October 13, 2024 – The second edition of La Sella Open, held from 19 to 22 September on the spectacular La Sella Golf course in Dénia (Alicante), has confirmed the event’s status as one of the most prominent tournaments on the Ladies European Tour. It brought together some of the best golfers in the world and has made a significant and multi-faceted contribution to the advancement of ladies’ golf.

From the first shot, the tournament offered a sporting spectacle of the highest level, with intense competition between established and upcoming players. Helen Briem, a young German player of just 19 years old, was the breakout star of the event, surprising the audience with her maturity and consistency. Her two impressive final rounds of 66 strokes led her to the title, and La Sella was proud to be the springboard for this promising new European and world golfer. “Helen Briem’s first LET victory will be especially memorable in the years to come as she is undoubtedly one of Europe’s future stars,” says Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour.

In addition to Briem, other players such as France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, the Czech Republic’s Sára Kousková, Sweden’s Sofie Bringner and Finland’s Ursula Wikström offered high-level performances, reflecting the strong competitiveness of the European circuit. Ana Peláez, one of Spain’s top golfers, put in a solid performance and was among the tournament’s leading players, while the talented Luna Sobrón and Harang Leewere also most impressive. Few will doubt that Spanish women’s golf has a promising future.

The La Sella Open has not only served to crown the new emerging star of European golf, it has also reaffirmed the strength of ladies’ golf in Europe, providing players with a perfect platform to showcase their talent at the highest level.

This sporting success underscores the growth of La Sella Open as one of the key tournaments on the Ladies European Tour. In its first year, it was voted the ‘Best LET Tournament’, an accolade awarded by the players themselves, and in this second edition, the organisers made further efforts to raise the level of the competition, the presentation of the course and the attention to the golfers, consolidating its position as a benchmark on the European circuit.

A social commitment, beyond sport

In the words of Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour: “The players enjoyed taking part in an event focused on advancing women’s sport, creating more opportunities for athletes to compete on a global stage.”

Behind the success of this tournament, the organising and volunteer team played a crucial role. Alongside 120 dedicated volunteers, the 40 organising staff members ensured that every detail ran smoothly, from logistics to course maintenance. In particular, the team of 12 female volunteer greenkeepers, led by Jimena Blanco, head greenkeeper of La Sella Golf. In addition to marking a milestone as the largest contingent of female greenkeepers in the history of a professional golf tournament, their work was crucial in ensuring that the course was presented in excellent condition for the competition, as highlighted by both the players and the Ladies European Tour team.

The active participation of the local community was also essential, represented by the aforementioned team of volunteers and the numerous spectators who came to cheer on the players and enjoy golf at the highest level. This sense of community and celebration around ladies’ golf was palpable throughout the competition.

The second La Sella Open also stood out for its commitment to promoting professional ladies’ golf and developing the talent of its players. As the director of La Sella Golf, Carlos García, points out, “La Sella Open is not just a golf tournament; it is a platform dedicated to empowering women in the world of top-level sport.” As part of this approach and the motto “A tournament for the ladies”, it seeks to promote equality and visibility in women’s golf. With a prize pool of 1,000,000 euros, it is currently the women’s professional golf tournament with the largest prize pool in the history of Spain, reflecting a determined effort to reduce the gap between women’s and men’s sport, promoting equality in sports.

La Sella Open’s media coverage is another of its great achievements. The tournament reached a potential audience of 210 million people, with broadcasts on channels such as Sky Sports (United Kingdom and Ireland) and Sky Sports Golf (Germany, Switzerland and Austria), Fox Sports (Australia), Telenet (Belgium), Ziggo (Netherlands), Viaplay (Scandinavia) and Golf Channel UA (United States and Canada), among others. In the MENA region (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and other countries), coverage was provided by Etisalat, while in sub-Saharan Africa it was widely broadcast by Supersport. In addition, fans around the world were able to follow all the action live through the Ladies European Tour (LET) YouTube channel, with daily broadcasts. At a national level, the competition was broadcast live on Movistar+ Golf, and the tournament received news coverage on the main national and regional channels. This media attention contributed significantly to raising the visibility of women’s golf globally.

In addition to its commitment to women’s sport, La Sella Open also aligns itself with sustainable and health initiatives. This year, the tournament joined the ‘LET Celebrating the Green’ campaign, which promotes sustainable activities in golf, and organised a day of awareness about health and breast cancer prevention with the players, highlighting the importance of the well-being of female athletes.

With its strong organisation, a course presented in impeccable conditions and a deep commitment to equity and sustainability, La Sella Open has raised the bar in its second edition, paving the way for a more inclusive and visible future for ladies’ golf. This tournament, which aims to remain a reference in the LET, has shown that it is much more than a sporting event: it is a showcase for talent and a tool for transformation for ladies’ sport in Europe and the world.