Solheim Cup stars defend LET’s Saudi links

Georgia Hall and Bronte Law were questioned at the Aramco Series London event at Centurion

The Ladies European Tour has come under fire for its partnership with Saudi state oil giant Aramco, but Georgia Hall and Bronte Law have leapt to its defence.

The Solheim Cup pair launched an impassioned defence of the LET and its membership after players were accused of being complicit in sportswashing for competing in the Saudi-backed Aramco Team Series London event this week.

The $1 million tournament at Centurion Club is being presented by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, which is also funding the highly-controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Several of the world’s biggest stars in the men’s game have already been criticised for valuing money over morals, but Law believes the situation is different for LET stars because their motives are driven by need, not greed. 

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“I think it’s important to recognise that the LET was not really in the strongest position when Aramco got involved,” explained the 27-year-old Englishwoman. “They’ve added $5 million to the prize fund for the year. They’ve provided six events and there are girls who have earned money which has been life changing for them.

“There’s a lot of women working very hard, week in, week out, and they earn no base salary. Aramco stepped in and they’re providing an opportunity for us to compete and I think that that shouldn’t go unheard.”

One notable absentee from the field is Mel Reid, who came out as gay in 2018 and is yet to play in any Aramco Series event. She has previously said she “does not feel comfortable” supporting Saudi events due to the Kingdom criminalising homosexuality and oppressing women. 

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2018 Open champion Georgia Hall refused to get drawn into a discussion about human rights, preferring instead to focus on how the LET has benefitted from a much-needed cash injection after being hit hard by Covid. 

 “It’s brought some massive funds to the LET, which we really did need,” said Hall, who won the Saudi International in March. “It was very weak in the last couple of years. They are really good venues and it’s kind of like a major set-up with the way we are treated. It’s what the LET deserves because there are some great players and they need to make a living.”

Meanwhile, Law has also called for elite women’s tournaments to run alongside men’s events, citing tennis as the perfect example of equity in sport.

Her comments came after Linn Grant became the first woman to win on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, at the Scandinavian Masters, which Law described as “absolutely fantastic”, before outlining her plan for events to coincide.

“The perfect example is tennis. Why do the women get paid more than we do? The reason is because they play on the same site and they get the same media coverage.

“So if we can play at the same course, get the same TV coverage, there’s no reason why our purses can’t increase.”

Hall and Law were speaking at Centurion Club ahead of the three-day Aramco event, which precedes the start of the Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional next week. Grant and Charley Hull are among the other big names playing.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Catling is the Features Editor of Today’s Golfer.

He has been a journalist for more than 10 years and was shortlisted for Bauer Media Journalist of the Year in 2019.

Michael joined Bauer Media in 2016 and has exclusively interviewed dozens of Major champions, including Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.

A former member of Ufford Park and Burghley Park, Michael has been playing golf since he was 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 10.

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