The first of four Aramco Team Series 2021 events has concluded in London as a resounding success.
Norway's Marianne Skarpnord beat Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand in a play-off to win the individual Aramco Team Series (ATS) event near the British town of St. Albans, U.K. Skarpnord then finished runner-up in the teams' event, with Olivia Cowan's group, including teammates Sarina Schmidt and Diksha Dagar, winning the team event by three shots.
The ATS is the first team event series on the Ladies European Tour (LET). After the most recent event in the U.K. on July 8, the ATS will move on to Spain in August, the U.S. in October, and concludes in Jiddah in November.
“The ATS provides a platform for some of the best female golfers in the world, but also offers a unique opportunity for amateur players to participate in an elite level sport,” said Aramco's Marketing, Sales and Supply Planning vice president, Ahmed A. Al-Subaey. “We couldn't be more excited to be a part of it. Aramco has a rich, decades-long history with golf — starting in 1945 when we built our first golf course near our headquarters in Dhahran. Our backing for this tournament is an extension of our efforts to advance women at all levels. We hope it will encourage more women to take up the sport and inspire them to excel in whatever field they choose to pursue.”
Given the popularity of golf worldwide, the ATS can reach an enormous audience, elevating the discourse we have in our communities about the role of women and opening up the sport of golf to more people. A trial of the ATS tournament in Saudi Arabia last November included the first and only female Arab professional golfer to play on the LET to date, Morocco's Maha Haddioui.
This gives ATS a powerful platform from which to promote excellence, female advancement, and golf. Images of female golfers at the peak of their game may inspire the next generation of female leaders in industry, science, and sports.