Gary Player loudly praises the value of women's golf at LI event

If you ever need the ultimate cheerleader for golf, then you call on Gary Player. He doesn’t just get on the bandwagon, he drives it.

And there he was on Wednesday at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, extolling the virtues of the women’s game on the eve of the Aramco Tournament Series event that begins a three-day run on Thursday.

That’s when some of the top players in the world, including World No. 1 Nellie Korda and her sister Jessica along with Lexi Thompson, Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas tee off in this unique team series that is part of the Ladies European Tour. This is the first ever LET tournament in the U.S.

Three pros will play with an amateur for 54 holes, and the amateur’s score not only counts, but it could potentially have a big say in the final outcome for their team.

Player is at Glen Oaks as an ambassador for Golf Saudi, who along with Saudi oil giant Aramco sponsors the four-event series with $1 million purses. Player, the nine-time major champion from South Africa, is passionate about the women’s cause.

"Having four daughters, having played golf all around the world, I’m so in favor of women’s golf," Player said. "And what they are doing here now is unbelievable. Aramco, to have all these team series all over the world, is so encouraging because ladies golf is so essential. These young women who play the tour swing so well, they play unbelievable golf. The average person in the street doesn’t realize how well these ladies play."

Thompson, describing Glen Oaks as being in perfect shape, thinks the team concept will help draw more fan interest and that Long Island fans can be up close and personal to the best women players.

"I think as athletes, we just want to see the game grow, and I think ideas like this that are different and aren’t just cookie-cutter 72 hole events really brings in new ideas for golf and grows the game," Thompson said.

Thompson sees the women’s game in an increasingly better place.

"I think we’re on the upward rise of things and we want to continue that with the players out here," Thompson said. "There’s so many stories to tell and growing fanbases."

Player is definitely on her side.

"This ball has started to roll now," Player said. "We are going to see great improvement in women’s golf and we need it, young women need role models. We see women playing rugby, soccer, kick boxing. It’s a whole new world and it’s exciting."

Spectators are admitted free and must register online at https://aramcoteamseries.com/en-us/ to get tickets. Use the pull down menu to find the ticket icon.