The Aramco Championship made its debut at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas last weekend (2-5 April) as the second stop of the 2026 PIF Global Series, a five-event series on the Ladies European Tour calendar.
Co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, the event brought together the world’s golf players in one of the strongest fields of the season.
The series opened earlier this year in Riyadh with the PIF Saudi Ladies International, won by Charley Hull, and will continue across London, Seoul and Shenzhen.
Here are eight highlights that defined the weekend.
American Lauren Coughlin Secured Her First Win on Home Soil
Lauren Coughlin delivered a wire-to-wire victory, finishing five shots clear of Nelly Korda to secure her third LPGA Tour title and first on U.S. soil.
On a course that punished inconsistency, her performance stood out for its control – steady across four rounds, and decisive when it mattered
All of the world’s top 20 were in the field
Shadow Creek hosted one of the strongest fields in women’s golf this season, with all of the world’s top 20 players competing.
The line-up included Jeeno Thitikul, Nelly Korda, Kim Hyo-joo and Charley Hull, just to name a few.
This level of field strength remains rare and reflects increasing alignment at the top of the women’s game.
A $4M prize purse, among the largest in the women’s game
The $4 million prize fund places the Aramco Championship among the most valuable events in women’s golf outside of the majors.
It reflects sustained investment at the top end of the game – raising both the competitive standard and the expectations around elite events.
Anne van Dam returned, just eight weeks after giving birth
Anne van Dam returned to competition at Shadow Creek just eight weeks after becoming a mother.
Competing for the first time since welcoming her daughter Josephine in February, the Dutch star and Golf Saudi Ambassador stepped back onto the global stage with a new perspective, balancing life as a mother, world-class golfer, and Europe’s Solheim Cup Vice Captain.
Her presence, competing at one of the most significant events on the calendar, reflects an evolving landscape in women’s sport, where athletes are increasingly able to maintain continuity across life stages.
Co-sanctioning marks a milestone
The tournament was co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour – marking the first time the two tours have co-sanctioned an event on United States soil. The co-sanctioning means that players receive points that count for both Tours.
As shared by the Associated Press, Golf Saudi chief investment officer Thomas Rudy said that the tournament is “a strong case study” to expand this type of partnership to other locations in the U.S.
The championship also represented the first time Golf Saudi has partnered with the LPGA, strengthening the PIF Global Series’ alignment with the top tier of women’s golf.
Inclusion in action, from Shadow Creek to the Kingdom
Alongside elite competition, the week also highlighted efforts to expand access to the game.
A session led by GoGolf in collaboration with the Muslim Golf Association brought more than 150 participants, many of them first-time players, onto the course at Shadow Creek.
This approach highlights Golf Saudi’s broader strategy: pairing high-profile events with grassroots initiatives that introduce new audiences to the game. Clinics held throughout the week aimed to create accessible entry points for beginners, while reinforcing a longer-term objective, building participation pathways and inspiring the next generation of players.
Women’s sport becomes central to investment and strategy
Across the week, conversations extended well beyond the course.
At the Women in Sport Playbook session and the FII Elevated Green forum, the focus was clear: women’s sport is no longer just growing in visibility, it is becoming a driver of audience growth, commercial opportunity, and investment.
From sponsorship and media to infrastructure and capital, the ecosystem around women’s golf is being built with increasing intent supported by global events, significant prize funds, and expansion into key markets.
An exclusive preview of Jay3lle
Fans were given an exclusive sneak preview of Jay3lle during the Aramco Championship, as the contemporary luxury brand founded by Johan and Blue Lindeberg – and now led by Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud – stepped onto one of golf’s biggest stages.
Blending fashion, culture and sport, with golf as a core pillar, the moment offered an early look at a new kind of lifestyle brand emerging from Saudi Arabia with global ambitions.
The PIF Global Series continues in London from August 6–9, before heading to Seoul (October 8–11) and Shenzhen (November 5–8) to complete the 2026 calendar.
