier in her mouth at Son Vida course. For her, “it’s a dream come true,” and she hopes the responsibility doesn’t affect her game, aiming for victory.
Iturrioz expressed her eagerness to begin the tournament, stating, “I can’t wait for next week to start the competition.” She also wanted to thank e|motion Group for making this dream a reality, extending her gratitude to the President of the Balearic Golf Federation for their years of effort toward the same goal. She concluded by stating, “I’m going for the win!”
The two Mallorcan players have agreed on the excellent conditions of the course.
Pilar Carbonell then passed the floor to Pere Joan Planas, Director of the AETIB, who expressed immense satisfaction at the hosting of this Ladies European Tour tournament. He emphasized the importance of promoting the destination of Mallorca and grassroots sports, evident in the participation of two local players in the tournament. He concluded by highlighting the significance of the environment and circularity, commending the commitment of e|motion Group and Arabella. “Just look at the setting we’re in, pointing out the green of the course.”
Javier Bonet expressed great satisfaction with this new international event in the city of Palma. He congratulated the organisation, the Balearic Federation, and Arabella, stating that “for Palma, attracting quality tourism is essential, and golf is undoubtedly the best calling card and an ideal way to promote Palma, its gastronomy, and shopping throughout the year.”
Carbonell concluded with a special mention of sustainability and the collaboration with Waterdrop, which has created a special bottle for the event available for all visitors, refillable at the course’s water stations.
After thanking the authorities for their presence and support, acknowledging the media’s attendance, she wished Iturrioz and Sobron good luck and an excellent week of golf for the Mallorcan enthusiasts.
Fans can purchase tickets at www.mallorcagolfopen.com. Follow all the action @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame #MallorcaLadiesOpen
