LPGA

Association of US female professional golfers

This article is about the golf association. For the political party, see Libertarian Party of Georgia.

Ladies Professional Golf AssociationCurrent season, competition or edition:
2025 LPGA Tour

Logo introduced in October 2007[1][2]

Sport| Golf
Founded| 1950; 75 years ago (1950)
Founder| 13 original LPGA players[3]
First season| 1950
Commissioner| Craig Kessler[4]
Country|  United States, with events in other countries around the world
Most titles|  Kathy Whitworth (88)
Broadcaster(s)| NBC Sports
Golf Channel
CBS Sports
Official website| lpga.com

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organization for female golfers. The organization is headquartered at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers from around the world.

## Organization and history

[edit]

Other "LPGAs" exist in other countries, each with a geographical designation in its name, but the U.S. organization is the first, largest, and most prestigious. The LPGA is also an organization for female club and teaching professionals. This is different from the PGA Tour, which runs the main professional tours in the U.S. and, since 1968, has been independent of the club and teaching professionals' organization, the Professional Golfers' Association of America (or PGA of America).

The LPGA also administers an annual qualifying school similar to that conducted by the PGA Tour. Depending on a golfer's finish in the final qualifying tournament, she may receive full or partial playing privileges on the LPGA Tour. In addition to the main LPGA Tour, the LPGA also owns and operates the Epson Tour, formerly the Futures Tour, the official developmental tour of the LPGA. Top finishers at the end of each season on that tour receive playing privileges on the main LPGA Tour for the following year.

The LPGA is the oldest continuing women's professional sports organization in the United States.[5][6] It succeeded the WPGA (Women's Professional Golf Association), which was founded in 1944 but stopped its limited tour after the 1948 season and officially ceased operations in December 1949.[7] The WPGA had been founded by Ellen Griffin, Betty Hicks, and Hope Seignious.[8][9]

The LPGA was founded in 1950 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.[10] Its 13 founders were: Alice Bauer, Patty Berg, Bettye Danoff, Helen Dettweiler, Marlene Hagge, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Betty Jameson, Sally Sessions, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias.[11][12] Patty Berg served as its first president.[12] The founders were elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame as a group in 2023 though six had already been inducted individually.[13]

The first LPGA tournament was the 1950 Tampa Women's Open, held at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida. Ironically, the winner was amateur Polly Riley, who beat the stellar field of professional founders.[14] In 1956, the LPGA hosted its first tournament outside the United States at the Havana Open in Havana, Cuba.[citation needed]

In 2001, Jane Blalock's JBC Marketing established the Women's Senior Golf Tour, now called the Legends Tour, for women professionals aged 45 and older. This is affiliated with the LPGA, but is not owned by the LPGA.

Michael Whan, a former marketing executive in the sporting goods industry,[15] became the eighth commissioner of the LPGA in October 2009, succeeding the ousted Carolyn Bivens.[6][16]

After a lawsuit filed by golfer Lana Lawless, the rules were changed in 2010 to allow transgender competitors.[17][18][19] In 2013, trans woman Bobbi Lancaster faced local scorn for attempting to play in Arizona's Cactus Tour in hopes of getting a spot for the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.[20] In December 2024, the LPGA published a new policy that states in order to compete as female in their tournaments, players must either be assigned female at birth, or have transitioned to female before undergoing male puberty. The policy goes into effect in 2025.[21]

In 2018, the LPGA acquired an amateur golf association, the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA), and expanded its emphasis to include amateur golfers in the U.S. and North America. Initially called the LPGA Women Who Play,[22] the amateur organization was rebranded as the LPGA Amateur Golf Association. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association has member-operated chapters throughout North America and the Caribbean.[23]

## LPGA Tour tournaments

[edit]

Kristy McPherson during her practice round before the 2009 LPGA Championship
at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Maryland.

As a United States–based tour, most of the LPGA Tour's events are held in the United States. In 1956, the LPGA hosted its first tournament outside the United States at the Havana Open in Havana, Cuba. In 2020, fourteen tournaments are held outside of the United States, seven events in Asia, four in Europe, two events in Australia, and one in Canada.

As of 2025, six of the tournaments held outside North America are co-sanctioned with other professional tours. The Ladies European Tour co-sanctions the Women's British Open, The Evian Championship in France, and the Women's Scottish Open. The other three co-sanctioned events—the Blue Bay LPGA, Buick LPGA Shanghai (China LPGA Tour) and Toto Japan Classic (LPGA of Japan Tour)—are held during the tour's autumn swing to Asia.

