LPGA to sanction Saudi-backed Aramco tournament in Las Vegas - ESPN

Saudi Arabia finally has a deal with American golf under an agreement announced Wednesday for the LPGA Tour to co-sanction a PIF Global Series event at prestigious Shadow Creek in Las Vegas next spring.

The Aramco Championship will be held from April 2-5 at Shadow Creek with 120 players from the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour. The $4 million purse rates among the highest outside the majors.

It's the first big announcement for Craig Kessler, who took over as LPGA commissioner in July. He said the Aramco Championship «reflects exactly where we're headed in building the global schedule for our tour.»

«We often talk about routing, courses and purses, and this event checks every box,» Kessler said. «We also recognize that partnerships like this — built on LET's longstanding collaboration with Golf Saudi and PIF — can help strengthen the women's game on a global scale and elevate opportunities for our athletes.»

The Aramco Championship is one of five tournaments that make up the series, which the Public Investment Fund rebranded this year while raising the prize money.

It dates to a team concept in 2020. What started as the Saudi Ladies Team International was renamed the Aramco Team Series and has been a regular part of the LET schedule.

The Aramco series has been held in the U.S. each year, starting with Glen Oaks in New York in 2021 and twice on courses owned by President Donald Trump in New York and Florida.

Nelly Korda and Alison Lee are two-time winners of Aramco events, and several LPGA players have competed in them. Charley Hull of England, who has membership on both tours, has won Aramco events twice and was runner-up five times.

«We've had a strong relationship with Golf Saudi since 2020, and this next chapter —