Punjab Newsline,Sports :
Diksha, Aditi Lead Strong Indian Challenge at $5 Million Saudi Ladies International
Riyadh: The 2026 Ladies European Tour (LET) season gets underway with the prestigious PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club from February 11 to 14, and five Indian golfers are set to compete in the high-profile season-opener carrying a prize purse of USD 5 million.
Leading the Indian contingent is Diksha Dagar, who finished 25th on the 2025 LET Order of Merit. Having earlier secured a Top-3 finish in the 2023 standings, Diksha will be aiming for a stronger and more consistent campaign this season. She will be joined by Avani Prashanth, who impressed in her debut LET season, and Pranavi Urs, who staged a solid comeback after battling an injury setback midway through last year.
Hitaashee Bakshi, who earned her LET card with a fine Top-3 finish at the Hero Indian Open — where three Indians finished inside the Top-5 — also features in the field. India’s most experienced international golfer, Aditi Ashok, adds further strength to the lineup. A five-time LET winner, Aditi continues to balance her commitments between the LPGA Tour and the LET.
The tournament marks the first time the Saudi Ladies International is hosting the LET season-opener. Now in its seventh edition since being introduced in 2020, the event will be played as a 72-hole stroke play competition with a cut after 36 holes. A total of 120 players from over 30 countries will compete at Riyadh Golf Club, which is hosting the tournament for the third consecutive year.
The 2026 LET season also features a record prize fund of over €40 million, the highest in the Tour’s history. Among the star attractions this week are reigning LET Order of Merit champion Shannon Tan of Singapore, 2024 winner Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, and World No. 5 Charley Hull, a four-time LET champion, along with several Solheim Cup stars.
With a strong mix of youth and experience, the Indian golfers will look to make an early impact in what promises to be a competitive season opener.