Lorraine Kelly
The PIF London Golf Championship teed off at Centurion Club this week, proving once again that it’s more than just a stop on the Ladies European Tour — it’s a statement.
Backed by Golf Saudi, the tournament is part high-stakes competition, part community celebration, and a clear show of intent to grow the women’s game worldwide.
Fresh from successful stops in Riyadh and Korea, the PIF Global Series has set up shop in London before heading to Houston in September and Shenzhen in November.
This year, the prize fund has jumped to $2 million, making the championship one of the most lucrative and anticipated events outside the majors.
Golf with a bigger purpose
While the fairways at Centurion were packed with elite players chasing birdies and big cheques, the championship made just as much noise off the course. Golf Saudi’s Go Golf Clinics drew huge crowds, offering kids and beginners the chance to swing a club alongside seasoned pros.
The Trophy Tour stopped at multiple local clubs, hundreds of flyers were handed out, and families flocked to the Golf Sixes event — proof that you can grow the game while keeping it fun.
The community outreach didn’t stop there. There were simulator training sessions, workshops, and visits to groups like the Saudi Community Club in London and the Skratch Women Golf Group. The aim? Open doors for women in golf, from first-timers to future champions.
From fairways to finance
Off the greens, Elevated Green discussion panels brought together some serious business firepower, including Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners and Molly Duff from Standard Chartered. Topics ranged from AI and fintech to the economic role golf is playing in Saudi Arabia’s growth. It was a reminder that the PIF London Golf Championship is as much about shaping futures as shaping shots.
A global stage for women’s golf
As part of the newly launched PIF Global Series, the London event is one of five elite tournaments with a combined prize pot of $13 million — one of the highest outside the majors. The series is built on Golf Saudi’s mission to empower women, provide professional pathways, and bring golf to new audiences around the globe.
Saudi Arabia’s strategy is clear: build a thriving golf ecosystem, drive participation at every level, and showcase the Kingdom as a growing tourism and sporting destination. And judging by the atmosphere at Centurion, the PIF London Golf Championship is swinging well above par.
For further details on the PIF Global Series and future events, visit www.pifglobalseries.com.
