LPGA '12 Schedule Includes At Least Four New Tourneys, Rise In Prize Money

The LPGA Tour released its ’12 schedule yesterday and Commissioner Mike Whan “has boosted the number of tournaments from 23 to 27, adding four full-field events, plus the return of the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic,” according to Beth Ann Baldry of GOLFWEEK. The number of domestic events “increased from 13 to 15.” Whan unveiled “one big surprise: a return to Williamsburg, Va., for the Sept. 6-9 Kingsmill Championship.” Golfer Stacy Lewis said that players “were growing ‘skeptical’ late last year when no new domestic events were announced.” But when she heard the ‘12 schedule, she said the tour is “moving in a good direction.” Baldry reported total prize money for the year “increased from $40.4 million to $47 million.” Whan “hopes to add one more event for this fall, but otherwise plans to look ahead to ’13.” He “keeps moving toward a four-and-one goal: four tournaments in a row followed by a week off.” Whan’s ideal LPGA schedule “would feature 30-32 events" (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/10). GOLFCHANNEL.com’s Randall Mell noted while the new schedule “shows four more playing opportunities, there are actually five new cash-checking opportunities with the RR Donnelley Founders Cup featuring a $1.5 million purse this year that players get to keep.” The entire Founders Cup purse last year “was donated to charities as tour pros basically played for free.” Whan said, “We’re going in the right direction, and the best news is that I don’t think we are done yet.” Golfer Juli Inkster said, “It feels like momentum is going in the right direction. I see things going forward now instead of backwards. And it’s great that we’re adding American events. I know we are a global tour, but I think it’s important with a U.S. fan base that we add domestic tournaments” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/10). Whan said, “We’ve got a long way to go but not as far as people think. A lot of people say ‘when are you going to get back to 38 tournaments?’ but I’m not really a 38-tournament guy. I think the top players in the world want to play 27 or 28 times, so to have 40 tournaments, you have a lot of explaining to do to a lot of sponsors when the top players aren’t there” (WATERLOO RECORD, 1/11).

CHIMING IN: Golfer Morgan Pressel said of the schedule, "It's going to be the first year in [awhile] that we're going to have additions. The growth is good, obviously.” She added, “We want the LPGA Tour to be the best place for women to play golf for years to come." Golfer Cristie Kerr said, "I don't think there can be any doubt about the credit Mike is due for steering the tour back toward the up-and-up again" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/11). Golfer Suzann Pettersen said, “The ship was going in the wrong direction in 2009. We had to stop the damage and turn the ship back in the right direction. … Now we have to make sure the tour stays healthy” (USA TODAY, 1/11). Golfweek's Alex Miceli said, "If the players feel like things are going in the right direction, then I think we have to go by that. From what I understand, almost to a woman on the LPGA tour, they do feel like Michael Whan is taking them in the right direction” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 1/11).

HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Golf Channel’s Gary Williams said of the '12 schedule, “There’s a phrase, ‘If you’re not getting better, you’re getting passed.’" Williams: "It’s one thing to stay the same, but the fact that they have gone from 23 to 27, and in reality they’ve gone to 28. … Five more events that will pay money, total purse from $40-47 million, they’re getting better in a rough economy. That’s great news.” Golf Channel’s Erik Kuselias said, “When other sports and other industries seem to be crumbling or just trying to hold exactly where they are, the LPGA can hold up and say, ‘We are improving, we have positive momentum when it’s not easy to have positive momentum. We’re having more events. We’re having bigger purses. People want us. If you think and you want to knock the LPGA by saying that we’re getting less relevant, … we have facts that are showing we’re becoming more relevant.’” Miceli: "This is a very positive step, it’s a step that they’re building upon." Whan is "starting to surround himself with people that will make what’s going on with the LPGA better, not worse” ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 1/11).