All-star ambassador lineup set for PIF Saudi Ladies International

Golf Saudi Ambassador Charley Hull is set to compete at the PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club from Feb. 11-14. (Golf Saudi)
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Updated 10 February 2026
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All-star ambassador lineup set for PIF Saudi Ladies International

  • Golf Saudi’s elite field assembles as Ladies European Tour and PIF Global Series season kicks off in Riyadh

RIYADH: Golf Saudi’s international ambassador is set to battle it out for a $5 million prize fund at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, held at Riyadh Golf Club from Feb. 11-14.

As a part of the PIF Global Series, the tournament is the season opener of the Ladies European Tour and features a world-class field of elite international talent, headlined by World No. 5 Charley Hull.

The PIF Global Series provides a competitive international platform for the world’s best women golfers to compete alongside emerging talent at premier international venues. This season’s calendar reflects an expanding international presence and high-level competition, with upcoming stops including Las Vegas, London, Korea and Shenzhen.

Ambassadors will once again look to raise the profile of the game and act as an inspiration to local amateurs and newcomers to take up the game, not only with their performances on the course, but also by joining Go Golf clinics and driving range sessions with beginners and emerging talent at every venue.

The strong field will feature:

Charley Hull (England)

A seasoned champion with multiple global titles to her name, the 29-year-old brings a formidable track record to the field. Hull is no stranger to success in the Kingdom, having famously secured the individual title at the Riyadh Series in 2024. Her performance across the PIF Global Series has established her as a perennial fan favorite in the region; she looks to build on that momentum following a stellar run last year, where she secured top-10 finishes in both Riyadh and Houston.

Known for prioritizing fitness, mental wellbeing and work in the gym alongside honing her game, Hull made headlines at the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International by revealing she was focused on reducing her 5 km run time to 20 minutes by the year’s end.

“Every time I return to Riyadh, I’m blown away by how much the game has grown,” Hull said. “My preparation for the PIF Saudi Ladies International is about more than just golf; it’s about arriving as an athlete ready to perform on a world-class stage.”

“As a Golf Saudi ambassador, I want the next generation of young girls watching us at Riyadh Golf Club to see that with discipline and the right support, there are no limits. Being part of this journey where we see equal prize money is incredibly inspiring, and I’m proud to help show young girls what’s possible through the game.

“I haven’t yet got my PB down as I tore a ligament in my ankle in August, just as I was getting close to 20 minutes ... I’ve only just started running again but I hope to get to sub 20 this year!”

A proven contender in Saudi Arabia, the four-time LET winner arrives focused on delivering another crown.

Alison Lee (US)

The two-time PIF Global Series individual winner (Sotogrande, 2021, and Riyadh, 2023) and two-time Solheim Cup star returns to Riyadh Golf Club following her comeback at the Aramco Houston Championship, after a maternity break last year. The American also went on to play the final PIF Global Series event of 2025, in Shenzhen, six months after giving birth.

Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand)

A Major champion and one of Thailand’s leading lights, the 26-year-old has established herself as a force on the world stage. Following her victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International in 2024, the Thai returns to Riyadh Golf Club hungry for more success.

Tavatanakit said: “I feel good going into this week, and I’m super excited to get to Riyadh. This course and tournament have a special place in my heart, and I’m so lucky to count myself as a past champion. This event stands out on the calendar every year due to Golf Saudi’s incredible support of the athletes and of golf in general — we’re all looking forward to getting there for a great week!”

Carlota Ciganda (Spain)

A combined 11-time winner on the LPGA tour and the LET, the seven-time Solheim Cup-capped Spaniard will be looking to go one better than her last PIF Global Series outing in Houston, where she lost out to compatriot Nuria Iturrioz, finishing T2 with fellow Golf Saudi Ambassador Hull.

Marianne Skarpnord (Norway)

The 39-year-old has demonstrated age is no barrier at the top level, competing in 18 LET events in 2025 and with victories spanning all the way back to 2009, the Norwegian golfer will be looking to prove that age is just a number when competing at Riyadh Golf Club.

“Women’s golf has changed massively since I started on the tour in 2005,” Skarpnord said. “Over the last decade, the game has grown enormously, and the standard today is completely different. Golf Saudi has played a massive part in that — they are raising the profile of the women’s game, strengthening the fields and creating opportunities for us that simply didn’t exist before.”

Muni “Lily” He (China)

One of golf’s most popular players, the fan favorite finished T8 at Riyadh Golf Club in the 2025 edition of the PIF Saudi Ladies International, and while showing promise across the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, could 2026 be her breakthrough year?

Danielle Kang (USA)

A Major champion and six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, the American is set to return to the PIF Global Series after finishing in the top 30 of the Aramco Houston Championship in 2025. The 33-year-old is no stranger to adversity, however, overcoming significant back injuries and health issues to continue challenging on the world’s biggest stages.

Olivia Cowan (Germany)

Competing in all five PIF Global Series events in 2025, the ever-present German finished inside the top 20 on three occasions, with a best placed T4 at the PIF London Championship at Centurion Club. She will be hoping to add another stellar performance to kick start her season in Saudi Arabia.

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France)

A two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, including a victory at the PIF Global Series — Singapore in 2023, the 25-year-old will be aiming to add to her accolades this year, starting at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.


Guardiola hails Man City’s ‘massive’ win over Newcastle

Updated 22 February 2026
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Guardiola hails Man City’s ‘massive’ win over Newcastle

  • Guardiola’s second-placed side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with their tense victory at the Etihad Stadium

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola labelled Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday as a “massive” moment in the Premier League title race.
Guardiola’s second-placed side closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to just two points with their tense victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Nico O’Reilly put City ahead in the first half and restored the lead before half-time after Lewis Hall had equalized.
City weren’t at their best in the second half, but they held on to pile pressure on spluttering Arsenal, who travel to Tottenham for the north London derby on Sunday.
Guardiola knew it was essential to make Arsenal sweat.
“Massive. Newcastle is an incredible team, awesome in physicality and speed they have up front. Physicality in the middle. Really tough but the team was unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s coming in best part of the season. Every single game will be similar to today.”
After finishing without a trophy last season, City are back in the hunt for the seventh English title of Guardiola’s reign.
They will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend and are guaranteed to win the title if they win their last 11 league matches.
Guardiola has embarked on an expensive overhaul of City’s squad in the last 12 months, shedding aging stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Kyle Walker and bringing in the likes of Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki.
The Spaniard is well aware that his new generation largely lacks the experience of winning under the pressure of a title race, which made their gritty success against Newcastle even more meaningful.
“70 percent of the players have never been in that situation, and I don’t play. So we have to live it, they know that every game will be like this,” he said.
“Especially at home, with five home games left. Today was the best crowd of the year, it was unbelievable with our people, really proud to be manager of these incredible people and fans.
“Of course in terms of points it’s important, but we have to improve to have chance to compete until the end. Now we deserve three more days off. Then another battle in Leeds.”
Guardiola singled out O’Reilly for praise after the young England midfielder’s pair of clinical finishes showed he won’t be affected by the strain of chasing Arsenal.
“Nico give us in the middle that physicality that we need. He now plays in his position,” he said.
“He has always played that, he is so complete and so young. I am really pleased the academy produced these incredible players, Nico, Phil (Foden), Rico (Lewis).”