Lexi Thompson headlines next week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International field on the Ladies European Tour. The event, held this year at Riyadh Golf Club Feb. 15-18, offers a purse of $5 million, the same as the payout of the men’s PIF Saudi International.
The 28-year-old Thompson, whose last worldwide victory came at the 2022 Aramco Team Series event in New York, last teed it up at the LPGA Drive On event in January where she tied for 16th. She is not listed in the fields of the LPGA’s upcoming Asian swing.
“The Aramco Saudi Ladies International signifies a significant step forward in advancing the sport,” Thompson said in a release, “not just in Saudi Arabia but on a global scale, and it’s a privilege to be part of an event that advocates for equal prize funds in golf.”
Defending champion Lydia Ko, who won the LPGA season-opening Tournament of Champions and lost the Drive On in a playoff to Nelly Korda, is not in the field in Saudi Arabia. Ko’s next event will be the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.
Korda, who went to Prague immediately after the Drive On to visit her grandparents, is in the midst of a seven-week break from competitive golf.
In addition to the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, the 2024 LET schedule also features the Aramco Team Series, comprised of five events staged across the globe. Winners of those events last year include LPGA players Alison Lee, Xiyu Lin, Carlota Ciganda, Pauline Roussin, and Korda.
The LET’s Saudi-backed events remain controversial given the wide-ranging human rights abuses Saudi Arabia has been accused of, especially toward women.
Here’s a list of noteworthy players in this year’s field:
Georgia Hall
Georgia Hall of England plays her shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the LPGA Drive On Championship at Bradenton Country Club on January 25, 2024 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Linn Grant
Linn Grant of Sweden walks on the second hole during the second round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 19, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Lexi Thompson
Lexi Thompson heads the field at Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF (tournament courtesy photo)
Charley Hull
Charley Hull of England prepares to play her shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 21, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Carlota Ciganda
Carlota Ciganda of Team Europe celebrates after sinking a birdie on the 17th green and securing the Solheim Cup win for Team Europe during Day Three of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Leona Maguire
Leona Maguire of Team Europe reacts to chipping in on the 18th hole during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Chiara Noja
Chiara Noja. (Photo provided)
Gabriela Ruffels
Gabriela Ruffels of Australia watches her tee shot on the 13th tee during the second round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G at Kenwood Country Club on September 08, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Alexa Pano
Alexa Pano of the United States plays her shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 21, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Jiyai Shin
Jiyai Shin of South Korea looks on during the Day Three of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath Golf Club on August 12, 2023 in Tadworth, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for HSBC)
Trichat Cheenglab
Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand checks the wind direction on the second tee during Day Two of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed at Ullna Golf & Country Club on June 09, 2023 in Sweden. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Amy Yang
Amy Yang of Korea poses with the CME Globe trophy after winning the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 19, 2023 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Grace Kim
Grace Kim of Australia reacts on the third tee during the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 16, 2023 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Patty Tavatanakit
Patty Tavatanakit on the tee box on the ninth hole during the second round of the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ayaka Furue
Ayaka Furue of Japan plays her shot from the 16th tee during the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 21, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Ariya Jutanugarn
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand plays her shot from the 15th tee during the second round of the 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 07, 2023 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Maria Fassi
Maria Fassi of Mexico plays her shot from the third tee during the second round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican at Pelican Golf Club on November 10, 2023 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Yuka Saso
Japan’s Yuka Saso competes during the Evian Championship, a women’s LPGA major golf tournament in Evian-les-Bains, French Alps, on July 29, 2023. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
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