Leading players from across women’s golf are relishing the opportunity to tee it up at the Aramco Team Series – New York this week.
Trump Golf Links at Ferry Points plays host to the second edition of the tournament, which has a format of a 54-hole Individual event alongside a 36-hole Team event.
The prize fund of USD $1 million is split between the two competitions with a prize pool of USD $500,000 for the Team competition and USD $500,000 for the Individual competition.
Three of the top 10 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are in town with Americans Nelly Korda (number four) and Lexi Thompson (number eight) alongside Canada’s Brooke Henderson (number six).
While the best golfers from Europe are in attendance with Solheim Cup stars Leona Maguire, Charley Hull, Carlota Ciganda, Madelene Sagström, Anna Nordqvist and Emily Kristine Pedersen, as well as legend of the game Dame Laura Davies.
The field is stacked with LET winners from the 2022 season including Czech star Klara Spilkova, the winner last time out at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, Morocco’s Ines Laklalech who made history last month with her maiden LET victory and Sweden’s Maja Stark – who sits second in the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol.
Players who have had previous success in this format in 2022 are back and hoping for more with Individual champions Bronte Law (Aramco Team Series – London), Manon De Roey (Aramco Team Series – Bangkok), as well as Nelly Korda (Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande).
And the younger of the Korda sisters, who finished second individually in this event last year, enjoys playing with a team.
“It’s nice to switch it up for a team aspect,” said Korda. “I think it’s very different and it’s fun, and throughout the season competing and traveling gets a little tiring, so it’s kind of a breath of fresh air having a team and doing a little something different throughout the season.”
The world number four selected Finland’s Noora Komulainen as her captain’s pick and the duo will also be joined by France’s Celine Herbin and amateur James Rawson.
Speaking about the test the field will face this week, Korda is expecting to have to deal with some weather conditions during the first round.
She added: “I think we are expecting a bit of weather tomorrow, so it all depends on that. It’s a beautiful track, with some really amazing it views, too, especially if you get on top of one of the mounds on the golf course. The greens are a little tougher. They are a little undulated so that will play a good defence as well.”
Major winner Thompson will tee it up alongside fellow American Kelly Whaley, as well as Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck and amateur Brice Butler at 10.51am local time.
And she also agrees it will be a tough test, but likes playing alongside an amateur and being able to give them insight into the life of a professional.
“I think golf being such an individual sport, it’s always the same every week for us most of the time,” said Thompson.
“So, it’s nice to have a little bit of a change and a team aspect to it and to be able to be paired with an amateur and to let them in kind of on a golfer’s experience and how we prepare and take on a golf course, it gives them a little insight. It’s different and I think that’s what golf needs.
“It’s an amazing golf course in great shape. To take on this golf course, keep it in the fairways and there’s some fescue in there. It will be weather depending, if it’s super windy there’s not too much to block it, so keeping a trajectory on the ball flight.”
Solheim Cup star and LPGA Tour winner Maguire is playing in her first Aramco Team Series event and also expects a challenge from the course.
“It’s my first time playing in New York this week so I’m looking forward to that and there’s a lot of Irish living here, so hopefully there will be some home supporters this week,” said the 27-year-old, who is playing alongside England’s Liz Young, India’s Tvesa Malik and amateur Golden Tate.
“It looks linksy, but I don’t know if I’d say it plays linksy. It’s got the views; you look out and see the skyline and you’ve got the bridges. It’s playing a little bit long, the greens are a little bit slopy in places, so I think it will be a tough test.”
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