LPGA

LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Association. Both terms are most frequently used to refer to an American organization, which is called simply the Ladies Professional Golf Association as it was the first such body to be founded. There are several other LPGA's in the world, each of which has a geographical designation in its name.

Major events

The annual Major tournaments are:

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• Kraft Nabisco Championship
• McDonald's U.S. LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola
• U.S. Women's Open
• Weetabix Women's British Open (held in cooperation with Ladies European Tour)

The vast majority of the LPGA Tour's events are held in the United States. In the 2005 season, two early-season events are scheduled in Mexico, and one mid-season event is held in Canada. Two events are co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour: the Women's British Open and the Evian Masters in France, held the preceding week. One late-season event is held in South Korea, which now supplies a large and competitive contingent of players on the tour, and is co-sanctioned with the LPGA of Korea Tour.

Related Topics:
United States - Mexico - Canada - Evian Masters - France - South Korea - LPGA of Korea Tour

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In its early decades the LPGA Tour was dominated by American players. Vivien Saunders of the United Kingdom became the first player living outside the United States to gain an LPGA tour card in 1969. The non-U.S. contingent is now very large, and generally has the upper hand on the course. The last time an American player topped the money list was in 1993, the last time an American led the tour in tournaments won was in 1996, and no American player has won a major other than the U.S. Women's Open since 2000. In 2004 the largest international contingents were 21 South Koreans, 16 Australians, 13 Britons (6 English, 5 Scottish, 2 Welsh) and 11 Swedes.

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Besides the main LPGA Tour, the LPGA operates a second-level developmental tour, the Futures Tour. Top finishers at the end of each season on that tour receive playing privileges on the main LPGA Tour for the following year.

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The LPGA also administers an annual Qualifying School similar to that conducted by the PGA Tour. Depending on a golfer's finish in the Qualifying School tournament, she may receive playing privileges on the LPGA Tour, the Futures Tour, or neither tour.

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In 2001 the LPGA established the Women's Senior Golf Tour for women aged 45 and above.

Related Topics:
2001 - Women's Senior Golf Tour

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On June 7, 2005, LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw, who left his post at the end of the Solheim Cup, announced that the LPGA will have a playoff system beginning in 2006. The playoff system will be a points system in which the top 30 points scorers and two wild cards will compete for a $1 million first-place prize at the ADT Championship in November in Florida. Major winners will automatically qualify, as well as winners of other selected events. Votaw has said there are still details to work out, but that two cuts will be used in the tournament. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002320957_golf08.html?syndication=rss

Related Topics:
June 7 - 2005 - Ty Votaw - Solheim Cup - 2006 - ADT Championship - November - Florida

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