The Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF will feature a $5 million purse in 2023, up from $1 million this year, the Ladies European Tour has announced. The purse will now equal that of the men’s PIF Saudi International on the Asian Tour.
The 2023 tournament will take place Feb. 16-19 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City and feature a field of 120 players from the LET, Rolex Rankings and sponsor exemptions. The winner will receive $750,000.
Georgia Hall won this year’s edition. The 2023 Aramco Saudi Ladies International will be staged the week prior to the Honda LPGA Thailand.
“The increased purse for the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF is a landmark moment for our tour, and for women’s sport globally,” said LET CEO Alexandra Armas in a statement. “It will allow the tournament to grow in every way, from its purpose and impact on social change to the delivery of exceptional experiences for fans and for players at the event and in the community. This is a message to all young women that golf is for them, and they can pursue the sport as a passion and as a career.”
In addition to the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, the 2022 LET schedule also featured the Aramco Team Series, comprised of five events staged across the globe. Winners of those events this year include Manon De Roey, Bronte Law, Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson. The final event in the series takes place this week in Saudi Arabia.
The LET’s Saudi-backed events remain controversial given the wide-ranging human rights abuses Saudi Arabia has been accused of, especially toward women.
On Tuesday at the Pelican Ladies Championship in Belleair, Florida, officials announced that next year’s renamed event – THE ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican – will feature a $3.25 million purse, the largest on tour outside of the majors and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
