Women’s golf’s Ladies European Tour (LET) organization has announced the appointment of experienced golf executive Tom Phillips as its new chief executive (CEO).
Phillips will replace previous CEO Alexandra Armas, who departed the organization in October after a five-year period of strong growth for the tour.
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Armas oversaw the commercial revival of women’s golf in Europe, stepping into the role when the schedule had fallen to just 15 events annually, with only eight left in Europe itself.
She played a key role in securing a strategic partnership with the lucrative LPGA, which gave LET access to its vast resources and team of staff. Since then, LET has secured major commercial partners, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The search for Armas’ successor was led by the Elevate Talent executive search agency, which the LET retained for the hiring process.
Phillips joins from European Tour Group, organizer of the DP World Tour, where he had been director for the Middle East since 2019.
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By GlobalDataHis time at the DP World Tour saw him help to secure the competition’s major DP World title sponsorship, while the competition established multiple new tournaments in the Middle East region during his tenure.
Phillips first entered the world of golf in 1999. Serving as chief executive of golf icon Nick Faldo’s Faldo Series of junior events.
In 2007, Phillips worked with Faldo again as the director of Asia Pacific for his golf course design business, Faldo Design, before departing in 2013 for the Hong Kong Golf Association, where he became chief executive.
After that, in 2026, Phillips became the director of business development for the Mission Hills Golf resort chain’s China branch, before joining the DP World tour in 2019.
Speaking on Phillips’ appointment, LET ltd board chair Marta Figueras Dotti said: “His commercial expertise, collaborative approach and passion for the game make him the right person to lead the LET as we continue to build momentum for our players and our Tour.”
Liz Moore, chair of the board of directors of the LET’s joint venture partnership with the LPGA Tour, added: “Tom brings a global perspective and a clear understanding of how to grow professional sport in a way that benefits athletes, partners and fans, and his appointment reflects the Tour’s long-term vision and the opportunity to further strengthen the women’s golf ecosystem worldwide.
“He has consistently demonstrated the ability to build strong teams and partnerships, and we’re excited about the leadership he’ll bring to the LET.”
Phillips will step into the role on April 6 after returning to the UK, where the organization is based.
The 2026 LET season is set to stand out from prior editions, with a record prize fund of more than €39 million ($45.8 million) on offer to be distributed across 30 events held across 21 countries and spanning five continents.
This will begin with the flagship PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh on February 11, with a new event in Mauritius and the return of the Women’s Australian Open also highlights, as will be the Solheim Cup teams’ competition between Team Europe and Team USA.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) looms large, having secured title sponsorship for the revamped global series of five lucrative women’s events on the LET’s schedule, with this year’s total prize fund reaching $15 million – up by $2 million from 2025.
Along with the season-opening PIF Saudi Ladies International, this year’s PIF Global Series includes April’s Aramco Championship at Shadow Creet that will be co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour, the PIF London Championship (August), Aramco Korea Championship (October), and Aramco China Championship (November).
A minimum of 25 LET events will be televised, either via highlights packages or with a full live world feed in 2026.
