PIF Saudi Ladies International is won by Charley Hull who was late.
Charley Hull was expected to leave her best to the last but in Riyadh, the lady excelled on Sunday with a final-round score of 65 to win the PIF Saudi Ladies International by just one shot.
Starting the day at 11th and three shots behind, it seemed that Hull was about to fall asleep as she managed the turn with a slightly underpar score. With only one under 12 holes remaining at Riyadh Golf Club, the world No. 5 at that time, created an amazing rush, shredding the final part with half a dozen under par to make it 19 under in the tournament.
This was sufficient to beat South Africa, Casandra Alexander and Japan, Akie Iwai who had both been one behind Hull clubhouse lead.
Hull would give a reason later on that she plays better when she is being followed, and that the serpentine course in Riyadh was just the course that she could see. She said the course has grown older, and is now a serious trial, and the reward of a daring yet accurate play.
When Hull had hit the turn at two under in the day, he temporarily lost his way with a bogey on the 10th. What followed was dramatic: a birdie-eagle-birdie run between the 11 th and the 13 th opened up the tournament, later birdies on the 15 th and 18 th provided the clincher.
The win was also a reward following a rigorous off season and Hull received instant payoffs. It was a win worth 631,625 in the pocket and valuable momentum in one of the flagship events on the LET.
Alexander was on the verge of the playoff when he missed a bogey on the 17 th and had to be satisfied with half the second. Nevertheless, a good week gave her optimism and explained it as a perfect springboard to her 2026 season.
Iwai had a score of 67 which was a combination of seven birdies and two bogeys but a three-putt on the 17th cost her the victory. Still positive, the attacking Japanese player believed that her game was in excellent condition as she looks forward to the next few weeks.
Carlota Ciganda of Spain and Hye-Jin Choi of Korea made it up to the top five, with a joint fourth place of 17 under.
To Hull it was a reminder of her usual toughness – and a late rush in Riyadh which establishes an early precedent of the season.