### LPGA majors

[edit]

The LPGA's annual major championships are:

* Chevron Championship
* U.S. Women's Open
* Women's PGA Championship
* Women's British Open
* The Evian Championship

Source:[24]

### LPGA Playoffs

[edit]

Since 2006, the LPGA has played a season-ending championship tournament. Through the 2008 season, it was known as the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT; in 2009 and 2010, it was known as the LPGA Tour Championship. In 2011, the event became the CME Group Titleholders, held in November; since 2014, it has been known as the CME Group Tour Championship, and that name is used as of 2024[update].

From 2006 through 2008 the LPGA schedule was divided into two halves, with 15 players from each half qualifying for the Championship based on their performance. Two wild-card selections were also included for a final field of 21 players. The winner of the LPGA Tour Championship, which features three days of "playoffs" plus the final championship round, earns $1 million.

In 2009, the Tour Championship field was increased to 120 players, with entry open to all Tour members in the top 120 on the money list as of three weeks prior to the start of the tournament. The total purse was $1.5 million with $225,000 going to the winner.

The CME Group Titleholders, which resurrects the name of a former LPGA major championship (the Titleholders Championship), was first played in 2011. From 2011 to 2013, its field was made up of three qualifiers from each official tour event during the season, specifically the top three finishers not previously qualified.

After 2014, the field is determined by a season-long points race, the Race to the CME Globe.[25] Points conferred to players on tour depend on whether the tournament is major or not, and placement. From 2014 to 2018, the top 72 players in the Race to the CME Globe competed in the CME Group Tour Championship, with the top 12 players mathematically eligible to win a $1 million bonus in 2017 and 2018. Past Race to the CME Globe champions include Lydia Ko (2014, 2015), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016, 2018) and Lexi Thompson (2017).

## Tournament prize money

[edit]

In 2010, total official prize money on the LPGA Tour was $41.4 million, a decrease of over $6 million from 2009. In 2010 there were 24 official tournaments, down from 28 in 2009 and 34 in 2008. Despite the loss in total tournaments, the number of tournaments hosted outside of the United States in 2010 stayed the same, as all four lost tournaments had been hosted in the United States. By 2016, the number of tournaments had risen to 33 with a record-high total prize money in excess of $63 million. In 2019, a new record was set with total prize money amounting to $70.5 million (a rise of over $5 million in one year).[26]

## International presence

[edit]

In its first four decades, the LPGA Tour was dominated by American players. Sandra Post of Canada became the first player living outside the United States to gain an LPGA tour card in 1968. The non-U.S. contingent is now very large. The last time an American player topped the money list was in 2014 (Stacy Lewis), the last time an American led the tour in tournaments won was in 2020 (Danielle Kang), and from 2000 through 2009, non-Americans won 31 of 40 major championships.

Particularly, one of the notable trends seen in the early 21st century in the LPGA is the rise and dominance of Korean golfers.[27] Se Ri Pak's early success in the LPGA sparked the boom in Korean women golfers on the LPGA Tour.[28] In 2009, there were 122 non-Americans from 27 countries on the tour, including 47 from South Korea, 14 from Sweden, 10 from Australia, eight from the United Kingdom (four from England, three from Scotland and one from Wales), seven from Canada, five from Taiwan, and four from Japan.[29]

## 2025 LPGA Tour

[edit]

See also: 2025 LPGA Tour

## Historical tour schedules and results

[edit]

Year | Number of
official tournaments | Countries hosting
tournaments | Tournaments in
United States | Tournaments in
other countries | Total prize
money ($)

|
|
|
|
|

2025 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 131,000,000[30]
2024 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 125,500,000[31]
2023 | 32 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 102,350,000[32]
2022 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 9 | 93,900,000[33]
2021 | 30 | 7 | 23 | 7 | 69,200,000
2020 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 41,300,000
2019 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 70,200,000
2018 | 33 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 66,950,000
2017 | 34 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 67,650,000
2016 | 33 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 63,000,000
2015 | 31 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 59,100,000
2014 | 32 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 57,550,000
2013 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 48,900,000
2012 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 47,000,000
2011 | 23 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 41,500,000
2010 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 41,400,000
2009 | 28 | 9 | 18 | 10 | 47,600,000
2008 | 34 | 8 | 24 | 10 | 60,300,000
2007 | 31 | 8 | 23 | 8 | 54,285,000
2006 | 33 | 8 | 25 | 8 | 50,275,000
2005 | 32 | 7 | 25 | 7 | 45,100,000
2004 | 32 | 6 | 27 | 5 | 42,875,000

* Official tournaments are tournaments in which earnings and scores are credited to the players' official LPGA record.

