Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. has joined
with the LPGA to create the Lilly Legends series featuring
LPGA Tour players 40 years of age and older. The annual
series, which includes a purse of $500,000, marks the first
season-long LPGA competition exclusively for pros ages 40
and over. Players will be awarded points based on their
finishes at current LPGA Tour events. A champion will be
crowned when total points are tallied up at the Healthsouth
Inaugural in January with the $500,000 purse being
allocated. The series debuts this week at the JAL Big Apple
Classic in New Rochelle, NY, and consist of 12 events in
'97, with approximately 30 events starting in '98 and
running through the year 2000. LPGA player Judy Rankin, who
also serves as ABC's golf analyst, will be the series
spokesperson (Eli Lilly and Company). Although the series
does not involve separate events for older players, LPGA
Commissioner Jim Ritts said that "one or more separate
events for women 45 and older could be in place within 18
months" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/16). AD AGE puts the partnership at
four years and reports that Lilly-produced PSAs regarding
women's health will begin airing during NBC's coverage of
the JAL Big Apple Classic this week (AD AGE, 7/16).
