RIYADH: Charley Hull carded a seven-under 65 in the final round of the $5 million PIF Saudi Ladies International to be crowned the champion of the Ladies European Tour season opener.
Hull proved her affection for Riyadh Golf Club once again — she previously won here in 2024 and three further top 10s in the Saudi capital — scrambling through a packed field, posting seven birdies and an eagle on the par five 12th courtesy of a 60-foot putt.
The 29-year-old, who now has five LET wins to her name, had a nervy wait after holing a birdie putt on her 72nd hole of the week to post the clubhouse lead in the first PIF Global Series event of the year.
Clutching the trophy, Hull said: “I feel great, and I love this golf course, and I like how it’s really matured over the years. It’s getting trickier each year. The grass is getting thicker, and I just really like it. It was a good challenge.
“I’ve worked really hard this off-season, so it’s nice to see results straight away. It’s one of the bigger events on the LET, and it feels like a home event for me because I’m a Golf Saudi ambassador. So, it’s really special to win for my sponsors.”
South Africa’s Casandra Alexander made her own back-nine charge for the title, birdieing four out of a five-hole stretch between 11-15. A bogey on the par three 17th left the 26-year-old, who contested a Sunshine Tour playoff just last week, needing a birdie to force another one, but the crucial putt missed its mark, finishing runner-up for the second week in a row alongside Japan’s Akie Iwai.
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda made a consistent start to the season with an opening round of 67, followed by three 68s to tie for fourth with third-round co-leader Hye-Jin Choi from Korea.
England’s prodigious Mimi Rhodes, who led the field after the first two rounds but lost ground with a score of level par on Friday, rallied with a convincing five-under par 67 to finish joint sixth.
The PIF Global Series heads to Las Vegas for its second stop, making a historic West Coast debut. This event signals the first time both the PIF Global Series and the Aramco Championship will be hosted in the region, bringing elite-level competition to one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment destinations. Scheduled from April 2–5, the tournament will see players competing for a prestigious $4 million prize fund.
