Nordqvist 'Breaks Ties with Saudi Oil Company'

Announcement of Sponsorship Termination in Interview with Swedish TT News Agency

Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) is ending her partnership with a Saudi Arabian company.

On the 12th (local time), Nordqvist announced in an interview with Swedish TT News Agency that she decided not to renew her sponsorship contract with Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state-owned oil company. Nordqvist had been sponsored by Aramco for the past year. She was known to have received a substantial amount of sponsorship money while wearing a cap prominently featuring the Aramco logo.

Anna Nordqvist

Nordqvist said, "I received a lot of hatred and criticism," adding, "It did not feel good and was different from what I had expected." She further explained, "The sponsorship from Aramco was not about the money," and "It was because I thought it might help the Ladies European Tour (LET)."

Aramco has invested heavily in hosting the LET Aramco Series tournaments. LIV Golf, newly established to compete with the PGA Tour, is also partly funded by Aramco. Global human rights organizations have criticized Aramco for engaging in so-called 'sports washing' through golf to conceal Saudi Arabia's human rights violations.

Nordqvist is a leading female golfer representing Sweden. She has won a total of 9 titles on the LPGA Tour, including 3 major championships. Adding 5 wins in Europe, she has accumulated 13 professional victories in total. Nordqvist will participate in the LET PIF Saudi Ladies International, held in Saudi Arabia starting from the 16th.