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Saudi Arabia’s standing as a growing global golf destination has got off to a flying start this year with the hosting of two of the biggest events in golf back-to-back in the opening quarter of the 2025.
Across the space of ten days, the Kingdom drew the eyeballs of world golf once again as Golf Saudi’s Riyadh Golf Club played host to the season opening LIV Golf Riyadh, then the return of the $5million PIF Saudi Ladies International – the biggest non-Major prize-fund on the Ladies European Tour.
Becoming the first ever LIV event to be played at night, LIV Golf Riyadh welcomed many of golf’s biggest names under the floodlights in a tournament that marked another major step in Saudi’s rise as a premier golf destination, inspiring the next generation of Saudi champions and welcoming more than 100,000 fans over its two weeks.
Competing in front of the passionate home crowd, Golf Saudi ambassadors Dustin Johnson, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Jason Kokrak not only showcased their skills on the green but also their commitment to developing golf in Saudi Arabia. By supporting grassroots programs, mentoring emerging talent, and promoting Saudi golf on the global stage, they are helping shape the future of the game in the country, with more than 6,000 new golfers signing up for free lessons under Golf Saudi’s Go Golf imitative over both tournament weekends – and an estimated 70,000 giving the sport a try on-ground.
Adding to the local presence, Khaled Attieh, one of Saudi’s newest professional players and a recently announced Golf Saudi ambassador, was selected as reserve for the 2025 season-opening LIV event. His participation further underscored Saudi’s growing impact on the sport, as he gained valuable experience among some of the world’s top golfers. The tournament also featured the first ever Arab referee in LIV Golf history.
Across the three-day showcase, huge crowds of fans enjoyed world-class golf, entertainment and experiences during the innovative nighttime format – where Poland’s Adrian Meronk came out on top – with many of the returning a week later for Golf Saudi’s PIF Saudi Ladies International.
In doing so, they saw Jeeno Thitikul race to a runaway victory securing her 17th professional win with a final round of 69 to finish 16-under par.
The prodigious Thai, followed her compatriot Patty Tavatanakit who picked up the winner’s cheque as part of the $5 million Saudi’s flagship women’s golf tournament in 2024.
The event marked Thitikul’s first start of the season. Afterwards she said: “It’s the best present I’ve ever received in my life!” Adding: “To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to win my first event of the year at all because after a long offseason without playing tournaments, you need to adjust a little bit on the course. But winning here is a huge advantage. We can take this form and carry on the good things that happened here. More than anything, I think my team will be proud because we’ve worked really hard in the offseason, always trying to get better. Having a win here means we’re moving in the right direction.”
Thitikul started the final day at Riyadh Golf Club with a three-shot lead, which she quickly extended notching up four birdies in her first 10 holes, giving her a five-shot advantage with eight to play.
The World No. 4 would give just one shot back to the field over these holes, which proved too good for closest competitors Somi Lee, whose two-under-par round of 70 would hand her solo second, and England’s Annabell Fuller who made a remarkable recovery after a three-over front-nine to finish her round one over par and leave her alone in third place.
In securing third place, Fuller has made it back-to-back top 10s after a sixth placed finish on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
After her final round, the 22-year-old Fuller, who will pocket $270,000 from the PIF Saudi Ladies International from finishing solo third, said: “I was saying to my parents last week, this kind of tournament is life-changing. Golf isn’t cheap, and neither is travelling, so having the opportunity to earn at this level is huge. It really helps make a career in the game more sustainable.
“It was awesome to play next to her [Jeeno Thitikul] and watch her game, she’s so good. Even when she made a mistake, seeing how she recovered was incredible. Her short game is just next level, and she always managed to get out of tough spots so well. For me, it’s a huge confidence boost to have two strong weeks back-to-back.”
Boasting an historic $5 million prize fund PIF Saudi Ladies International matches the men’s equivalent, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors (played on the Asian Tour,) and represents the highest non-Major purse on the LET, illustrating Golf Saudi and PIF’s aligned commitment to enabling and advancing women in the game.
Following her victory, Thitikul addressed the significance of this.
She said: “I think Golf Saudi and PIF have done so much to elevate women’s golf and grow the game. I really appreciate how they see the potential in women’s golf and continue investing in it. The women’s game really needs this kind of support to keep growing, especially for the next generation. Hopefully, more fans will watch, whether on TV or coming out here in person. Saudi has done a really good job organizing a big event and bringing in top players to compete, which is great for women’s golf.”
Golf Saudi remains committed to making the sport more accessible to all, actively working to engage young players, increase participation, and cultivate future champions. By hosting world-class tournaments and offering development programs, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a hub for aspiring golfers, whether professional or amateur.
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