In her signature all-or-nothing style, Charley Hull carded a seven-under 65 in the final round of the $5 million PIF Saudi Ladies International to be crowned champion of the Ladies European Tour season opener.
On Valentine’s Day, England’s World No. 5 once again proved her affection for Riyadh Golf Club. Hull has previously won at the venue in 2024 and has recorded three further top-10 finishes in the Saudi capital.
Scrambling through a packed field, she posted seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five 12th, courtesy of a decisive 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 and 15. But a bogey on the par-three 17th left the 26-year-old needing a birdie to force a playoff, and the crucial putt missed its mark, as she finished 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 Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi.
England’s Mimi Rhodes, who led the field after the first two rounds, rallied with a five-under-par 67 to finish joint sixth.
The event also saw strong community engagement, with 775 CSR participants from institutions across the Kingdom joining forces to support the milestone tournament, alongside the Cancer Survivor Charity, Ensan Orphanage, and the Make Their Wish Charity.
The PIF Global Series now heads to Las Vegas for its second stop, scheduled from April 2–5, where players will compete for a $4 million prize fund.
For more information, visit pifglobalseries.com.
