Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Jessica and Nelly (right with trophy) Korda after Nelly won the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give at Blythefield Country Club on June 20, 2021, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

By Kent Gray
Nelly Korda is set to headline the strongest field yet for the third leg of the Aramco Team Series in New York next week.

The 23-year-old world No.1, her 28-year-old, Tokyo Olympic gold medal-winning sister Jessica and fellow American stars Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang join a throng of victorious European Solheim Cuppers confirmed for the Oct. 14-16 event.

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England’s Charley Hull, last year’s LET Race to Costa Del Sol winner Emily Kristine Pedersen and reigning Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist will also play the $1 million event at Glen Oaks Club on Long Island, along with Solheim Cup-winning captain Catriona Matthew.

Charley Hull

Lexi Thompson

Also confirmed are Cheyenne Woods, Anne Van Dam, Bronte Law, Lindsay Weaver and Sophia Popov

The key messaging though is that six of the world’s Top 20 will tee it up in the third of four Aramco Team Series event which has proved a vital profile boost for the Ladies European Tour. The series concludes at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City near Jeddah next month immediately after the 2nd Saudi Ladies International.

New York follows events in London and Sotogrande and, importantly given the individual and team components, the Solheim Cup.

“As we saw in the Solheim Cup, team golf is a format that really provides a different atmosphere and brings the energy for players, fans and viewers on TV,” said Matthew who oversaw Europe’s 15-13 win over Team USA at the Inverness Club in Ohio last month.

Catriona Matthew

“It’s exciting and events like the Aramco Team Series give us more opportunities to come together and team up with some of the best players in the world. It’s great for us to get to come to New York with the LET with such a strong field – and post Solheim adds a bit more spice. The event continues the growing momentum behind the women’s game currently.”

The Aramco Team Series is a new four-tournament concept introduced on the LET earlier this year.

It sees teams of four, that include three pros and one amateur, battle it out for a share of an $800,000 prize fund, with a $200,000 purse for the leading individual scores over the weekend. As a full LET event, each tournament carries Rolex World Golf Rankings and the Race to Costa del Sol points.