## Hall of Fame

[edit]

The LPGA established the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf in 1951, with four charter members: Patty Berg, Betty Jameson, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias. After being inactive for several years, the Hall of Fame moved in 1967 to its first physical premises, in Augusta, Georgia, and was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. In 1998 it merged into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

## LPGA Tour awards

[edit]

The LPGA Tour presents several annual awards. Three are awarded in competitive contests, based on scoring over the course of the year.

* The Player of the Year is awarded based on a formula in which points are awarded for top-10 finishes and are doubled at the LPGA's five major championships. The points system is: 30 points for first; 12 points for second; nine points for third; seven points for fourth; six points for fifth; five points for sixth; four points for seventh; three points for eighth; two points for ninth and one point for 10th.
* The Vare Trophy, named for Glenna Collett-Vare, is given to the player with the lowest scoring average for the season.
* The Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year Award is awarded to the first-year player on the LPGA Tour who scores the highest in a points competition in which points are awarded based on a player's finish in an event. The points system is: 150 points for first; 80 points for second; 75 points for third; 70 points for fourth; and 65 points for fifth. After fifth place, points are awarded in decrements of three, beginning at sixth place with 62 points. Points are doubled in the major events and at the season-ending Tour Championship. Rookies who make the cut in an event and finish below 41st each receive five points. The award is named after Louise Suggs, one of the founders of the LPGA.

American golfer Nancy Lopez, in 1978, is the only player to win all three awards in the same season. Lopez was also the Tour's top money earner that season.

