By Kent Gray
For Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, it’s time to back up the platitudes with some more positive play.
The Englishwomen have been trotted out to help promote the inaugural $1m Aramco Saudi Ladies International which takes starters orders at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Thursday.
“It’s massive for Saudi Arabia to have the first professional ladies’ event here,” said 24-year old Hall, a major winner at the 2018 AIG Women’s Open.
Georgia Hall
“It’s actually rare to get a chance to come to a new country and play these days so it’s nice to get a chance to play somewhere different. Events like these can help grow the next generation of younger boys and girls here in Saudi Arabia and be inspired to get out and play.”
Hull was singing from the same songbook.
“It’s really cool to be here. I like playing in the Middle East and we’ve got a great chance to inspire Saudi women to take up the game and play golf. With the challenges around the world at the moment we’re really lucky to play and this is one of the strongest prize funds on Tour.”
The 72-hole strokeplay event will be followed by the $500,000 Saudi Ladies Team International, running from Nov. 17-19. Hull
Held within a safe bio-secure environment, 108 of the tour’s best golfers are in the Kingdom competing and Hull, who finished six-over-par, 16-strokes behind winner Minjee Lee in Dubai, knows ball-striking is going to be key. Hall, for the record, finished in a share of 10th in Dubai six strokes off Lee’s winning score. She closed with a 65 but will be disappointed with the scores of 72-73 that proceeded that.
“The wind tends to get up in the afternoon which makes it challenging. The 16th next to the Red Sea is one of the prettiest holes I’ve ever played anywhere,” said Hull.
“I’ve heard loads of positive things here about the course. I’m massively impressed.”
