Hull claims fifth European title with victory in Riyadh

PIF Saudi Ladies International – final round leaderboard

-19 C Hull (Eng); -18 C Alexander (SA), A Iwai (Jpn); -17 C Ciganda (Spa), HJ Choi (Kor)

Selected others: -16 M Rhodes (Eng), I Yoon (Kor), N Hataoka (Jpn); -12 R Takeda (Jpn); -10 E Hamilton (Eng), L Walsh (Ire)

Full leaderboard

England’s Charley Hull produced a stunning finish to win the PIF Saudi Ladies International by one shot and claim her fifth title on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

The 29-year-old world number five picked up six shots in the final eight holes – including an eagle on the 12th and birdie at the last – to card a seven-under par closing round of 65.

Hull faced a nervous wait after setting the clubhouse lead, tied with Casandra Alexander on 19 under, but the South African dropped a shot when three-putting the 17th and missed a birdie putt at the last that would have forced a play-off.

Alexander, who shot a 68, finished in a tie for second place alongside Japan’s Akie Iwai, while Spain’s Solheim Cup star Carlota Ciganda and South Korea’s overnight leader Hye-Jin Choi finished joint fourth on 17 under.

England’s Mimi Rhodes, who led the tournament after a first-round 64, finished tied for sixth place at the Riyadh Golf Club on 16 under following a fine closing round of 67.

Hull earned a winner’s prize of $750,000 (£549,000), kicking off the 2026 season in style by winning on the same course where she claimed her last LET title in 2024.

She was told of her win as she waited on the practice green, replying: “Hooray, at least I can pay my house off now!

“I’ve worked really hard this off season so it’s nice to get a result pretty much straight away. It’s one of the bigger events on the LET and it’s kind of a like a home event for me.”

Hull started the day three shots off the lead and made the turn in two under for the day.

She dropped a second shot of the round on the 10th, but picked up four in the next three holes, with her charge including a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-five 12th.

Further birdies followed at the par-five 15th and 18th, putting the onus on her rivals to match her.

Iwai, who had moved into a share of the lead with a golden touch on the greens, bogeyed the 17th with a damaging three-putt that left her two shots back.

And, after Alexander also bogeyed the penultimate hole, Hull was finally able to celebrate, even after Iwai birdied the last for a 67.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Rhodes kicked off her campaign to make September’s Solheim Cup team with a superb final round that included six birdies and just one dropped shot.

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