Charley Hull won the season-opening Ladies European Tour event with a one-shot victory at the LET’s PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh after an impressive final-round 65.
What ultimately proved a tournament-clinching birdie on her 18th hole saw England’s Hull, who had already eagled the par-five 12th, finish her final round at seven-under par and post a clubhouse lead of 19-under for the tournament.
Still on the course, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander had a chance to either deny Hull outright – or force a playoff – from 19-under herself but a bogey at the 17th hole was followed by only a par at the 18th.
Alexander therefore finished in a tie for second with Japan’s Akie Iwai on 18-under.
Victory in Saudi Arabia marks Hull’s first tournament triumph since winning on the LPGA Tour in Cincinnati in September, while it is the 29-year-old’s first Ladies European Tour crown since November 2024 at an Aramco Team Series event which also held at Riyadh Golf Club.
She has now won five LET titles ahead of her 30th birthday next month.
Hull started the day three shots behind overnight leaders Hye-Jin Choi and Rio Takeda and, although she was only one under for her final round through 10 holes, four birdies and one eagle from there made the critical difference.
After being presented with the winner’s trophy, Hull said: “It feels great. It’s a bit like ‘wow, it’s gone a bit too fast today!’ I was only one under through nine holes and then I made a charge on the back nine.
“It was funny because last time I was round here my boyfriend said to me ‘go out and make loads of birdies to begin with’ and he said to me last night ‘you’re going to make loads of birdies, come in and you’ll have [players] chasing’ and then I just did that.
“So I feel great. I love this golf course.”
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Charley Hull wins the PIF Saudi Ladies International and discusses what it means for her year ahead
On the potential secret to her back-nine charge, Hull: “Well, after nine holes I ran into the toilet, and got some mashed potatoes, so I don’t know whether that gave me a little bit of power for the back nine!
“I’ve worked really hard this off season so it’s just nice to get a result pretty much straight away.”
Hull’s compatriot Mimi Rhodes shot a final round 67 and finished tied sixth.
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