FLORIDA, US: Major winner and Solheim Cup star Lexi Thompson is to spearhead an array of golf talents at Tampa Bay in Florida in the Aramco Team Series presented by the Public Investment Fund from March 8-10.
Gearing up for its fourth year, the series is taking place at Tampa Bay for the first time, with the elite of women’s golf set to compete at Feather Sound Country Club, Clearwater.
Chasing her 16th professional win, Thompson is looking to add a second Aramco Team Series presented by PIF trophy to her collection.
The favorite will not be short of hungry competition with last year’s winner Carlota Ciganda seeking to prove her worth once again.
Thompson said: “With the Aramco Team Series returning to Florida this year, it was a no-brainer to put myself in contention for the event. It’s always great to be able to compete at home with that local support, especially to do so in such a unique tournament that has so much collaborative spirit.”
To triumph at home in the Aramco Team Series would be a highlight for the sporting star.
She added: “To be a part of an event that not only celebrates skill but also champions women’s golf, at home and beyond, is truly special.”
Shane Crawford, the general manager at Feather Sound Country Club, said: “Hosting an event of this caliber allows us to contribute to the continued growth of golf here in Tampa, and we look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike.”
Established in 2021, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF is a unique three-day event in which teams of three professionals and one amateur combine, battling for the prestigious team trophy. The overall top performing golfer challenges for the individual title and a win on the Ladies European Tour.
The series spans five locations across three continents this year: Tampa Bay, Seoul, London, a city in Asia yet to be announced, and Riyadh — with a $1 million prize purse at stake in each event.
The Florida event is the only opportunity for European golfers on the LET to get solid experience on US soil before heading back there to do battle for the Solheim Cup later in the year.
Lexi Thompson looks to make waves in Tampa Bay at Aramco Team Series presented by PIF
https://arab.news/c6ssf
Lexi Thompson looks to make waves in Tampa Bay at Aramco Team Series presented by PIF
- Golfer is chasing her 16th professional win, second triumph in series
- ‘It was a no-brainer to put myself in contention for the event,’ she says
Canada’s Lee sets pace, Kim in the hunt for LIV Golf wild card spots
- LIV Golf Promotions in Florida offers top 3 finishers a chance to play in 2026 regular season
LECANTO: Canada’s Richard T. Lee has proved the player to watch during the first three days at LIV Golf Promotions and is now well-placed for a wild-card spot in the 2026 LIV Golf season.
Anthony Kim, meanwhile, found another gear on the back nine on Saturday, putting him in a better position to return to full-time status in the league.
The final 18 holes of the 36-hole shootout at Black Diamond Ranch take place on Sunday with a potentially career-changing reward for the top three finishers — guaranteed LIV Golf wild-card status for 2026. In addition, the top 10 and ties earn exemptions into the Asian Tour’s International Series.
For the second time this week, Lee led the field with a bogey-free 6-under 64. The 35-year-old will take a two-shot lead over his closest pursuers going into Sunday, giving him a significant advantage. However, he does not plan to take his foot off the gas.
“Honestly, I don’t think it would be comfortable for any player to have a two-shot lead on the last day,” said Lee, who has two eagles, 13 birdies and just one bogey in his 54 competitive holes this week. “I’ll just put my hat on and just play my golf.”
Kim is among three players who are tied for second after shooting a bogey-free 4-under 66, along with South Africa’s Oliver Bekker and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond. Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard is solo fifth after his 3-under 67, with five other players lurking at 1 under.
Kim, who played as a wild card in the past two seasons following his return to competitive golf after a 12-year retirement, was just 1 under through 12 holes on Saturday. But he made consecutive lengthy birdie putts at the 13th and 14th holes, birdied the par-5 16th, then saved par with a 15-footer at the par-4 18th that circled the cup before dropping.
“I have an opportunity to get one of those spots,” said the 40-year-old, the only American to advance to the weekend. “That’s what I asked for coming into this week and put myself in a good position. Now I’ve just got to go finish.”
Kim would not be in this position had he not made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th on Friday to make the cut on the number.
“I knew that if I didn’t make birdie on 18 [Friday] that my chances of playing on LIV next year were gone, and to me that’s a big deal,” Kim said. “I’d like to play at the highest level against the best players. It meant a lot to me.”
Bekker was part of LIV Golf’s inaugural field at the 2022 London tournament. Four seasons later, he’s excited about the opportunity to return to the league as a full-time member.
“Thinking back on it now, I had the opportunity to play a few more events, and now I’m like, well, maybe I should have played them,” he said. “The water was a bit rough at that stage and didn’t know what was going to happen, so I played it a bit safe. Luckily, I’ve been given another opportunity this week, and hopefully I can take it.”
Janewattananond won four tournaments in 2019 when he became a top 50 world player and, aged 30, still has years left in his competitive career. After shooting a second-round 67 to advance to the weekend, he shot a 66 on Saturday that included four birdies in a six-hole stretch to end his front nine.
“It’s a very big prize at the end of the day,” he said. “Those three spots up for grabs, it would give me freedom to play wherever I want and security for my family.”
The 34-year-old Bjerregaard, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, said earning full-time LIV Golf status would be career-changing.
“Where I am in my career right now, it’s probably that or retirement,” he said. “Yeah, that would mean a lot for sure.”
Although nothing is guaranteed, Lee has played so well this week that there may be just two spots available for the remainder of the field.
“We’re not playing for one spot,” said Janewattananond. “I don’t have to worry about him. I just have to worry about myself.”
“He played great today,” added Bjerregaard, playing in the same group as Lee on Saturday. “But I would be happy with any of the other two spots, so that’s fine. I can finish third. I wouldn’t mind.”
