LPGA announces record prize money for 2018 campaign

The LPGA continues to thrive as a truly global tour under the stewardship of commissioner Michael Whan, who revealed on Wednesday that the 2018 schedule will feature 34 worldwide events and a record $68.75 million in prize money, as well as confirmation that the organization’s fifth major will move to an earlier spot on the 2019 calendar.

Though two events are off the schedule and a third will take place in the spring of 2019, Whan added three new tournaments, including one in China and two full-field events on the West Coast. Purses will increase from $65 million paid out in 2017.

“Perhaps the most important aspect of our schedule is the consistency — continuing to deliver strong playing opportunities both in North America and around the world, while growing overall purse levels every year,” Whan said in a statement. “There is simply no better tour opportunity in the world, when it comes to purses, global TV coverage or strength of field. It’s an exciting time in women’s golf, with the best players from every corner of the globe competing against each other in virtually every event.”

The LPGA will again kick off its season at the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic, from Jan. 25-28, and wrap up with the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla. (Nov. 15-18). Following the season opener, players will travel to Australia for the Handa Women’s Aussie Open (Feb. 15-18), Asia for the Honda LPGA Thailand (Feb. 21-24) and HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore (March 1-4), and then to Phoenix for the Bank of Hope Founders Cup (March 15-18).

The first leg of the California swing will take the tour to the Kia Classic in Carlsbad (March 22-25), which immediately precedes the season’s first major, the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage. After the LOTTE Championship in Oahu, Hawaii (April 11-14), the women will return to the West Coast for the HUGEL-JTBC Championship at a Los Angeles course yet to be determined, and a tourney whose name has yet to be unveiled at Lake Merced Golf Course in San Francisco.

“These two new events are perfect additions to our schedule,” Whan said. “We believe they will offer terrific playing opportunities in wonderful golf environments, and make it more enticing for our players by strengthening this West Coast swing. They create a great four-week stretch that starts in Hawaii and finishes in Texas with our always exciting Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic, which is now being played at a new venue, Old American Golf Club.”The only event on the mainland of China will be the tour’s third inaugural contest to be contested in Shanghai from Oct. 18-21, course and sponsor TBA.

LPGA officials took heat for the way they handled inclement weather at September’s Evian Championship. Whan acknowledged the criticism by suggesting the Evian would move in 2019 from its mid-September slot (this year, Sept. 13-16). Wednesday’s release affirmed the tour’s aim to move its fifth major to a summer spot as early as the 2019 campaign.

Hit it here to view the LPGA’s 2018 schedule.