Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Anna Nordqvist and Anne van Dam are the latest Ladies European Tour (LET) players to join Golf Saudi’s list of international golfing ambassadors.
The duo join fellow LET players Amy Boulden and Camilla Lennarth, as well as Spanish European Tour players Adri Arnaus and Pablo Larrazabal, in representing Golf Saudi on the world stage in their efforts to showcase the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia globally as a first-class golfing destination.
“We are privileged to be able to appoint two of the Ladies European Tour’s top players as official Golf Saudi Ambassadors,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“Anna and Anne have committed to our vision of growing the game of golf for women in the Kingdom and we are lucky to have them onboard to support our on-going development. We look forward to developing a strong working partnership in order to attract young female Saudis to the game,” he added.
Born in Eskilstuna, Sweden, Nordqvist is the second Swedish player after Lennarth to join the Golf Saudi ranks. Since turning professional in 2008, she has won 11 times, including eight victories on the LPGA Tour and three on the LET.
In only her fifth start on the LGPA Tour in 2009, Nordqvist burst onto the scene by winning her first professional tournament and Major, the LPGA Championship in Maryland. She further enhanced her status by winning a second Major at the Evian Championship in 2017.
Speaking ahead of last week’s inaugural Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Nordqvist said: “I feel honoured to join the Golf Saudi team as one of their latest ambassadors and I am keen to use this opportunity to grow the game of golf for women in the Kingdom.
“I believe in being a role model for women and young girls all over the world and hopefully us playing here will inspire them and show them what is possible.”
With five LET victories to her name, van Dam is renowned as one of the biggest hitters in the women’s game. She led the category for driving on the LET in 2017 and 2018, and currently ranks second in average driving distance during the 2020 season. In 2019, van Dam played on both the LPGA Tour and the LET, winning the ActewAGL Canberra Classic and earning a maiden appearance on the European Solheim Cup team that defeated the USA 14½ – 13½ at Gleneagles, Scotland.
van Dam said: “It is great to be in Saudi Arabia and be able to experience a new environment and culture. It is always a great feeling to visit new countries and play new golf courses with the LET. By becoming a Golf Saudi ambassador, I will have the opportunity to help grow the game of golf for women in the country, therefore helping Golf Saudi achieve its goals of increasing female participation.”
Staged in collaboration with Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, the US$1 million Aramco Saudi Ladies International was the first fully sanctioned LET event to take place in the Kingdom.