KAEC: Saudi golf, and in particular the women’s game in the Kingdom, may still be in its infancy but already it has an emerging local star in 16-year-old Lujain Khalil.
Born and raised in Jeddah, Khalil took up the sport as she entered her teens and has continued to excel since then thanks to the support of her family, especially her father.
She said: “He is my father, coach, brother, friend and also my caddie.” Having competed in competitions from the age of 13, she already has a title to her name.
Now, the young Saudi has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after being invited to compete as an amateur at this weekend’s $1 million Aramco Team Series challenge, a Ladies European Tour event, in her hometown of Jeddah. “I don’t deny it, I still have a long way to go, but at the speed I am going, with the dedication and love for this sport, I intend to reach the top in a short timeframe,” she told Arab News.