Ladies European Tour announces new investment and LPGA merger

The Ladies European Tour is set for new era after announcing a merger with the LPGA that will see significant new investment in the game.
It will also see European players have the opportunity to be fast-tracked into the tournaments in the United States.
The partnership aims to immediately offer LET members more playing opportunities on the far more lucrative LPGA, which this season had a total prize fund of approximately £55million compared to around £12million on the European Tour.
LET board chair Marta Figueras-Dotti said: “Two teams, joining for one common purpose, will create opportunities we simply could not have pursued on our own.
“At its foundation, this joint venture is about creating opportunities for our members to pursue their passion, and their careers as professional athletes.
“In just the 60 days since we began working on this joint venture, we have already seen a dramatic impact on our LET Tour schedule – an impact that will be a positive result for virtually all of our LET members.”
The two bodies say they share a common vision to strengthen the presence of women’s golf in Europe.
The venture, which will be jointly managed by the LPGA and the LET, will seek to fast track an expanded LET schedule.
This year’s LET schedule includes 20 official events in 13 different countries. Eight of those events are in Europe, including two major championships – the Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s British Open.
LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said: “This is an exciting next step for the LPGA’s mission to provide more opportunities for women in this game.
“Over the past 10 years, the LPGA has had tremendous success partnering with other golf stakeholders, including the USGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, R&A and PGA of America, to enhance opportunities for women worldwide.
“We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with the Ladies European Tour in an effort to create the strongest possible women’s tour in Europe.
“We have experienced incredible growth in women’s golf in the US, and this is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate and expand the game in Europe as well. I’m excited that this is something we will build together, with the LET.”
Earlier on Tuesday, it was announced the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit will be renamed the Race to Costa del Sol and offer a bonus pool of 250,000 euros (£215,000) from 2020.
The top player on the money list at the end of the season will receive an additional 125,000 euros (£107,000), with the runner-up collecting 75,000 euros (£64,000) and 50,000 euros (£43,000) going to the player who finishes third.
On Sunday, Jon Rahm secured a bonus of 2million US dollars (£1.5million) for winning the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.
As part of the deal, the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana Femenino, which gets under way on Thursday, will see its prize fund double to 600,000 euros (£514,000) from 2020.
GOLF365 is now on Instagram, don’t forget to check us our for more golf news, reviews and satire – CLICK RIGHT HERE! You can follow us on Twitter too.
Latest
-
News
Bernd Wiesberger makes ground after Justin Rose’s shaky start to second round
The Olympic champion’s first-round advantage is cut to a single stroke at Augusta.
-
News
Jordan Spieth: ‘When you’re a yard off here, you’re about 40 feet away’
Augusta isn’t feeling very generous, Spieth said after a battling opening 71.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton after impressive opening 71: ‘This is the major I expect to do worst in’
The Englishman made a great start at Augusta on Thursday but is keeping his expectations in check.
-
News
Masters day one: Justin Rose leads the way with superb 65
The Olympic gold medallist covered 10 holes in nine under at Augusta.
-
News
On this day in 2006: Phil Mickelson wins second Masters in three years
It was also a second successive major success for the Californian.
-
News
Tommy Fleetwood hits impressive ace at Masters
It came a fortnight after he also made a hole-in-one during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
-
News
Justin Rose overcomes ‘glass-like’ greens to claim early Masters lead
The Englishman finished the first round in the lead for the fourth time in his career.
-
News
Defending champion Dustin Johnson finds going tougher with opening 74 at Masters
Defending champion Dustin Johnson carded three bogeys in his first 16 and then made a double bogey on the 18th as he returned a 74.
-
News
Rory McIlroy hits dad Gerry with wayward shot at Masters
The incident occurred when McIlroy pushed his approach to the seventh hole to the right of the green.
-
News
Sandy Lyle struggles on day one of record-breaking Masters appearance
Lyle eventually signed for a nine-over-par 81.