By Kent Gray
The fight is tough, relentless and far from won. But with the help of Golf Saudi, Ladies European Tour CEO Alex Armas is encouraged women’s golf – and by extension women’s sport – will eventually earn the respect it deserves.

Speaking on the eve of Saudi Arabia’s LET double-header, Armas has shone a light on the great male versus female media coverage divide and attempted to challenge some long-held misconceptions.

“We don’t get the coverage of the men but there is a shift in that and the equality movement and the corporate companies are realising there is an imbalance,” Armas said from Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

“We need to showcase them and their stories and incredible journeys. We still have a long way to go. People don’t realise what good athletes these women are and if they don’t get to see that they don’t understand that. They can compete. They are as good athletes as the men.”

The LETs finest will get another chance in King Abdullah Economic City over the next nine days as Royal Greens hosts the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund (Nov. 4-7) and Aramco Team Series- Jeddah (Nov.10-12).

Last year’s Saudi Ladies International helped relaunch the LET season after the pandemic lockdown and was even more significant as the first professional women’s sport event to be staged in the Kingdom. Armas says the impact of that milestone should not be underestimated.

“The reaction we got last year blew everyone’s mind,” said Armas.

“We didn’t think we were going to get the interest we did from it being on live terrestrial TV within Saudi and the coverage it received. It just made sense to come back to do it again and to keep building on that and I think that is what we will be doing going forward. Golf Saudi has big plans for the women’s game. Although we’re only at the beginning, it’s been a fast trajectory.

“Last year golf stopped. Our players weren’t competing. We managed to get some momentum and we managed to have the first event in Jeddah with the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and as we had the players there, we did the back-to-back tournaments with the team event.

“We made history and I think we didn’t know what to expect when we went the first time, but now the players know, we know what the golf courses will be like, and what the hospitality will be like – everyone is looking forward to being back.”

Armas also referenced the importance of elite women’s sport being visible to inspire active participation in growing sporting markets such as Saudi Arabia. Last year’s events coincided with the launch of the Ladies First Club powered by Aramco – a free-golfing initiative that saw 1,200 women and girls register to learn the game over the tournament’s four days (pictured above).

“I think it’s hugely important because across the globe, we need to get the population more active and involved in sports,” she said.

“I think the best way to do that is obviously through live sports on TV and for people to be able to become inspired by these athletes and look up to them as role models. Having so many sporting events of the quality that Saudi is bringing to the Kingdom will be hugely important to growing participation in various sports. The amount of people that signed up for the Ladies First Club and the amount of positive feedback was immense”.