“Incredible amount of hatred” - LPGA star Anna Nordqvist ends sponsorship with Saudi Arabia's Aramco over ‘mean comments’

LPGA star Anna Nordqvist revealed that she has ended her deal with Saudi Arabia's Aramco over mean comments. The star golfer confessed that she received backlash for the partnership and terminated the deal.

In an interview with the Swedish news agency, IT, Nordqvist said:

“Incredible amount of hatred and mean comments from people who don't even know me."

She went on to add:

“It hasn't really turned out the way I thought it would and this is something I've been thinking about for a very long time. I have to think about my well-being and I haven't been feeling well. For me, this was never about money, but I wanted to do something for women's golf and especially for the women's European Tour.”

Anna Nordqvist also announced the news on her social media page and wrote:

"I hope my decision will allow me to focus on being at my best, on and off the course. The ATS team are fully supportive of this decision. I will always fight for women's golf. This decision doesn't change the respect I have for what the Aramco Team Series has done for the women's game. Their worldwide events have made a great difference to the Ladies European Tour and I'll be playing in some of the ATS events this year."

Anna Nordqvist's statement (Image via Instagram)

The three-time Major tournament winner continued to write:

"I will continue to chase my dreams and be the best ambassador I can be for the game of golf all over the world, playing on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour with hopes of inspiring others to chase their dreams too."

Aramco is a Saudi Arabian state-run petroleum firm that sponsors six events on the Ladies European Tour and also has several individual deals with the players.

The Saudi government has been accused of myriad human rights violations. Despite the fact that the country touted reforms to improve the status of women in the country, there are still several issues to address.

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"I feel it's important to play all over the world" - Anna Nordqvist talks about playing in the Saudi International tournament

Despite canceling her contract with Aramco, Anna Nordqvist is still excited to compete at the Saudi Ladies International. She said during her interview:

"Yes I do. I need to get in four competitions on the European Tour before August, because my big goal is to play the Solheim Cup. It's a competition that fits into the schedule, we haven't been spoiled with a lot of competitions at the beginning of the year."

She went on to say:

“It is a difficult question to answer. But I feel it's important to play all over the world, that we can influence younger generations to dream big. If young girls who grow up somewhere, wherever it is, can see a golf competition and that there is an opportunity.”

The Saudi Ladies International is scheduled to take place from February 16 to February 19, 2023, with a prize purse of $5 million, the same as the men's tournament.