The Thai star echoed the thoughts of some of the world’s leading players ahead of the third iconic stop in the PIF Global Series, which runs from 8-10 Aug at Centurion Club, when she hailed the impact made by Golf Saudi’s investment in and energetic promotion of the women’s game.

MORE: PIF and Golf Saudi unveil three flagship courses with “PIF Future Fairways”

“For me, what they’re aiming for is generational growth. It’s bigger than just getting more players now. It’s definitely having a positive impact,” said Tavatanakit, who arrived in London after finishing in a tie for 63rd in the AIG Women’s Open last week in Wales.

“They’re building new golf courses and aiming to have, I think, 47,000 players in Saudi by 2030 — which is massive. For players like us, it’s exciting to see where the game is heading. If you think 20 or 30 years ago, the players seeing growth then were probably in the same shoes we’re in now. It’s a great opportunity for us and for the next generation.”

Golf Saudi’s goals include strengthening the golfing ecosystem in the Kingdom with new courses, driving mass participation in the game and through golf promoting tourism to the increasingly popular destination.

Golf Saudi Ambassador – Carlota Ciganda

Solheim Cup hero and Major winner Carlota Ciganda highlighted the launch this week of the Public Investment Fund’s Future Fairways project, a groundbreaking platform previewing three next generation golf courses – Shura Links, Trojena Northern and Laheq.

“We were in London on Tuesday night playing the future courses they’re building. It’s unbelievable — the investment, the plans, bringing new golfers into the sport. I’m very grateful and lucky to be a part of it,” said the Spaniard.

“I love playing these events. It’s amazing to see the changes happening, putting more sports into the country, and hopefully encouraging more women and golfers in general.”

France’s Celine Boutier, another former Major winner and world No 17 also battling for the honours in England this week, said Golf Saudi’s impact had been fundamental in platforming women’s golf and introducing the sport to beginners.

“They’ve been amazing for the Ladies European Tour, for women’s golf in general. The support we’ve been getting throughout the years with the tournaments and everything they’ve done for women’s golf has been very inspiring.

“Everything they’re aiming to do, even in Saudi Arabia with the golf courses they’re building and trying to get more golfers into the sport, has been super impressive.”

MORE: Charley Hull withdraws from PIF London Championship

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RELATED: Mimi Rhodes is just getting started

With a prize fund boosted to $2 million, the tournament continues to attract a world-class field, featuring a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talent. As one of the most anticipated stops on the LET calendar, the event promises another chapter of thrilling competition and memorable moments.

LET / Golf Saudi

Top talent assembles, featuring Golf Saudi’s leading ambassadors

This year’s field boasts a strong English contingent, blending rising stars with established names. Charley Hull, a Golf Saudi ambassador, headlines the lineup following an impressive runner-up finish at the AIG Women’s Open, the final Major of the season. She is joined by fellow Major champion Georgia Hall and current LET Order of Merit leader Mimi Rhodes, who both secured top-20 finishes at the same event. Emerging talent Annabell Fuller also adds to the strength of the home challenge.

Eight-time LET champion and Solheim Cup standout Carlota Ciganda also forms the strong international contingent, joined by 2023 Evian Championship winner Celine Boutier and Germany’s Olivia Cowan. Former Chevron Championship winner Patty Tavatanakit also features in the field, returning to familiar ground after her victory at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in 2024 – all four also are proud Golf Saudi ambassadors.

The newly launched PIF Global Series

The PIF Global Series is a newly launched initiative on the Ladies European Tour (LET), aimed at accelerating the growth of women’s golf on a global scale.

The PIF London Championship marks the third event in the five-tournament series, following successful events in Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

This partnership underscores PIF’s long-term commitment to women’s sport, with a total prize pool of $13 million across the series – one of the highest purses outside of the majors – significantly enhancing the earning potential for professional female golfers.

Tristan Jones/LET

Fifth time’s the charm at Centurion

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the tournament returns as the PIF London Championship, building on a legacy of drama and excitement. Last year’s edition proved unforgettable, with the team competition culminating in a thrilling playoff after Team Nadaud and Team Hall were deadlocked through 36 holes. Captains Nastasia Nadaud and Georgia Hall went head-to-head to break the tie, with Nadaud delivering a clutch birdie on the third extra hole to secure the win. She was swiftly joined in celebration on Centurion Club’s iconic 18th green by teammates Kristyna Napoleaova, Mireia Prat, and amateur Brooksbank – a fitting end to a gripping contest.

The individual competition offered its own share of late drama. Leona Maguire matched Bronte Law’s 2022 heroics with a spectacular eagle on the final hole to edge out Maria Hernandez by a single stroke, underlining the event’s growing reputation for heart-stopping finishes.

