Ladies European Tour (LET)
A Story of Growth, Grit, and Global Sisterhood
The Ladies European Tour (LET) is far more than a professional golf circuit — it’s a community built on courage, camaraderie, and belief in women’s potential.
- Location of early discussions: The crucial early meetings for the formation of the tour took place in a hut behind the West Sussex Golf Club, where a group of aspiring professional female golfers discussed turning pro and creating their own tour.
- Official formation and sponsorship: The tour was officially founded at the end of 1978 with Carlsberg as a key sponsor.
- The first season: The first season of the tour took place in 1979, featuring 12 tournaments with a first prize of about £250.
- First tournament location: The very first tournament of the season was held at Tyrells Wood in Surrey.
Since its founding in 1978, the LET has given thousands of golfers the chance to chase dreams, cross borders, and prove that skill, spirit, and sportsmanship know no gender.
From its home at Buckinghamshire Golf Club near London, the LET today connects more than forty nations and five continents in a shared celebration of the women’s game.
A Journey of Leadership and Change
The LET’s journey has been guided by leaders who saw possibility even in challenge.
- Vivien Saunders, the founding chair, fought for credibility and equality.
- Alexandra Armas, who first led from 2008 to 2012 and returned in 2020, became a voice of calm progress — steady, thoughtful, and inclusive.
- Ivan Khodabakhsh and Mark Lichtenhein helped modernise the tour and strengthen its partnerships.
- Today, Marta Figueras-Dotti serves as Board Chair, continuing the legacy of empathy and experience that has defined the tour’s leadership.
In 2025, Alexandra Armas will step down, leaving behind a tour transformed — stronger, more visible, and more global than ever before.
Building the Pathways – From Dreams to Doors
The LET’s structure reflects its belief in opportunity:
- The Main Tour brings together the best professionals from every corner of the world — a family of players united by shared ambition.
- The LET Access Series (LETAS), founded in 2010, opens doors for rising stars, giving them experience and belonging.
- The PIF Global Series (formerly the Aramco Team Series) adds imagination to tradition — a blend of team spirit, international stages, and record-breaking prize funds.
Together, they form a ladder of possibility, proving that growth is strongest when it is shared.
Major Partnerships – Collaboration and Courage
In 2019, a new chapter began. The LPGA and LET joined forces in a partnership built on respect and mutual purpose: to strengthen women’s golf in Europe and beyond. It wasn’t just a business decision — it was a gesture of belief. Together they expanded tournaments, raised purses, and built bridges between continents, ensuring that young girls everywhere could see women competing at the highest level and know, “that could be me.”
The Solheim Cup – Where Hearts Meet History
Few events capture the spirit of the LET quite like the Solheim Cup. Every two years, Team Europe and Team USA meet not as rivals, but as reflections of passion, courage, and pride.
- 2023 – At Finca Cortesín, Spain, Europe retained the Cup with a dramatic 14–14 tie under captain Suzann Pettersen.
- 2024 – At Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Virginia, Team USA reclaimed the title 15½–12½.
- 2026 – At Bernardus Golf, Netherlands, Anna Nordqvist will lead Europe, carrying the torch of belief into a new generation.
The Solheim Cup is more than a match. It’s a reminder of what happens when women stand together — bold, proud, and unafraid.
Impact & Legacy – More Than a Tour
Across decades, the LET has been home to champions whose influence reaches far beyond scorecards. Dame Laura Davies, Trish Johnson, Catriona Matthew, Annika Sörenstam, Suzann Pettersen, and Helen Alfredsson are not only winners — they are storytellers, mentors, and icons of resilience.
The LET’s greatest legacy lies in connection. It has created lifelong friendships, nurtured global respect, and built a network of belonging. From the first tee to the final green, every player who walks the fairways adds a new chapter to this shared story — a story written with kindness, courage, and love for the game.
Quick Facts
- Founded: 1978 (first season 1979)
- HQ: Buckinghamshire Golf Club, UK
- Most LET titles: Dame Laura Davies (45)
- Pathway: LET Access Series (since 2010)
- Global footprint: Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, Oceania, USA