Welcome back to Golf Thursday, everyone.
On Feb. 14 at Riyadh Golf and Country Club, Charley Hull took home the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Her final-round 65 (-7) set the clubhouse lead, and no one could catch her. Hull finished one stroke ahead of Akie Iwai and Casandra Alexander to win her fifth LET title.
The Englishwoman’s persistence during the PIF Saudi was to be admired. She shot a 70 (-2) in her first round, putting her tied for 41st. That round was solid; Hull carded five birdies, but three bogeys set her back. She didn’t lose control of her round on day one, but it wasn’t the worst round to exist.
Hull then posted a 5-under-par 67 in round two, boosting her up into a tie for 14th at the end of the day. Hull found her groove during round two, notching five birdies and four pars on the front nine alone for a 31. A bogey on No. 10 and a birdie on No. 12 evened her back out to 5-under, and after carding six straight pars, that’s where Hull finished her round.
On moving day, Hull shot another really clean 67, posting six birdies and a bogey on that dreaded hole No. 10. But just about everyone on the course had a great day as well. Hull ended the day only three spots better than the day before, at a tie for 11th place. And by round four, Hull had enough of merely inching up the leaderboard. She wanted to take control.
And that she did. Since she was only three shots back, Hull didn’t have that big of a hill to climb to set a precedent. She came out of the gates firing, and her 7-under-par 65 was nearly spotless. Hull, after carding seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys, saw herself jump to the clubhouse lead at 19-under-par. All she had to do was wait.
As Hull saw score after score coming in, each one not good enough to top hers, the imminent win was on the horizon. Hull’s 65 turned out to be the lowest round on the course that day.
“[My boyfriend] said to me last night make loads of birdies coming in, you love chasing and that’s what I did,” Hull reflected during her post-win press conference on Feb. 14.
The now World No. 3 golfer is certainly a chaser. That mindset got her into position at last year’s AIG Women’s Open, but she fell just short and finished tied for second. She chased at the 2025 Kroger Queen City Championship, putting just enough mental pressure on Jeeno Thitikul to get her win. The PIF Saudi Ladies International title was a great start to the season for Hull. But you know what? I’d love to see her get a major win this season.
See you next week, golf fans.
This week in women’s golf
LPGA News
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Field breakdown: 2026 Honda LPGA Thailand
How to watch the 2026 Honda LPGA Thailand
Early Asia swing returns with defending champions ready
Invitations confirmed for HSBC Women’s World Championship 2026
Charley Hull cracks top three of Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings
Nelly Korda headlines the 2026 Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba
LET News
Dates confirmed for 2026 La Sella Open
Ciganda happy with ace start to 2026 LET season after winter wedding
The 2023 European Solheim Cup team receives the European Union trophy at the National Sports Awards
Epson Tour News
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Amateur/NCAA News
No. 8 Auburn claims victory at Moon Golf Invitational
Iowa State wins the Texas Golf Throwdown
Park’s win helps No. 2 USC claim the Alice and John Wallace Women’s Golf Classic
Northwestern sweep the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational, claim team and individual titles
Yunseo Yang earns one LEAP point with win at the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific
Five at The IX: Quotes from defending champion Angel Yin ahead of the 2026 Honda LPGA Thailand
From Feb. 19–22 on the LPGA Tour is the first stop in the spring Asia swing: the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club. Angel Yin is set to defend her title. Last year, she carded seven birdies in her final round, leading her to first across the field in birdies made over four rounds with 30. Here are some snippets from her pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
THE MODERATOR: All right joining me here today ahead of the 2026 Honda LPGA Thailand is Angel Yin. Angel, you are the defending champion here. You set many scoring records last year. How was that experience and how do you feel like your game was last year?
ANGEL YIN: I think my game was better last year than it is now. Kind of struggling right now. But you never know; sometime a miracle does happen.
Q. You’ve been on Tour since 2017. How do you feel like you are continuing to learn and grow now that you’re nearly a veteran out here?
ANGEL YIN: I think I lose focus fast, so I’m not — I’m motivated, but at the same time not motivated. So I’m always finding new ways to continue my motivation for what I do and to be better and searching to be more consistent throughout my game and be more consistent with my results.
I think that’s something I lack; just type of person I am I guess.
Q. And then you’re based the United States. How do you find routine and like beat things like jet lag when you’re traveling?
ANGEL YIN: I don’t think I’m beating it to be honest. I’m very good at I guess staying awake when the sun is out. My body doesn’t like it ever. It’s always super bloated; feel really tired and sluggish.
But I’ve been here since like Sunday 2 a.m. so I think a little extra time always helps, especially in the beginning of the run.
Q. You’re playing tomorrow with Jeeno and Akie. Can you tell us a little bit about your feelings about Jeeno and how good she is and what maybe you learned from her?
ANGEL YIN: Yeah, I mean, honestly she’s just so consistent, right? Our game, anything you do you want to be consistent, and she’s been able to do that and that’s why she’s world No. 1.
She doesn’t have—this sounds bad but it’s a compliment—she doesn’t have this spectacular multiple wins a year or those huge highlights, but I think that just shows how good she is. Because she’s just so consistent that she—because of her consistency she became world No. 1.
To me that’s more impressive than an extremely highlighted person. I think that’s what I strive to become or be more of.
Q. Is it intimidating to play with her in particularly tomorrow? Obviously most of the fans will be cheering for her.
ANGEL YIN: Is it intimidating? No. (Laughter.) I think it’s because like I have my own game to worry about. Like I said, I’m not playing quite as good as I did last year so trying to find more of a comfortable feel out there on the golf course.
So I think I’m more worried and busy about my own stuff than to be intimidated I think.
Yeah, I think it’ll be really exciting, and it’s like I never stopped from last year. It’s like a continuation. Just keep it rolling.
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