Aramco Korea Championship: Suzann Pettersen shoots even par in first round on Ladies European Tour after four years
Suzann Pettersen makes return to Ladies European Tour for first time since 2022 and rallies after early dropped shots to card even-par 72, including monster birdie at 15; England's Lily May Humphreys in share of second after five-under 67; watch second round from 5.30am Friday
Thursday 8 October 2026 12:21, UK
Suzann Pettersen marked her first round on the Ladies European Tour in four years with an even-par 72 at the Aramco Korea Championship as England's Lily May Humphreys earned a share of second place.
Pettersen, 45, retired after sinking the winning putt for Team Europe in the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, with her only appearance since the 2022 Aramco Team Series event in Jeddah.
The Norwegian - who captained Europe at the 2023 and 2024 Solheim Cups - was three over after six holes in South Korea, bogeying the third and double bogeying the sixth.
- Leaderboard: Aramco Korea Championship, LET (external)
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But the two-time major winner rallied with birdies at eight, 13 and 15 - picking up a shot at the last of those holes with a monster putt - and went bogey-free on her back nine.
Humphreys: I had quite a lot of good fortune go my way
Humphreys - who won her sole Ladies European Tour title to date at the 2023 Joburg Ladies Open - carded a five-under 67 to sit one shot behind leader Patricie Mackova.
Like Pettersen, the 24-year-old dropped shots at three and six, but she registered five birdies as well as an eagle at the par-five 13th to match the rounds of Miyu Yamashita, Sarah Kemp and Olivia Cowan.
Humphreys said: "I played very nicely and I had quite a lot of good fortune go my way which you need around here to shoot a low number. The course doesn't give you anything. You need to earn every birdie and some pars.
"I holed an insane amount of long putts and the hole-out for eagle which was a nice way to start the afternoon"
There have been four English winners on the Ladies European Tour in 2026.
Charley Hull won the season-opening PIF Saudi Ladies International in February, with Esme Hamilton then claiming a maiden title on the tour with victory at the South African Women's Open in April.
Eleanor Givens secured her first LET victory at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open in August, while Charlotte Heath did likewise at the La Sella Open in September.
Why was leader Mackova wearing green?
Czechia's Mackova equalled the course record set by Seojin Park in 2025 as she carded the lowest round of her career.
Mackova wore green to raise awareness around sustainability, saying afterwards: "Myself, Sara [Kouskova], Celina [Sattelkau], and Camille [Chevalier] are part of an organisation called EcoAthletes.
"It's an organisation of athletes who care about the environment and they feel something should change for future generations to enjoy earth as much as we do.
"We came up with the idea of wearing a green shirt on Thursdays this month. I didn't have a green shirt, but I found this [green dress]."
Watch round two of the Aramco Korea Championship live on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports+ from 5.30am on Friday, with coverage also on Sky Sports Golf from 8am. Check out the latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOW - cancel anytime.
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