Korea is calling on the Ladies European Tour (LET) this week as the circuit heads to Seoul for the second Aramco Team Series presented by PIF event of 2024.
Staged in the country’s capital for the first time in history at New Korea Country Club, 108 players from 36 nations will tee up vying for their share of USD $1,000,000 in both the Team and Individual competitions.
Before play gets underway in Seoul, here are six storylines to look out for…
MAJOR DEBUT
All eyes will be on South Korean superstar Hyo-Joo Kim this week as the one-time Major winner looks to put on a show in front of her home fans.
Kim will be making her Aramco Team Series debut in Seoul and arrives home as World No 12 in the Rolex World Golf Rankings after picking up two top-10s in 2024 on the LPGA Tour.
Raised in Wonju just over an hour away from her nation’s capital, Kim is one of three South Korean players in the field teeing up alongside Jo-Eun Kim and Do Yeon Park.
SOLHEIM STARS IN SEOUL
Talking of superstar invitees, much attention will also be on England’s Charley Hull and America’s Danielle Kang in Korea as the Solheim Cup mainstays go in search of their first win of the season.
Born to South Korean parents, Kang is excited to return to familiar territory in the ninth event of the Ladies European Tour (LET) season and will be looking to go one better after finishing runner-up in this event last year in Singapore.
Her Solheim Cup rival Hull meanwhile arrives in Seoul hot in form after returning to World No 7 in the Rolex Rankings – her highest ever position.
The Englishwoman is currently fifth in the Order of Merit through two tournaments after finishing third at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and runner-up at the preceding Aramco Team Series – Tampa event.
ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD DEFENDING
At this event last year in Singapore it was all about Pauline Roussin-Bouchard as the Frenchwoman produced some of the finest golf ever seen on the LET in the final round firing a 64 (-8) to see off Kang and Lydia Ko and hoist the trophy.
Having committed to a full season on the LET, the two-time winner will be excited to defend her crown and arrives in Seoul in solid form sitting 11th in the Order of Merit.
SEASON HEATING UP
Speaking of the Order of Merit – the season long race to crown the LET’s number one player – things are now perfectly poised heading into a new week with the top three players in the standings all teeing up.
Leading the way and bang in form on 1,120.15 points is England’s Bronte Law. The three-time LET winner has one win, one runner-up finish and one top three to her name this season after claiming glory at the Lalla Meryem Cup.
Hot on her heels are the two most recent winners, Belgium’s Manon De Roey on 962.17 points and Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini 810.00 points.
With all three taking to the fairways this week at New Korea Country Club, expect an exciting weekend of golf with plenty of movement across the standings.
UNIQUE FORMAT
Once again the format is the same as other ATS events with the Individual and Team competitions being played simultaneously. The Team competition will be played over 36-holes over the first two days with the best two scores counting, while the Individual is a 54-hole stroke play competition with the last round just having the top-60 professionals and ties competing.
There are 108 professionals teeing it up this week and there will be 36 teams contending for the top prize.
Each team will consist of three professionals and one amateur with the captains decided based upon the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings on Monday 6th May. The draft will take place on Wednesday night and will see captains pick in reverse order of ranking.
HISTORY IN KOREA
Last but not least, history is being made in South Korea this week as the LET heads to the nation’s capital, Seoul, for the very first time.
A golfing mad country, the LET has previously visited South Korea on three occasions at Jeju Island in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
This year’s venue, New Korea Country Club, is located just north of the city centre and is known for his stunning mountainous views and narrow fairways. It is set to provide a tough test for the stars of the LET in the ninth event of the season.
Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Korea gets underway on Friday morning. Follow the tournament @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame #SeeTheImpact.
