Bangkok, Thailand: It’s not only members of the Ladies European Tour (LET) who are looking forward to this month’s inaugural Aramco Team Series – Bangkok.

As key backers of the Series, Golf Saudi has expressed its delight at the positive impact of the Aramco Team Series (ATS) last year, which added four new and innovative US$1 million tournaments to the LET calendar, taking the Tour to London, Sotogrande in Spain, New York and Jeddah for three days of team competition intertwined with individual scoring.

“The format of the Aramco Team Series was a prospect that we were desperate to be involved in from the get-go – and for a debut event, it could really not have gone any better last year,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO at Golf Saudi, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

He added: “The players loved it and it allowed us to grow the women’s game, including by taking the Ladies European Tour to the States for the first time in its history with the Aramco Team Series – New York.

“To be expanding the Series into a new territory with our Thailand event for 2022 is a massively exciting next step. We can’t wait to be part of it and to see the role all five events continue to have in advancing women’s golf.”

To be staged from May 12 to 14, the venue for the opening leg of the 2022 Series is the award-winning Thai Country Club, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

After two days of team competition, there will be a closing day individual-only event with the opportunity for players to earn further prize money, with a share of another US$1 million added to the year’s kitty.

Alexandra Armas, now into her third year as CEO at the LET, said: “Coming out of the pandemic we were looking for partners that would not just allow us to push the Tour forward, but also offer a strategic commitment to our players. The partnership with Golf Saudi and Aramco has helped us to achieve that.

“Now, as we emerge from the pandemic, the addition of the Aramco Team Series – Bangkok has truly helped us to elevate the Tour by driving up the prize funds. The players enjoy playing in the team format and the organisation around each of the Series’ events, from the quality of the courses to the build, facilities and the hospitality around them is elevating the standards across the board. To many of our members, these events feel like Majors – and they look forward to playing in them almost as much.”

“In devising the concept for the Aramco Team Series events, we wanted to innovate and do something different. The LET is looking at ways of engaging with our fanbase to get them hooked on watching golf more regularly. New creative ideas and different ways of doing things can help with that.

“The Aramco Team Series events appeal to established golf fans and the next generation coming into the game. Each of the ATS events last year brought about some thrilling golf and epic climaxes, with three of them going to play-offs. Our refined format for this year will only heighten that experience – for players and fans alike – and I’m excited to get 2022’s Series underway in Thailand.”