Britons Charley Hull and Georgia Hall set for Riyadh showdown at Aramco Team Series

World No. 14 Charley Hull is set to go against childhood friend Georgia Hall in the Saudi Arabian capital. (Supplied)
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Updated 17 October 2024
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Britons Charley Hull and Georgia Hall set for Riyadh showdown at Aramco Team Series

  • With nine top 10 finishes in 10 Series appearances, Hull is eager to convert her strong performances into a win
  • Hall, motivated by a narrow playoff loss in London, is determined to claim first individual Series title

RIYADH: Charley Hull is determined to end her 2024 season with a win as she prepares to go head-to-head against Major winner Georgia Hall at Riyadh Golf Club from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

The duo, who represented Team Europe in 2024’s Solheim Cup and Team GB in Paris, join Alison Lee of the United States and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit as headline players in an electrifying conclusion to the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF, organized by Golf Saudi.

Hull has an impressive track record in the Series, notching up nine top 10 finishes in just 10 appearances. This includes a triumphant individual title win in New York in 2021.

“Competing in Riyadh at the Aramco Team Series this year is a fantastic opportunity for me,” said Hull. “After finishing second in both Tampa and Korea I feel my game is in great shape, and I’m eager to turn those near-misses into a win.”

Since the inception of women’s professional golf in the Kingdom in 2020, Hull has competed in Saudi Arabia eight times.

Reflecting on her experiences, Hull, who became a Golf Saudi ambassador this year, said she had noticed the remarkable growth of golf in Saudi Arabia since her first appearance.

“The work that Golf Saudi continue to do in introducing more women and girls to the game through these events and beyond is inspiring, and the legacy they are creating is one I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of,” she said.

“The sport has grown (in) leaps and bounds here. Last year, we saw the move of the tournaments to Riyadh which I think really shows the Kingdom’s increasing passion for the sport, with more and more fans coming to watch us.”

Meanwhile, Hall has proven her ability to lead a team to victory, winning the 2023 Aramco Team Series presented by PIF in London. She has also enjoyed individual success on Saudi soil, capturing the Aramco Saudi Ladies International 2022 title in Jeddah.

This year, she narrowly missed repeating her team success in London, losing in a thrilling three-hole playoff for the team title, and she remains determined to capture her first individual title in Riyadh.

“The playoff loss in London was hard, especially after coming so close to defending our team title, but it’s moments like those that fuel my determination,” she said.

“I’m more motivated than ever to secure another Aramco Team Series title, and Riyadh is the perfect stage for that. I’m looking forward to the challenge and putting on a great performance for the fans.”

The final showdown of the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF will see the player and fan-favorite format return to Riyadh, with 28 teams competing over three days.


FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign welcomes Palestinian student

Updated 08 December 2025
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FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign welcomes Palestinian student

  • Ghada Ashour, 24, who grew up in Gaza, becomes fifth scholar selected for FIA’s flagship scholarship initiative

DUBAI: The FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign has welcomed Ghada Ashour, a 24-year-old student from Palestine, to its flagship scholarship program, created to empower the next generation of researchers in the fight against online abuse in sport.

Ashour grew up in Gaza where she had been studying remotely until gaining a place on the UAOA scholarship, which brought her to Dublin City University, Ireland.

Becoming the fifth scholar to join the program, she was selected based on her interests in social media, and passion for advancing insights in this area for the benefit of sportspeople.

Launched in 2023, the program offers talented students and young professionals from diverse backgrounds the chance to engage in research on the impact, prevalence, and prevention of online abuse in sport.

Funded by the FIA Foundation, the UAOA scholars have been selected to undertake research dedicated to positive social change.

Ashour’s thesis, which will be printed in English and Arabic, will focus specifically on the relationship between athlete activism and online abuse.

Athletes increasingly speak out on war, conflict, and social and environmental issues. Although the attention such athletes bring can be positive, research indicates it can lead to significant abuse.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, founder of the UAOA campaign, said: “The FIA is committed to extending opportunities across the world while inspiring and developing the next generation.

“Education lies at the core of this mission, and I am pleased to welcome Ghada as the latest student in the UAOA Scholarship Programme.

“Her experience and research will help broaden the international perspective on this critical issue. This pioneering research program will help ensure we safeguard the future of sport for generations to come.”

Ashour said she was “truly grateful” to the FIA leader: “It is a dream come true to study the subject I am passionate about at a leading institution in this field.

“I am so excited to advance the field of research in online abuse in sport and to contribute to this prevalent topic which is impacting so many people’s lives on a daily basis.”

The UAOA’s 2025 Barometer Report found that 75 percent of sports federations report continued threats against competitors and their families, and that 90 percent believe abuse could force athletes to leave their sport.

Dublin City University is a leading academic institution in the study of online abuse.

Each scholar is fully funded and mentored by leading experts in the field. They are able to attend UAOA events, where they can share their findings with a global audience of policymakers, sports federations, and digital platforms.

The inaugural cohort of four UAOA scholars included participants from Italy, South Africa, the UK, and Mexico.