Trevor Ng
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for female golfers. It is the oldest continuing women's professional sports organisation in the United States. The LPGA was founded in 1950 and has grown from a small group of 13 pioneering women golfers into a prominent organisation in sports, fostering the growth and development of women's golf worldwide. It is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers from around the world. The LPGA Foundation, established in 1991, is committed to empowering and inspiring girls and women through the game of golf.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) |
| Type of organisation | Nonprofit |
| Year founded | 1950 |
| Headquarters | LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida |
| Focus | Charity, grassroots junior and women's programs |
| Founder(s) | Alice Bauer, Patty Berg, Bettye Danoff, Helen Dettweiler, Marlene Hagge, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Betty Jameson, Sally Sessions, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias |
| Number of members | 1,700 |
| Current commissioner | Michael Whan |
| Upcoming commissioner | Mollie Marcoux Samaan |
| Official development and qualifying tour | Epson Tour |
| Official tournament | CME Group Tour Championship |
| Affiliated tours | Legends Tour, KPMG Women's PGA Championship |
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What You'll Learn
- The LPGA is the oldest US women's professional sports organisation
- The LPGA Tour is a series of golf tournaments for elite women golfers
- The LPGA Foundation supports women and girls through golf
- The Epson Tour is the LPGA's official qualifying tour
- The CME Group Tour Championship is the LPGA's season-ending tournament
The LPGA is the oldest US women's professional sports organisation
The Ladies Professional Golf Association, or LPGA, is the oldest US women's professional sports organisation. It was founded in 1950 by 13 pioneering women golfers: Alice Bauer, Patty Berg, Bettye Danoff, Helen Dettweiler, Marlene Hagge, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Betty Jameson, Sally Sessions, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias. Patty Berg served as its first president.
The LPGA succeeded the WPGA (Women's Professional Golf Association), which was founded in 1944 but ceased operations in 1949. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a nonprofit organisation involved in every facet of golf. It is headquartered at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers worldwide.
The LPGA Tour, and its membership of 1,700 LPGA Professionals, comprise the backbone of what has become the premier women's professional sports organisation in the world. The LPGA maintains a strong focus on charity through its tournaments, along with grassroots junior and women's programs, including LPGA*USGA Girls Golf and the LPGA Foundation. The LPGA Foundation was established in 1991 and is committed to improving the lives of girls and women through the game of golf. It administers several scholarship programs for young women who enjoy golf and plan to attend college.
The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and has been known as the "Road to the LPGA" since 1999. The LPGA also plays a season-ending championship tournament, which became known as the CME Group Tour Championship in 2014. The winner of the LPGA Tour Championship earns $1 million.
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The LPGA Tour is a series of golf tournaments for elite women golfers
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for elite female golfers. It is the oldest continuing women's professional sports organisation in the United States, founded in 1950 at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas. The LPGA Tour is a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women golfers from around the world.
The LPGA was established by 13 pioneering women: Alice Bauer, Patty Berg, Bettye Danoff, Helen Dettweiler, Marlene Hagge, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Betty Jameson, Sally Sessions, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias. Patty Berg was the LPGA's first president. The organisation has grown from these roots into a nonprofit organisation involved in every facet of golf, with a strong focus on charity through its tournaments, as well as grassroots junior and women's programs.
The LPGA Tour is the backbone of the LPGA, with a membership of 1,700 LPGA Professionals. The Epson Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA and has been known as the "Road to the LPGA" since 1999. The top 10 money winners each season earn membership on the LPGA Tour. The LPGA Tour holds two qualifying stages and one Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament each year. The top qualifiers move on to compete in the 90-hole Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in December.
The LPGA has played a season-ending championship tournament since 2006. The winner of the LPGA Tour Championship earns $1 million. The CME Group Tour Championship, held in November, has been the event since 2014. The top 12 players were mathematically eligible to win a $1 million bonus in 2017 and 2018.
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The LPGA Foundation supports women and girls through golf
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for female golfers, founded in 1950. It is the oldest continuing women's professional sports organisation in the United States. The LPGA Foundation, established in 1991, supports this mission by improving the lives of women and girls through golf.
The LPGA Foundation runs several programmes and initiatives to empower women and girls through the game of golf. Girls Golf, for example, is a national developmental golf programme that introduces girls to the game, helping them to build confidence, friendships, and life skills. In its 20-year history, Girls Golf has empowered over 300,000 girls, and now impacts 60,000 young women annually. The programme is run by local site directors and golf professionals in communities across the country, who organise golf clinics, instruction, outings, and competitive events.
The LPGA Foundation also administers scholarship programmes for young women who enjoy golf and plan to attend college. These scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, community service, and recommendations. The Foundation also allows for the establishment of endowed scholarships in honour or memory of individuals who made a significant difference in the world of golf. Current scholarships include the Dinah Shore Scholarship, the Marilynn Smith Scholarship, the Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship, and the Goldie Bateson Scholarship.
In addition to its work with girls and young women, the LPGA Foundation also supports female golf professionals. The Epson Tour, the official development and qualifying tour of the LPGA, prepares elite young women golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. The top 10 money winners each season earn membership on the LPGA Tour, which has included fan favourites such as Inbee Park, Gerina Piller, and Mo Martin.
The LPGA Tour also holds two qualifying stages and one Final Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament each year. The top qualifiers move on to compete in the 90-hole Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in December. The winner of the LPGA Tour Championship earns $1 million.
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The Epson Tour is the LPGA's official qualifying tour
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for female golfers. It is the oldest continuing women's professional sports organisation in the United States, having been founded in 1950. The Epson Tour is the LPGA's official qualifying tour, also known as the "Road to the LPGA", and has been since 1999.
The Epson Tour is the official development tour for the LPGA, preparing the world's best young women golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. The top 10 money winners each season earn membership to the LPGA Tour, which has included fan favourites such as Inbee Park, Gerina Piller, and Mo Martin. The Epson Tour holds two qualifying stages and one Final Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament each year, with the top qualifiers moving on to compete in the 90-hole Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in December.
The LPGA Tour is a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women golfers from around the world. The LPGA Foundation, established in 1991, supports women and young people through programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering them through the game of golf. One such programme is LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, a national developmental golf programme for girls that aims to introduce them to the game and empower them with confidence, friendships, and life skills.
The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a nonprofit organisation involved in every facet of golf. It maintains a strong focus on charity through its tournaments, as well as grassroots junior and women's programmes. The organisation is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is currently under the guidance of Commissioner Michael Whan.
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The CME Group Tour Championship is the LPGA's season-ending tournament
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for female golfers, founded in 1950. It is the oldest continuing women's professional sports organisation in the United States. The LPGA Tour is a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers from around the world.
The CME Group Tour Championship purse has increased over the years, from $2 million in 2013 to $5 million in 2019, with a $1.5 million winner's share, the largest winner's share in women's golf at the time. In 2022, the purse increased to a record $7 million, with a $2 million winner's share, the largest ever for an LPGA tournament. In 2024, the purse will increase again to a record $11 million, with a $4 million winner's share.
The CME Group Tour Championship has been played at the Gold Course of the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida, since 2013. The LPGA Tour Championship, which preceded the CME Group Tour Championship, was played at the same location in 2010.
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Frequently asked questions
LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Association.
The LPGA was founded in 1950 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.
The LPGA is a non-profit organisation involved in every facet of golf. It is committed to empowering women and young people through the game of golf. It also maintains a strong focus on charity through its tournaments.
The LPGA Tour is a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers from around the world.
