Purses on the LPGA Tour will rise by US$4 million next year, and officials are aiming for a second event in China.
The tour released next year’s schedule on Friday, with 18 of the 33 official events held in the US. Purse money will rise from US$59.1 million to US$63.1 million, a tournament has been added in Michigan and the LPGA will take a three-week break to accommodate the return of golf to the Olympics in August.
“Stability with growth,” LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said. “We’ve had some dramatic things we needed to address in the last six years ... and the numbers, I think, kind of speak for themselves.”
In 2011, the LPGA had 23 official events and US$40.5 million in purse money with 220 hours of television coverage. The TV hours will increase again to about 410 next year. The LPGA also announced a partnership with the Native American Oneida Tribe from Wisconsin for a tournament that will start in 2017 and offer a US$2 million purse.
“It’s an exciting time,” Whan said.
Next year’s schedule starts with five tournaments in five countries, matching the layout of the past two years. The season begins in the Bahamas in late January, and the first event in the US is the Coates Golf Championship at Ocala, Florida. It ends on Feb. 6, and will not conflict with the Super Bowl the next day in Santa Clara, California.
The five majors are the ANA Inspiration ending April 3, the Women’s PGA Championship ending June 12, the US Women’s Open ending July 10, the Women’s British Open ending July 31, and the Evian Championship ending Sept. 18. The Olympic field will be set the day after the Women’s Open.
“The Olympics is making 2016 a little more crowded than a typical LPGA schedule in the middle of the summer,” Whan said. “But it’s a great problem to have when you have to get condensed because you’re about to play in the Olympics for the first time in 100 years.”
China was expected to host two events this year, though one was canceled about two weeks before the start. The LPGA plans to return for an event that ends Oct. 2. Whan said he is confident the second tournament — which is still listed as TBD on the schedule — will come together as planned.
Other nations on the schedule: Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea and Mexico.
Next season ends again at the CME Group Tour Championship on Nov. 20 in Naples.
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