By Field Level Media
Sep 28 (Field Level Media) – Saudi Arabia continues to reshape its investment in professional golf, reducing its five-tournament women’s PIF Global Series in 2026 to one event on the Ladies European Tour for 2027.
The move comes after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund decided in April it would no longer fund the men’s LIV Golf tour after the 2026 season.
In a press release Monday distributed by the Ladies European Tour, the reduction from five events — and $15 million in purses — to one $4 million event called “The Championship” was labeled as a move that “strengthens” women’s golf in the kingdom.
The Championship is set to be played July 22-25 at a venue that has not yet been determined.
The Championship, which was played as the PIF London Championship last month, was won by 17-year-old Anna Huang of Canada.
In announcing its latest changes, Golf Saudi committed to a multi-year partnership with the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, the season-long points chase to determine the tour’s annual champion.
“We’re excited to add this championship to the LPGA Tour schedule alongside the (Ladies European Tour),” LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler said in a release. “With a strong multi-year partner and top players from both tours in the field, this event will bring a lot of energy and give players another great opportunity to compete during one of the biggest stretches of the season.”
Under the PIF Global Series, that started in 2021, 29 events will have been played on three continents through the end of the current calendar year.
“Our approach to women’s golf is built around the growth of the game in the Kingdom — it is the foundation of everything we do and is how we create a sustainable return on investment and a return on impact,” Golf Saudi CEO Noah Alireza said. “For us, the growth of the game is the growth of a whole industry. The players on this stage are the engines of that growth.”
(–Field Level Media)
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