The LPGA Tour has never been in better shape than it is going into the 2015 season.
Commissioner Mike Whan shared the docket for the coming year on Tuesday in Naples, Fla., at the CME Group Tour Championship, and it is the best offered in his five-year run leading the organization. The schedule boasts 33 events, playing for a total of $61.6 million in prize money, surpassing the previous high mark in 2008.
The big news out of the unveiling is a new title sponsor for the LPGA's first major of the year. The erstwhile Kraft Nabisco Championship will now be sponsored by All Nippon Airways and called the ANA Inspiration. The purse is bumped up to $2.5 million while the event remains at Mission Hills Country Club in California.
The tour also has a new season-opener, with the Coates Golf Championship kicking off things Jan. 28 in Ocala, Fla. It's yet another North American event on the schedule, which is now two-thirds based on the continent.
As far as Whan is concerned, for the second consecutive year, the LPGA is playing an optimal number of tournaments.
“I’m excited that our team has achieved our target number of events to fill our schedule over the past few years,” Whan said. “We are focused on elevating and enhancing the playing opportunities for our players, viewing experiences for our fans and corporate involvement for our partners.”
2015 LPGA Tour schedule
Jan. 28-31: Coates Golf Championship, Ocala, Fla., $1.5 million
Feb. 5-8: Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, Paradise Island, Bahamas, $1.3 million
Feb. 19-22: ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia, $1.2 million
Feb. 26-March 1: Honda LPGA Thailand, Chonburi, Thailand, $1.5 million
March 5-8: HSBC Women’s Champions, Singapore, $1.4 million
March 19-22: Founders Cup, Phoenix, Ariz., $1.5 million
March 26-29: Kia Classic, Carlsbad, Calif., $1.7 million
April 2-5: ANA Inspiration, Rancho Mirage, Calif., $2.5 million
April 15-18: LOTTE Championship, Oahu, Hawaii, $1.8 million
April 23-26: Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, San Francisco, Calif., $2.0 million
April 30-May 3: Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout, Irving, Texas, $1.3 million
May 14-17: Kingsmill Championship, Williamsburg, Va., $1.3 million
May 21-24: Airbus LPGA Classic, Mobile, Ala., $1.3 million
May 28-31: ShopRite LPGA Classic, Galloway, N.J., $1.5 million
June 4-7: Manulife LPGA Classic, Cambridge, Ontario, $1.5 million
June 11-14: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Westchester, N.Y., $3.5 million
June 25-28: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Rogers, Ark., $2 million
July 9-12: U.S. Women’s Open, Lancaster, Pa., $4 million
July 16-19: Marathon Classic, Sylvania, Ohio, $1.5 million
July 23-26: Meijer LPGA Classic, Belmont, Mich., $1.8 million
July 30-Aug. 2: Ricoh Women’s British Open, Turnberry, Scotland, $3 million
Aug. 13-16: Cambia Portland Classic, Portland, Ore., $1.3 million
Aug. 20-23: Canadian Pacific Women's Open, Vancouver, Canada, $2.25 million
Aug. 27-30: Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, Prattville, Ala., $1.3 million
Sept. 10-13: The Evian Championship, Evian-les-Bains, France, $3.25 million
Sept. 18-20: Solheim Cup, Germany
Oct. 1-4: Reignwood Pine Valley LPGA Classic, Beijing, China, $2.1 million
Oct. 8-11: Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, $2 million
Oct. 15-18: LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship, Incheon, South Korea, $2 million
Oct. 22-25: Blue Bay LPGA, Hainan Island, China, $2 million
Oct. 29-Nov. 1: Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship, Taipei, Taiwan, $2 million
Nov. 6-8: Mizuno Classic, Shima-Shi, Japan, $1.3 million
Nov. 12-15: Lorena Ochoa Invitational, Mexico City, $1 million
Nov. 19-22: CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Fla., $2 million
Add Comment