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A look back at the inaugural PIF Global Series season, with 2026 just around the corner
The 2025 PIF Global Series has delivered high drama in a season that saw elite-level female golf played out across some of the world’s finest courses in Saudi Arabia, Korea, London, USA and China.
The series featured five events this past year – the PIF Saudi Ladies International, Aramco Korea Championship, PIF London Championship, Aramco Houston Championship, and Aramco China Championship. With the grand season-opener PIF Saudi Ladies International at $5m, each other event had a $2m prize fund – double that of previous Aramco Team Series events – with $1.5m up for grabs in the individual event and $500k to play for in the team event.
A key change from 2024 saw teams of four professionals compete. The removal of the championship-amateurs provided opportunity for additional professionals to compete in what was 26-teams, 104-player fields at each of the five events of 2025.
PIF Saudi Ladies International
Thitikul takes season-opener
On the individual side, Jeeno Thitikul (above) stole the show in Riyadh as she romped to a four-shot win at -16. Her second round, 64, put her in strong command of the tournament as a closing 69 was more than enough to take home the win.
In the team competition, Team Somi Lee with Nastasia Nadaud, Amy Taylor, and Minsum Kim took the team title by two shots at -34.
Mark Runnacles/Ladies European Tour
Aramco Korea Championship
Kim crowned at home
Defending champion and one of the home crowd favourites, Korea’s Hyo-Joo Kim (left), took home the title for the second year running. A composed and thoroughly professional performance was enough to claim her 25th professional win in front of her loyal fans, the ‘Shooting Stars.’
On the team front it was Team Kouskova who claimed the top prize after a flurry of birdies to finish atop of the leaderboard at -21. Lee-Anne Pace’s crucial birdie on the very tough 18th separated the team from the pack as Kouskova, Pace, Navarrosa, and Schmidt rejoiced.
Tristan Jones/Ladies European Tour
PIF London Championship
Laura’s breakthrough in London
In what was one of the closest individual competitions in series history, Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck (above) birdied the final hole to claim an emotional, maiden LET victory at 10-under-par.
In the team competition, Danielle Du Toit was especially grateful for her last gasp spot in the field as she and her team emerged victorious. Joined by Megan Dennis, Marta Sanz Barrio, and Sarah Kemp, Team Du Toit’s -29 was enough for victory.
Mark Runnacles/Ladies European Tour
Aramco Houston Championship
Fantastic five for Nuria
It was Spaniard, Nuria Iturrioz (above) who claimed the individual title in Houston after shooting an impressive 13-under-par for the tournament with Solheim Cup stars, Carlota Ciganda and Charley Hull in contention at 11-under-par but Nuria managed to withstand the pressure to claim her fifth LET title.
In the team event, Team Kouskova secured a one-stroke victory over Team Rhodes and Team Boutier with a winning score of 32-under-par. The team was made up of Sara Kouskova, Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen, April Anguarasaranee and Ana Belac.
Tristan Jones/Ladies European Tour
Aramco China Championship
Liu lands as home hero
Ruixin Liu (above) claimed a stunning victory at the 2025 Aramco China Championship, finishing three shots clear at 16-under-par to secure her first Ladies European Tour (LET) title – and she did it in style, on home soil at the iconic Mission Hills Golf Club.
In the team event, Team Rhodes surged ahead of the competition to secure a commanding 39-under-par finish, ending the day four shots clear of their nearest rivals. Trichat Cheenglab delivered a standout round of eight-under-par 68, not only claiming the overnight lead in the individual competition but also playing a pivotal role in propelling Team Rhodes to victory.
Looking ahead to 2026
Golf Saudi and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) have announced the continuation and expansion of their transformative partnership in women’s golf through the 2026 PIF Global Series, an elevated slate of five world-class tournaments across three continents.
The PIF Global Series will begin in February at Riyadh Golf Club with the PIF Saudi Ladies International and includes five individual 72-hole stroke-play events across the United Kingdom, Korea, China, and the United States. Highlighting the enhanced series is the debut of the Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, a new co-sanctioned event between the LPGA and LET that brings women’s golf to one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
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Main Image: Mark Runnacles/Ladies European Tour
This article was featured in the December 2025 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine
