Saudi Arabia significantly reduces funding for women's golf on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Following the end of LIV Golf this year, this is the next blow – the PIF Global Series will be completely discontinued after this season. Five tournaments with a substantial total prize money of $15 million (approx. 13.8 million Euros) are now history, a real shock for many players who relied on this funding.
Starting in 2027, a single, highly prestigious event will take its place: "The Championship." With prize money of $4 million (approx. 3.7 million Euros) and co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and LET, this sounds like quality over quantity. However, the financial footprint on the LET will drastically shrink.
Game Changer for the LET Season?
Golf Saudi will henceforth act as a sponsor for the LET's seasonal Race to Ranking. The focus thus shifts away from multiple individual events towards more targeted support and, crucially, the development of golf within their own country. This is a clear signal: the Saudis are becoming more selective about where their millions go. For LET golfers, this means the competition for top spots in the ranking will be even fiercer.
Announced Strategy Shift
This move is not unexpected but aligns seamlessly with the strategy shift that the Public Investment Fund already initiated in April 2026 by withdrawing LIV Golf funding beyond 2026. It's an investment reset where the Kingdom is scrutinizing more closely where its billions land. For women's golf, this means a smaller tournament calendar but also an opportunity for even more prestigious individual events. The Saudi influence in golf is thus not suddenly ending, but rather being readjusted and concentrated on a few, but truly strong, projects.
