England’s Charley Hull shot a final-round 65 to rally from three shots back and win the PIF Saudi Ladies International by one shot in Riyadh on Sunday.
Hull began the day tied for 11th place and was only 1-under par through 12 holes at the Riyadh Golf Club. But the world’s No. 5-ranked player went 6 under over her final eight holes to reach 19 under for the tournament, and her clubhouse lead held up with a one-shot victory over South Africa’s Casandra Alexander and Japan’s Akie Iwai.
“It feels great,” Hull said. “It was funny because last time I was around here my boyfriend said to me go out and make loads of birdies to begin with. He said to me last night make loads of birdies coming in, you love chasing and that’s what I did.
“I feel great and I love this golf course. I like how this golf course has really matured over the years and it’s getting trickier each year. The grass is getting thicker and I really liked it. It was a good challenge.”
Hull made her turn in 2 under for the day. She dropped a shot on the 10th before beginning her run with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on hole Nos. 11-13. Hull added a birdie on No. 15 and closed with another on No. 18 to provide the final edge she needed.
“I worked really hard this offseason, so it’s nice to get a result pretty much straight away and it’s one of the bigger events on the LET,” said Hull, who took home the $631,625 winner’s prize.
Alexander had a chance to force a playoff but bogeyed the 17th hole.
“It’s been a great start to the season. There have been a lot of positives from this week, and I can learn from a couple of the shots, but overall, it was pretty solid,” Alexander said. “That gives me a great start to the season, the prep has been good and I’m excited to see what the rest of 2026 has in store for me.”
Iwai made seven birdies against a pair of bogeys in carding a 67 on Sunday, and three-putted the 17th green.
“My style of golf is very aggressive. Today I wanted to try (and go for it). Everything was good in my game,” Iwai said. “My driver, my shots and my putting were all good. On No. 17, I made a three-putt but it’s not a problem because there’s always next week.
“I like the golf course. The weather is a lot different than last year, it’s been lovely. Hopefully, this will give me a good feeling. I will keep going, have a smile on my face and play with my heart.”
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi finished in a tie for fourth place at 17 under.
–Field Level Media
