First "Major" of the Year on LPGA Tour Adds $200,000 in Prize Money
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. (Oct. 26, 2006) – The Kraft Nabisco Championship announced today that it will raise its purse by $200,000 to $2 million for the 2007 event, the first major tournament of the year on the LPGA Tour. With the purse increase, the winner of the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship will receive a tournament record of $300,000.
"The competitive level of women’s golf has never been higher and the depth of talent has never been greater," said Terry Wilcox, tournament director. "Week to week, those of us in the golf world have been amazed at the consistent success of such veteran players as Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb, the emergence of Lorena Ochoa as the number one player in the world, and the awesome abilities of the next generation of players, including Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel and Rookie of the Year Seon Hwa Lee. In our opinion, the women’s game is the most exciting professional golf currently being played in the world, and we at Kraft Foods are proud to continue our longstanding support of these phenomenal women."
In just the last eight years alone, the Kraft Nabisco Championship has raised its purse by $1 million. The tournament’s last purse increase was for the 2005 tournament, when it was raised by $200,000 to $1.8 million.
Kraft Nabisco Championship also announced the dates for the 2007 tournament, which will be held March 26 through April 1. The upcoming event represents the 36th year the tournament has been played on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Only the men’s Masters event at Augusta National has had a longer continuous run of any major tournament on either the men’s or women’s professional golf tours.
Karrie Webb will be back to defend her 2006 title and take a shot at her first back-to-back titles in Rancho Mirage. Annika Sorenstam in 2001 and 2002 and Sandra Post in 1978 and 1979 are the only two champions to have managed repeat titles in four decades of play.
For more information on the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship, log onto the tournament’s official Web site at www.KNCGOLF.com.
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