World No. 11 Celine Boutier is set to make her Series debut at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Shenzhen, from October 4 – 6, 2024.
Held at Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen, Boutier headlines a stellar field alongside fellow LPGA stars Xiyu Lin, Ruoning Yin, Alison Lee, and Angel Yin at the Golf Saudi and CGA organized tournament.
The 30-year-old French golfer has six professional wins, including a Major victory at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship, but Boutier is still seeking her first win of the 2024 season, after a T18 finish at her home Olympic Games in Paris, and a recent Solheim Cup defeat with Team Europe.
Eager to claim victory on her event debut, Boutier relishes the opportunity to play in the unique format which has witnessed wins from the sport’s very best including Golf Saudi ambassador Charley Hull in 2021 and Nelly Korda in 2023.
“Competing in Shenzhen, surrounded by such strong talent in this innovative format, is an exciting challenge,” said Boutier.
“It’s also great to be part of an event with a focus on advancing the women’s game, creating more opportunities for female athletes to compete on a global stage.”
“To win here would be especially memorable, particularly being back on the Ladies European Tour, and having won in the last even that was here in China, back in 2017,” she concluded.
Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen
As well as LPGA stars, Boutier will face off against some of the LET’s top talents, including the current Order of Merit leader Chiara Tamburlini (SUI), fresh from her second win of the season at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
There are five previous individual winners in the field, with Bronte Law (ENG), Alison Lee (USA), Manon de Roey (BEL), Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (FRA) and Xiyu Lin (CHN) set for a big week in Shenzhen.
Organised by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF consists of of five events on the LET each year, contributing an additional USD $5 million in prize money annually.
The Series arrives in Shenzhen, following events in Tampa, Korea, and London earlier this season, with the final leg set to tee-off in Riyadh on October 31.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ruoning Yin – World No. 4 & Major winner – event debut
Celine Boutier – World No. 11 & Major winner – event debut
Xiyu Lin – Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Hong Kong 2023 winner & Olympic Bronze Medallist
Muni He – LPGA star
Anna Nordqvist – 3x Major winner & Team Europe Assistant Vice Captain Solheim Cup
Golf Saudi and Aramco Team Series presented by PIF ambassadors:
Alison Lee – Aramco Team Series presented by PIF Sotogrande 2021, Riyadh 2023 winner
Angel Yin – LPGA winner in China
Anne Van Dam – Top 20 finish at AIG Women’s Open 2024
Bronte Law – Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – London 2022 winner
Oliva Cowan – Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – London 2021 team winner
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard – Only team captain to successfully defend an Aramco Team Series presented by PIF title – Florida 2023, Tampa 2024
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
28 teams of four will come together to battle it out to become the fourth Aramco Team Series presented by PIF champions of 2024.
Using a unique scoring system, allowing an amateur to contribute to the final result, the event has a total prize fund of $1m ($500K for the team event, $500k for the individual event).
As well as the team event, there is a three-day individual strokeplay competition contested between an 84-player field. Concluding on the final day after the team event is finalized and the field cut to 60 and ties, the individual competition contributes to LET Order of Merit and Rolex World Ranking points.
Main Image: Stuart Franklin
