Lydia Ko and Pajaree Anannanukarn finished eighth at the Saudi Aramco Ladies Open

Played on the same course of the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Saudi Arabia as the men’s tournament two weeks ago, the women’s event offers the same prize pool of five million dollars! This makes it one of the best-endowed events of the season, just behind the Grand Slams. Inevitably, the best players are there even if the event counts for the European women’s circuit and not for the prestigious LPGA, the American circuit.

It was therefore Lydia Ko, the world No. 1 in person, who took the lead in the tournament from the first day on Thursday. Tied with Thailand’s Anannanukarn, the New Zealander is one step ahead of another Thai, world No. 4 Atthaya Thitikul.

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard all in ardor

Good start for Pauline Roussin-Bouchard and Céline Boutier, both authors of a 67 (-5) and ranked in 8th place provisionally. Each in their respective style. All in ardor and audacity for PRB with 1 eagle, 8 birdies but also five bogeys, all in control for the Parisienne with an error-free card and five birdies! Also note the beautiful 17th place of Agathe Sauzon with a 69 (-3) including five birdies and two bogeys. Emma Grecchi is 67th at +1, Anne Charlotte Mora 100th at +4.