REUTERS, AFP — The LPGA Tour unveiled a 35-event 2024 schedule on Nov 16 featuring a record US$118 million (S$159 million) in prize money.
That represents a 69 percent increase from the US$70 million in total purses available in 2021.
“The 2024 LPGA Tour schedule reflects our historic growth. With new events and improved geographic flow, enhancing the athlete experience, our global reach and competitiveness have never been stronger,” commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said.
“As we embark on this season, we celebrate the remarkable journey of women’s golf, anticipating thrilling competition and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.”
The 2024 schedule includes 33 official events played in 15 American states and 10 countries, including a pair of Asia swings in February-March and October.
A record 16 tournaments will have purses of at least US$3 million, including 10 non-Major events. The year-ending CME Group Tour Championship purse will see the biggest increase, from US$4 million to US$11 million and a record US$4 million winner’s cheque.
There are three new events on the calendar – the LPGA Drive On Championship in Bradenton, Florida, in January; the Arizona Championship in Phoenix in March; and the FM Global Championship in Norton, Massachusetts, in September.
The season kicks off with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida, from Jan 18-21. It ends with the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples from Nov 21-24.
The dates, locations and purses for the five Majors are:
- The Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, Texas, April 18-21, US$5.2 million.
- US Women’s Open in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 30-June 2, US$11 million.
- Women’s PGA Championship in Sammamish, Washington, June 20-23, US$10 million.
- Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France, July 11-14, US$6.5 million.
- Women’s Open in St Andrews, Scotland, Aug 22-25, US$9 million.
Other opportunities for LPGA Tour golfers in 2024 include the Paris Olympics (Aug 8-11) and the Solheim Cup in Gainesville, Virginia, from Sept 13-15.
In this week’s action, China’s Yin Ruoning shook off her pre-round doubts to fire nine birdies in a nine-under 63 on Nov 16 and share the CME Group Tour Championship first-round lead with Nasa Hataoka.
The Japanese also nabbed nine birdies without a bogey on a rain-softened Tiburon Golf Club course in Naples, Florida. The duo were a shot in front of Australian Minjee Lee, with Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist a further stroke back on 65.
Yin said that while warming up in the wind she “didn’t feel great about my swing”. Encouraged by her coach, however, she stuck to a basic game plan, hitting every fairway in regulation and taking advantage of her birdie chances.
The season-ender carries a US$2 million winner’s prize.