The PIF London Championship forms an integral part of the 2025 PIF Global Series a strategic initiative led by Golf Saudi to advance the global development of women’s golf. Through the delivery of high-calibre events and sustained investment in the women’s game, Golf Saudi continues to create meaningful pathways for elite talent while promoting greater visibility and inclusion. Delivered in partnership with the Saudi Golf Federation, the series reflects a long-term commitment to driving positive change in sport, both within the Kingdom and on the international stage.

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This month, we shine the spotlight on Mimi Rhodes, who’s quietly turning heads in her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour. With three individual wins already in her first full season, the results are saying plenty on their own.

We also sit down with Jonas Mårtensson, the mind behind Minecraft and now the man in charge of Cleeks GC in LIV Golf. He’s aiming to shake up the sport’s old guard and build what he calls the “Yankees of golf”. From gaming to green jackets, his story is as unconventional as it is ambitious.

Retail takes centre stage too, as Peter Millar partners with eGolf Megastore to elevate golf shopping across the Middle East. We speak to the people leading the move to find out what this means for local golfers.

Our course spotlight travels from the English countryside to the heart of the Gulf. First, Centurion Club — a modern championship layout just outside London that’s hosted big names and bold events. Then, to Bahrain, where Awali Golf Club has been rewriting the desert playbook since 1937. Built by oilmen, maintained by passion, and built completely of sand.

Also this month: Blake Griffin brings his dry wit from the court to the course, Patrick Cantlay shares a tempo tip you’ll actually use, and we take a look inside Nick Taylor’s bag. Plus, a rare peek into Michael Jordan’s ultra-private Grove XXIII, and why becoming an Emirates Golf Federation member could be the best golf decision you make this summer.

All this and plenty more in the August 2025 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

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Backed by a shared mission to grow the game globally, Golf Saudi’s ambassadors aren’t just playing for glory, they’re driving change, raising the profile of women’s golf, and creating a legacy that extends far beyond the fairways.

Golf Saudi Ambassador – Carlota Ciganda

Carlota Ciganda of Spain is among the standout names in the field and arrives in fine form, having claimed her first LPGA victory in nine years at the Meijer LPGA Classic in June. An eight-time LET winner and currently ranked 24th in the world, she capped off her 2024 season in style with a triumphant performance on home soil at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España. The Solheim Cup player is also no stranger to success on the PIF Global Series stage, having secured an individual title in Florida and a team win in Riyadh in 2023.

2024 Aramco Team Series Riyadh – Charley Hull

Among the confirmed star-studded lineup is England’s Charley Hull, a four-time LET and two-time LPGA Tour winner who stands out as one of the leading figures in women’s golf. Hull’s last triumph came at Riyadh Golf Club when she stormed to victory in the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh, and off the back of a strong showing at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, the world no.19 will be a force to be reckoned with.

2023 Evian Championship winner and world no.17, Celine Boutier of France, and 2021 Chevron Championship winner, Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand – who also triumphed at the 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International – will compete and look to bolster their trophy collections at Centurion Club.

Emily Pedersen of Denmark with her trophies from Saudi Arabian swing

Denmark’s Emily Pedersen is another Golf Saudi ambassador who will tee it up in London in August. The Solheim Cup star is on an upturn in form, following a top-15 finish at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month.

One of the big hitters on tour, Anne Van Dam of the Netherlands is set to bring her trademark power and precision to Centurion Club, with the 2019 Solheim Cup champion looking to add to her five wins on the Ladies European Tour.

Fellow Golf Saudi ambassadors set to tee it up in August include former Solheim Cup winner Bronte Law, Germany’s Olivia Cowan – a winner on both the LET and LET Access Series – French star Pauline Roussin Bouchard, who earned her LPGA Tour card after a standout amateur career, and Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord, a five-time LET champion with over 15 years of experience at the top level.

As part of the PIF London Championship, Golf Saudi is proud of its commitment to taking the very best women golfers to new markets and new destinations and strengthen the sport’s ecosystem globally.

The Saudi Golf Federation not only provides world-class playing opportunities for the very best, it also elevates the sport through several engaging on-site activities for players of all abilities and ages. Golf Saudi’s strategic leadership highlights the playing and career opportunities possible in the sport as well as showcasing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leading global golf, tourism and investment destination.

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By Kent Gray
With England locked and loaded and the United States firmly on the drawing board, the message is crystal clear: the Asian Tour suddenly sees all and every corner of the golf world as its oyster.

That much became blatantly obvious at the unveiling of the tour’s new marquee brand on the not so subtle side-lines of the PIF Saudi International last month -– even if Greg Norman was at pains to insists “we’re not in this for a fight”.

The LIV Golf CEO joined Asian Tour supremo Cho Minn Thant and the circuit’s freshly minted Order-of-Merit champion Joohyung Kim to herald the arrival of ‘The International Series’, 10 marquee events being bankrolled by LIV Golf to the tune of $300 million over the next decade.

