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The LPGA Tour’s 2024 schedule, boasting 35 events (33 official), features a record-breaking prize fund surpassing $118 million, up from $70 million in 2021. LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan celebrates this historic growth, with improved event flow and global reach, ensuring an enhanced athlete experience.
This is certainly great news for female golfers, who have often emphasized finances and the necessary increase in prize money. The global schedule spans 15 U.S. states and 10 countries, introducing three new events and notable host additions.
Notably, Seri Pak joins as an event host alongside Michelle Wie West and Annika Sorenstam. This triggered a considerable number of positive responses.
The schedule showcases 16 tournaments with minimum $3 million purses, a significant increase from previous years.
Several events, like the Mizuho Americas Open and the CME Group Tour Championship, received substantial purse boosts over this year. Additionally, 10 events have confirmed increased purses for the upcoming year, with more expected announcements throughout the season.
Over the last few years, non-major tournament prizes have surged by 61%, while major championship purses saw a 78% rise.
The Chevron Championship and Solheim Cup
Major championships commence with The Chevron Championship, leading to the Paris Olympics in the summer, followed by prominent tournaments like the U.S.
Women’s Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The year culminates with the Solheim Cup in Virginia and the Grant Thornton Invitational in Florida. The broadcast landscape expands, with increased network television opportunities and new ESPN+ coverage for selected events.
The ESPN+ deal is set to continue until 2025. The leaders of the LPGA Tour have big plans in the game, and they want to continue the tradition of this competition and increase the interest of golf fans in the LPGA Tour across the world.
Such moves certainly cause optimism in everyone, and increase the motivation and desire of female golfers in the future. We hope that the LPGA Tour will continue this practice for years to come.
