LPGA Plans Return To Tampa In '20, Adding To Growing Florida Slate

The LPGA "will return" to the Tampa area for the first time since '89 next year, as the Pelican Women’s Championship presented by DEX Imaging will be held the week of May 11-17, according to Rodney Page of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The three-year agreement had an "option to extend the contract after that." When LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan took over in '10, the tour had one event in Florida. This season, there are two, and for next season, that total "will double." Aside from Orlando and Naples, a tournament in Boca Raton in January and the Pelican tournament in May "have been added." This year, there was no tournament scheduled during the middle of May, so this event "does not replace another." Adding tournaments to the schedule has "been a priority for players" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/9). GOLFWEEK's Beth Ann Nichols noted DEX Imaging, a document imaging dealer based in Tampa that sponsors LPGA players Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare, also has "close ties" to the Rays, Buccaneers and Lightning (GOLFWEEK.com, 7/8).