Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Ended Aramco Series Funding
The Saudi Arabia Sovereign Wealth Fund has pulled its $15 million investment from the European Women's Professional Golf Tour.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Golf
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The Saudi Arabia Sovereign Wealth Fund has terminated its $15 million in annual funding for the European Women's Professional Golf Tour's Aramco Series. This decision follows the fund's recent separation from LIV Golf and a broader restructuring of its golf sector investments.
Why it matters
The move marks a strategic shift for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which is moving away from the Aramco Series to focus on grassroots development and co-hosted events with the LPGA and LET. This pivot comes in the wake of LIV Golf filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York.
The Saudi fund is withdrawing $15 million in annual support, while the upcoming 2027 co-hosted tournament in the United Kingdom is projected to feature a total prize purse of $4 million.
The players
Saudi Arabia Sovereign Wealth Fund
This is the state-owned investment vehicle of Saudi Arabia that manages substantial national assets and has recently invested billions into the global professional golf ecosystem.
European Women's Professional Golf Tour
Also known as the Ladies European Tour, it is the primary professional golf tour for women in Europe that has hosted the Aramco Series since 2021.
LIV Golf
This is a professional golf tour backed by the Saudi Arabia Sovereign Wealth Fund that recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York.
Kim Hyo-joo
She is a professional golfer who secured individual title victories in the Aramco Series during both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The details
The Aramco Series, which launched in 2021 and featured Kim Hyo-joo as a two-time individual title winner in South Korea, will conclude operations by the end of 2026. The fund intends to channel its resources into new collaborative tournaments with the LPGA and Ladies European Tour.
Timeline
The Aramco Series began operations in 2021.
The Saudi Arabia Sovereign Wealth Fund began restructuring its golf investments in April 2026.
The final Aramco Series tournament is set for October 8-11, 2026, at New Korea CC.
The Aramco Series is expected to conclude permanently by the end of 2026.
A co-hosted LPGA-LET tournament in the UK is scheduled for July 2027.
Season Trajectory
The withdrawal of funding signals a major contraction in the Aramco Series' footprint, effectively ending the circuit's multi-year run to prioritize different collaborative models. This move shifts the Ladies European Tour landscape, forcing organizers to seek new financial backers for the 2027 season and beyond.
Players and tour officials must now prepare for the loss of $15 million in annual series funding starting in 2027. Fans should expect a transition toward the new LPGA-LET co-hosted event model, which will offer a lower prize purse of $4 million compared to the previous funding levels.
The takeaway
The end of the Aramco Series highlights the volatility of private investment in professional golf as backers shift focus toward traditional tour partnerships. Golf followers should monitor how the LPGA and LET adjust their 2027 calendars to compensate for the lost tournament infrastructure.
What happens next
The final Aramco Series tournament is scheduled to take place at New Korea CC from October 8th to 11th, 2026, marking the conclusion of the series.
Further reading
Find more updates on professional tours in the Golf section.
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