Players pose in traditional Saudi dress ahead of the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah. 

By Kent Gray
As the LET’s first and currently only Arabic player, Maha Haddioui is already a trailblazer. If former European No.1 and British Open champion Georgia Hall has her way, the Moroccan will create yet more history in King Abdullah Economic City this week.

After partnering Haddioui in the final round of last week’s Saudi Ladies International, Hall has picked the Casablanca 33-year-old for the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah which begins at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in KAEC today.

The 54-hole event is the final of a quartet of four new $1 million events on the LET featuring three professionals and an amateur. Following a NFL-style draft party at Riyal Greens, Indian star Diksha Dagar, part of the winning team at the ATS London event in July, is the third pro in Team Hall set to take on 35 other teams over the next three days.

Hall is hoping they can make history and provide a first win for any female Arabic golfer in the professional game.

“I played with her last week, and I said to my caddie before she is the person to pick and luckily no one picked her yet,” said Hall.

Georgia Hall.

“She’s a really nice girl and playing well. It will be fantastic for us to win and for her to achieve that first win, hopefully she makes a lot of birdies out there and we have fun at the same time.”

Haddioui is equally relishing a chance to team up with Hall and learning from one of the stars of the women’s game.

“I was really happy that she picked me. I think we turned pro at the same time, but she’s a very experienced player and just by playing with her last week I learned a lot.

“I was doing my stats after the round with her and saw how the short game made a huge difference.”

Maha Haddioui.

Elsewhere in the draft, England’s Bronte Law – who won last month’s Dubai Moonlight Classic – once again opted for her 2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, as she did in the Aramco Team Series’ Spain event earlier in the year.

“She’s just a good player,” explained Law. “I’m good friends with her and I know we’ll have a laugh together, so I’m looking forward to it. I obviously picked her for my team in Sotogrande and we had a good week, so hopefully we can have the same again this week.”

Another player to select a Tour veteran was USA’s Alison Lee who won the individual Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande, and who picked Dame Laura Davies.

“In New York I also picked two veterans and having them was awesome. Laura had a good week last week and she’s a legend with more than 80 victories, so it’s a no brainer to have her and to have that amazing experience on the team.”

Charley Hull went for a full English, choosing compatriot Gabriella Cowley. The five-time Tour winner – who won the solo title in the ATS – New York – explained: “I thought Gabs would be good. She won on the Rose Series this year so I thought I’d pick her. My advice to the team would be ‘play your own game’. It should be a good few days.”

Emily Kristine Pedersen is the defending ATS champion in Saudi Arabia, from the format’s debut event in what was then the Saudi Ladies Team International.

“Obviously I really like it here and I have a lot of good memories here, it’s good to be back. I know if I find my game I’m good enough to win and that gives me confidence.”