WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 14, 2007 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) today announced the 2008 LPGA Tour schedule, which will feature 33 events and prize money of more than $58 million, the highest ever in LPGA Tour history. The announcement was made during a press conference at the season-ending ADT Championship at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Highlights from the 2008 LPGA Tour schedule announced today include:
– A minimum of 33 events, including 31 official money events and two unofficial money events;
– Prize money totaling $58.2 million;
– Thirteen events – up from 10 in 2007 – with prize money of $2 million or higher, and an average purse of $1.77 million;
– A third 2008 Tour event in Hawaii, the Kapalua LPGA Classic;
– The Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona has been added to the schedule and will be held in Ochoa’s hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico;
– HSBC Women’s Champions will showcase winners from around the globe in a stroke-play event at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore;
– Multiple purse increases, which include:
o Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite in Clifton, N.J., increased its purse by $600,000 to $2 million;
o SemGroup Championship Hosted by John Q. Hammons in Tulsa, Okla., increased its purse by $400,000 to $1.8 million;
o LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill., increased its purse by $400,000 to $1.7 million;
o Wegmans LPGA in Rochester will offer a $2 million purse – up $200,000 from 2007;
o LPGA Corning Classic increased its purse by $200,000 to $1.5 million; and
o Women’s World Cup of Golf also increased its purse by $200,000 to $1.4 million
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2007 features 35 events, with total prize money of nearly $55 million.
Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $180 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA, 386-274-6200, connie.wilson@lpga.com
