ARAMCO TEAM SERIES - BANGKOK ROUND ONE

May 10, 2022

Alexandra Armas

Thai Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Aramco Team Series Bangkok. This is the annual event in Thailand. We have first pro team series in 2021 with a unique format and with lots of excitement. This year we will have (indiscernible) elite players playing in this format both in team participation and in individual participation.

The first two days, Thursday and Friday, there will be teams with three professionals plus one amateur playing as a team with best ball in a team format, with the prize money of 500.000 U.S. dollars.

But the individual first day will be on Saturday, with prize money of 500,000 U.S. dollars as well. This is the press conference of the CEO of LET, Alexandra Armas. We'll start with questions in English and I'll be translating the answer right to you.

First, welcome back to Thailand. You must be very happy to be back again so soon.

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: Yes, welcome everyone. Nice to see so many people joining us today. Yes, very exciting to be back. I mean, me personally I had never been to Thailand until this year, so it's kind of a second home now. The Ladies European Tour here in 2019, but it's great to be back.

I mean, Thailand is becoming quite a hub for success for the women's golf game, so it's exciting to be part of that.

Q. The Aramco Team Series has been playing for a while. London, Sotogrande, New York, Jeddah, and why Bangkok this time?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I mean, I think the dream for the Aramco Team Series was to become a global series, and I think that Asia was a big missing piece to the success of this story.

And obviously as I say, Thailand is a key player in global golf, so for us to come to Asia was very important, and then in Thailand is a perfect hub for this event.

Q. What are the feedback from the players with the unique format of Aramco Team Series?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I think it's very exciting. There is an element to this event that's very special. One is the prize money, the setup, we always got o very good golf courses, the staging of the event is the highest quality.

But also the format is slightly different to what they play week in and week out, and that makes it very exciting for them to compete in a slightly different format which brings a different aspect to the golf course.

I think playing as a team and collaborating is something that these players don't get the opportunity to do very often, and I've seen it already from last season, the camaraderie that has built between our players.

So I think it's unique, it's enjoyable, it's enjoyable for the players, but it's also very enjoyable for the fans that follow it.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: Well, I mean, our partnership with Aramco and Golf Saudi has definitely been a key partner in the development of the tour over the last few years. I mean, even through COVID in 2019 these players only had 19 tournaments and were playing for 11 million Euros. Now in 2021 we have 34 tournaments and playing for 27 million, and I think Aramco and Aramco Team Series has been a key player in our success in the last few years despite COVID.

Q. Have you seen the course yet?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I haven't seen the course. I only flew in this morning. I have seen comments from the players and digital media already, and hearing from the players already, and the organizers. It's obviously a great golf course, and I say we always play these events on great golf courses, so I can't wait to see it tomorrow.

So far all the feedback is very, very positive.

Q. Will the pro team series have any chance of coming back to Bangkok in the year after?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I think there is a chance. Obviously we're going to have a good week ahead. We haven't yet planned the schedule for next year. I'm sure there is an opportunity for us to come back.

Q. What is your overall expectation in 2022?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I mean, I think we're just building on what we've done so far. You know, we have still a way to go. Our vision and mission is to make sure that the athletes get an opportunity to compete and make a living from competing in tournaments, so we have increased the number of tournaments and we have to drive those tournaments to increase the prize money to give more and more opportunities to young players to come through and succeed.

Q. The question id regarding this year format.

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: Yes, this year we're changing it slightly from last year. We still have a team element and an individual element. The first two days the pros will keep their score and count towards the individual scorecard, but it also will count towards the team, the team being made up of four pros and an amateur, the best two scores counting.

So after the first two days there will be a winning team after 36 holes, and then on the second day there will be a cut for top 60 players and ties to play the individual tournament on the final round.

Q. I just wanted to ask you why there are so many players from places like -- countries like South Korea, Japan, Thailand? How pleased are you that because of LET there are like six or seven girls from a place like (indiscernible).

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: For me personally it's particularly exciting. I think seeing the success of Atthaya last year and seeing her come through the LET and now succeeding on the LPGA was personally very exciting.

I think also players love to see the success of their colleagues. The story of (indiscernible) for me, it's one very close to my heart. I was there in 2007 or 8 I think it was when we first went with that first event and there was only one pro at the time, and now to see years later a few players that have won on the LET and the LPGA, had about 12 players go to Q-School, it's an incredible journey, and I think that just shows how professional golf can really drive the next generation of athletes and professionals.

Q. Do you have any plans of doing more than just the (indiscernible)?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I mean, we work with obviously the (indiscernible) on development projects as we've done for many years. We're not looking at (indiscernible.) I think we're excited about seeing the return of the tournament after two years because of COVID, so we're looking forward to the end of the year and going back again and continuing our journey.

Q. Two questions: 2016, how did the captain selection take place based on ranking? And also, the amateurs that will be participating, how will they qualify or have the rights to participate?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: So the captains are based on their world ranking, and they will now -- in the draw they will pick their first teammates in reverse order. So 26 will have the first pick of the rest of the field, and the amateurs are a number of individuals. Whether they're sponsor's invites, whether they're good amateurs from here. So there is different ways that I think in this competition for players to get into the amateur element.

There is different aspects that you can qualify.

Q. Each event is self-contained, correct, five events? There is no cumulative score toward the end of the series?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: No, all individual events, yeah.

Just to add to that, all the events are part of the Ladies European Tour, so they do also have world ranking points, order of merit points, so they're all official tournaments.

Q. First of all, what are the reason to select Bangkok as the first pro team series of the year?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: There was a number of elements. Obviously we wanted to go to somewhere in Asia, so that was a selling point. I think it's important that it is somewhere where golf is an important aspect of the community, as it is in Thailand, good golf course.

And I think a critical element is also the sponsors and the markets, which are also a driver in deciding that.

Q. From 12th until 14 of May, what can golf expect from these three days?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: Yeah, there is definitely going to be, but I hope that a lot of people also get encouraged to come out to the golf course and see it firsthand. It's going to be a very exciting competition. It's always very, very close. I think for quite a few of the events there has been a playoff, both from the team side and the individual element.

So, yeah, there will be a lot of smiles as the teams come together compete, but then a lot of good golf.

Q. In case there is a playoff, how will that be decided?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: Yeah, so the team playoff, the team, between the three pros, select one player that will play the playoff. It will be one of the pros, but they pick between themselves who will be in the playoff.

Q. (Regarding returning to Thailand.)

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: I mean, I don't know. As I say, early stages. We haven't gone through the first tournament.

You know, the plan is to continue to come back to Asia. There is still a decision to be made whether we find one home for the event or move it around, so I think we'll have to wait and see on that one.

(Applause.)

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