Saudi Arabia will host two consecutive tournaments as part of the Ladies European Tour (LET) golf series in 2020. The Aramco Saudi Ladies International will take place 12-15 November, followed by the Saudi Ladies Team International between 17-19 November. Both events will take place Royal Greens Golf Club on the Red Sea Coast near Jeddah.
The agreement marks the first female professional golf tournaments in the country and establishes the second-highest paid ladies’ non-major event with a total prize fund of USD $1.5 million.
Chief Executive of the LET, Alexandra Armas, said “We are extremely excited to be part of history in bringing the first-ever professional women’s golf event to Saudi Arabia and we are thankful to their commitment to deliver not one but two tournaments, in what has been a difficult year for golf.”
The decision is not without controversy as Saudi Arabia is considered one of the most repressive countries in the world for women’s rights. Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK criticised the choice of venue in an interview with the Guardian:
“Under the Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a major sportswashing drive – attempting to use the glamour and prestige of big-money sporting events as a PR tool to distract from its abysmal human rights record.”
The event has been created as part of Saudi’s Vision 2030, which seeks to modernise he country’s economy and society, with sports events being seen as a key driver of change and growth. Golf in particular is seen as a central sport, with the men’s European Tour signing a long-term deal in 2018 and the opening of new golf courses designed by golfing greats Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus.
Time will tell whether this lady’s event is merely a PR campaign by Saudi organisers or part of a genuine move towards a more progressive society. The hope of the LET is that these events provide a symbolic platform and give recognition to talented professional women both within Saudi and on the world stage.
Due to Covid-19, no public tickets will be available for the 2020 event.