Aramco Team Series – Riyadh: Preview, betting tips, how to watch

It’s an important and potentially lucrative week for players on the Ladies European Tour, as the Aramco Team Series heads to Saudi Arabia.

The series of events, which is backed by PIF, has players in Riyadh this week, for an event with a total purse of $1,000,000, with half of that for the professional competition, and half for the amateur team element.

It’s 54 holes this week, with play getting underway on Friday and concluding on Sunday.

The field is led by world No.1 Lilia Vu, who is coming off a summer that saw her win the AIG Women’s Open. She’s also joined by Aussie star Minjee Lee, who is fresh from a win at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.

Defending champion Chiara Noja is back in Saudi Arabia, but it wasn’t before the Dubai-based 17-year-old sat a biology exam, which meant she only arrived at the course on Wednesday.

This week, players will play in teams of four, made up by three professionals and one amateur. Those teams were decided in a draft made on Wednesday evening, beside Riyadh Golf Club’s 18th green.

That green is set to see a lot of action this week, a driveable par-4, where the tee will be moved up on the final day, Sunday, to give players a chance at putting for eagle.

It’s the closing hole on a desert course, where you’re either on grass or the desert sands of Saudi Arabia. That sand definitely isn’t where you want to be, with Minjee Lee explaining that from the firmest sand, wedges can become scuffed pretty easily.

It’s a different environment altogether from last year’s event here, with the Riyadh venue very much an inland layout.

Although there’s a chance for big names to put an exclamation on their season this week, it’s important for those who are battling for status for 2024.

After this week, only the tour’s top 70 players will be eligible for the final two events of the year in Spain.

One of those players is Scotland’s Louise Duncan, who currently sits outside the LET’s cut-off of the top 70 to keep their cards. Without a good week here, a trip to Q School looks to be on the cards.

Here’s all the details ahead of play getting underway.

Aramco Team Series – Riyadh details

Course: Riyadh Golf Club

Course Stats: Par 72, 6,502 yards

Defending Champion: Chiara Noja

Purse: $1,000,000

Aramco Team Series – Riyadh betting tips

Minjee Lee 7/2

Lilia Vu 11/2

Charley Hull 7/1

Carlota Ciganda 11/1

Georgia Hall 12/1

Alison Lee 12/1

Anne van Dam 25/1

Nicole Broch Estrup 33/1

Caroline Hedwall 40/1

Diksha Dagar 50/1

The bunkered Bet

Alexandra Forsterling 100/1

You can get the German at a ridiculously high price of 100/1, which is a steal for someone who won as recently as September.

Aramco Team Series – Riyadh how to watch

Friday: Sky Sports Arena 10am

Saturday: Sky Sports Arena 10am

Sunday: Sky Sports Arena 9am

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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor