The Aramco Houston Championship begins on September 5, 2023, at the Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland, Texas, featuring a competitive field of 26 teams and 104 players vying for a total prize pool of $2 million. This three-day tournament marks the fourth event in the PIF Global Series, which has evolved from the previously named Aramco Team Series following significant financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) earlier this year.
Among the standout participants are notable players such as Charley Hull, an ambassador for Golf Saudi, and former major champions Danielle Kang of the United States and Celine Boutier from France. Each team is captained by players selected based on their positions in the Rolex World Rankings. Captains draft their teams, with the top two scores from each team counting for every hole. In addition to the team competition, a 54-hole stroke play format will determine individual standings.
After the team event concludes, the competition will narrow to the top 60 players and ties for the individual contest, which boasts a prize pool of $1.5 million, along with valuable points for the LET Order of Merit and Rolex World Rankings.
Reflecting on her participation, Sara Kouskova, currently second on the LET Order of Merit and a previous team captain who led her squad to victory at the Aramco Team Series in Korea, highlighted the significance of the event. “The global element is huge—bringing the LET to the U.S. is another great step. The prize fund also attracts LPGA players, which raises the standard. I don’t prepare differently, but these events are definitely ones you circle on the calendar,” she stated.
Last year, the championship was held in Tampa, where the team competition was won by Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Celine Herbin, Meghan MacLaren, and amateur Lujain Khalil. The individual event saw Alexandra Forsterling take the title.
The tournament is part of a five-event series, with the full schedule including:
– PIF Saudi Ladies International: Riyadh Golf Club, Riyadh (February 12-15)
– Aramco Korea Championship: New Korea Country Club, Seoul, South Korea (May 9-11)
– PIF Championship: Centurion Club, London (August 8-10)
– Aramco Houston Championship: Golfcrest, Pearland, Texas (September 5-7)
– Aramco Shenzhen Championship: Mission Hills, Shenzhen, China (November 6-8)
Collectively, the prize pool across all five events is an impressive $13 million, underscoring the growing investment in women’s golf and the international reach of the Ladies European Tour.