In attendance at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club were a small travelling press corp, a larger international media audience logged in virtually and a palpable sense of intrigue surrounding LIV Golf’s next move beyond its investment in the OWGR-sanctioned Asian Tour.

By announcing that its shiny new series will visit The Centurion Club on the northern outskirts of London and the Middle East twice – i.e. traditional DP World Tour territory – the Asian Tour’s intentions are clear at the very least.

Fiscally emboldened by its new Saudi-backed strategic partner, the Asian Tour has shed all historical insecurities and any fear of straying beyond golf’s long-since blurred continental boundaries. The olive branch to the DP World Tour and PGA Tour remains extended but knowing it is likely striking out on its own, the Asian Tour delivered its first  “Game on” mission statement.

“Obviously there’s no boundaries anymore in the world of golf,” Thant, the Asian Tour’s dual CEO and Commissioner, said before focusing specifically on the June 9-12 event in England.

“…And yes, it comes as a surprise to many of us in this room, but it’s basically part of our strategy to make the Asian Tour more of a global tour. We have members from all over the world, 25 different nationalities playing on the Asian Tour. It’s not just for Asians. It’s not just in Asia, and we will be playing in other destinations outside such as the Middle East.”

As Lee Westwood mentioned in a media conference the following day, the Asian Tour’s competitors surely can’t have been broadsided by the Centurion surprise.

“Now that the Asian Tour has this backing, it appears to me like they’re just doing what the PGA Tour and the European Tour have been doing the last 25 years,” said the Englishman, an eight time winner in Asia.

Thant went on to defend the Asian Tour’s expansionist strategy and a new-found voice triggered by one of the biggest investment deals in golf history.

“We’ve been vilified as bad boys in the press over the last few months, and I really think it’s unjustified,” Thant said. “Any tour…has a responsibility to its membership to look at sponsorship and partnership opportunities to improve the tour. Likewise the European Tour worked with DP World to title sponsor that tour. I don’t see us working with LIV Golf Investments or any other promoter, any other sponsor throughout the course of the season as a bad thing.

“I’m out here to increase the number of playing opportunities for our members. I’m here to increase the amount of prize money that’s on offer. I’m here to improve the awareness and the experience for the fans of golf in Asia, and I think this is exactly what we’re doing.”

With the 10 International Series events to be broadcast live, the Asian Tour hopes to drive deeper engagement with fans, attract new commercial interest and to “help stabilise professional golf following a sustained period of worldwide disruption and uncertainty.”

“We are on the threshold of a new era for Asian golf,” Thant continued.“The International Series is a new upper-tier of elite events, the likes of which the region has not seen before, that will mark the start of a phenomenal period of growth for the Asian Tour.”

That growth, according to Norman, is long overdue.

“Healthy competition is a great thing, right?” the former world No.1 said.

“So as long as we do that in a respectful, healthy way, everybody is going to be a benefactor. Every bit of the ecosystem for the game of golf will be the benefactor. Every institution should be embracing this new opportunity of unlocking the lost opportunity that’s been left sitting there for decades and decades and decades.”

Those assurances predictably continue to fall on deaf ears as the U.S. and UK media go into bat for golf’s traditional superpower tours in the face of what many see as a hostile competitor. Norman, believes the ire directed towards LIV Golf, which itself is bankrolled by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, is misplaced.  

“Well, we’re not in this for a fight. We’re in this for the good of the game,” Norman said. 

“It’s disappointing to be honest, personally disappointing to see some of the attacks that have been taking place unwarrantedly. Any time you go into — if you pre-judge anybody without knowing the facts, then shame on you, to be honest with you.”

Norman was asked what return LIV Golf hoped for out of its $300 million investment, a thinly veiled attempt by an interviewer to extract more info on the rumoured LIV league.

“In a nutshell, what have we really done? We’ve identified a new opportunity out of a lost opportunity, and I mean that in all sincerity. We identify virgin space for lost opportunities or people overlooked for decades and decades and decades. The lost opportunity people should be embracing, other institutions should be embracing. 

“We are very, very respectful and will always be open, and I’m always going to be a healthy, friendly competitor, and that’s important to know, because the market is huge and it’s open for everybody, and we’re going to have these open pathways.

“From LIV Golf Investments, this is just the start for us. The 10-event series we’ll be starting off is just the beginning. It’s the beginning of an exciting new journey.”

Another reporter jumped on Norman’s repeated attempts to position LIV Golf, and by association the Asian Tour, as friendly competitors, even if the PGA-DP World Tour alliance clearly don’t see it that way.

“What is LIV Golf Investments doing that you are scared of? Why do you have to have these attacks to the level they do?” Norman posed in response.

“Understand the fact that we have always and continued to be very collaborative and cooperative with any of the institutions right across the board. We want to work together side by side.

“I would encourage them [The PGA and DP World Tour alliance] to sit back and say, maybe it’s a good time to sit down and understand if we can work side by side.”

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