Year | Player of the Year | Vare Trophy | Rookie of the Year

|
|
|

2024 |  Nelly Korda |  Ayaka Furue |  Mao Saigo
2023 |  Lilia Vu |  Atthaya Thitikul |  Ryu Hae-ran
2022 |  Lydia Ko (2) |  Lydia Ko (2) |  Atthaya Thitikul[34]
2021 |  Ko Jin-young (2) |  Lydia Ko |  Patty Tavatanakit[35]
2020 |  Kim Sei-young |  Danielle Kang | –
2019 |  Ko Jin-young |  Ko Jin-young |  Lee Jeong-eun
2018 |  Ariya Jutanugarn (2)[36] |  Ariya Jutanugarn |  Ko Jin-young[37]
2017 |  Park Sung-hyun
Ryu So-yeon |  Lexi Thompson |  Park Sung-hyun[38]
2016 |  Ariya Jutanugarn |  Chun In-gee |  Chun In-gee
2015 |  Lydia Ko |  Inbee Park (2) |  Kim Sei-young
2014 |  Stacy Lewis (2) |  Stacy Lewis (2) |  Lydia Ko[39]
2013 |  Inbee Park |  Stacy Lewis |  Moriya Jutanugarn
2012 |  Stacy Lewis |  Inbee Park |  Ryu So-yeon
2011 |  Yani Tseng (2) |  Yani Tseng |  Hee-kyung Seo
2010 |  Yani Tseng |  Choi Na-yeon |  Azahara Muñoz
2009 |  Lorena Ochoa (4) |  Lorena Ochoa (4) |  Jiyai Shin
2008 |  Lorena Ochoa (3) |  Lorena Ochoa (3) |  Yani Tseng
2007 |  Lorena Ochoa (2) |  Lorena Ochoa (2) |  Angela Park
2006 |  Lorena Ochoa |  Lorena Ochoa |  Lee Seon-hwa
2005 |  Annika Sörenstam (8) |  Annika Sörenstam (6) |  Paula Creamer
2004 |  Annika Sörenstam (7) |  Grace Park |  Ahn Shi-hyun
2003 |  Annika Sörenstam (6) |  Pak Se-ri |  Lorena Ochoa
2002 |  Annika Sörenstam (5) |  Annika Sörenstam (5) |  Beth Bauer
2001 |  Annika Sörenstam (4) |  Annika Sörenstam (4) |  Han Hee-won
2000 |  Karrie Webb (2) |  Karrie Webb (3) |  Dorothy Delasin
1999 |  Karrie Webb |  Karrie Webb (2) |  Mi-Hyun Kim
1998 |  Annika Sörenstam (3) |  Annika Sörenstam (3) |  Pak Se-ri
1997 |  Annika Sörenstam (2) |  Karrie Webb |  Lisa Hackney
1996 |  Laura Davies |  Annika Sörenstam (2) |  Karrie Webb
1995 |  Annika Sörenstam |  Annika Sörenstam |  Pat Hurst
1994 |  Beth Daniel (3) |  Beth Daniel (3) |  Annika Sörenstam
1993 |  Betsy King (3) |  Betsy King (2) |  Suzanne Strudwick
1992 |  Dottie Mochrie |  Dottie Mochrie |  Helen Alfredsson
1991 |  Pat Bradley (2) |  Pat Bradley (2) |  Brandie Burton
1990 |  Beth Daniel (2) |  Beth Daniel (2) |  Hiromi Kobayashi
1989 |  Betsy King (2) |  Beth Daniel |  Pam Wright
1988 |  Nancy Lopez (4) |  Colleen Walker |  Liselotte Neumann
1987 |  Ayako Okamoto |  Betsy King |  Tammie Green
1986 |  Pat Bradley |  Pat Bradley |  Jody Rosenthal
1985 |  Nancy Lopez (3) |  Nancy Lopez (3) |  Penny Hammel
1984 |  Betsy King |  Patty Sheehan |  Juli Inkster
1983 |  Patty Sheehan |  JoAnne Carner (5) |  Stephanie Farwig
1982 |  JoAnne Carner (3) |  JoAnne Carner (4) |  Patti Rizzo
1981 |  JoAnne Carner (2) |  JoAnne Carner (3) |  Patty Sheehan
1980 |  Beth Daniel |  Amy Alcott |  Myra Blackwelder
1979 |  Nancy Lopez (2) |  Nancy Lopez (2) |  Beth Daniel
1978 |  Nancy Lopez |  Nancy Lopez |  Nancy Lopez
1977 |  Judy Rankin (2) |  Judy Rankin (3) |  Debbie Massey
1976 |  Judy Rankin |  Judy Rankin (2) |  Bonnie Lauer
1975 |  Sandra Palmer |  JoAnne Carner (2) |  Amy Alcott
1974 |  JoAnne Carner |  JoAnne Carner |  Jan Stephenson
1973 |  Kathy Whitworth (7) |  Judy Rankin |  Laura Baugh
1972 |  Kathy Whitworth (6) |  Kathy Whitworth (7) |  Jocelyne Bourassa
1971 |  Kathy Whitworth (5) |  Kathy Whitworth (6) |  Sally Little
1970 |  Sandra Haynie |  Kathy Whitworth (5) |  JoAnne Carner
1969 |  Kathy Whitworth (4) |  Kathy Whitworth (4) |  Jane Blalock
1968 |  Kathy Whitworth (3) |  Carol Mann |  Sandra Post
1967 |  Kathy Whitworth (2) |  Kathy Whitworth (3) |  Sharron Moran
1966 |  Kathy Whitworth |  Kathy Whitworth (2) |  Jan Ferraris
1965 | – |  Kathy Whitworth |  Margie Masters
1964 | – |  Mickey Wright (5) |  Susie Maxwell
1963 | – |  Mickey Wright (4) |  Clifford Ann Creed
1962 | – |  Mickey Wright (3) |  Mary Mills
1961 | – |  Mickey Wright (2) | –
1960 | – |  Mickey Wright | –
1959 | – |  Betsy Rawls | –
1958 | – |  Beverly Hanson | –
1957 | – |  Louise Suggs | –
1956 | – |  Patty Berg (3) | –
1955 | – |  Patty Berg (2) | –
1954 | – |  Babe Zaharias | –
1953 | – |  Patty Berg | –

## Leading money winners and most events won by year

[edit]

Year | Player | Country | Earnings ($) | Most wins

|
|
|
|

2024 | Atthaya Thitikul |  Thailand | 6,059,309 | 7 – Nelly Korda
2023 | Lilia Vu |  United States | 3,502,303 | 4 – Céline Boutier, Lilia Vu
2022 | Lydia Ko |  New Zealand | 4,364,403 | 3 – Lydia Ko, Jennifer Kupcho
2021 | Ko Jin-young |  South Korea | 3,502,161 | 5 – Ko Jin-young
2020 | Ko Jin-young |  South Korea | 1,667,925 | 2 – Danielle Kang, Kim Sei-young
2019 | Ko Jin-young |  South Korea | 2,773,894 | 4 – Ko Jin-young
2018 | Ariya Jutanugarn |  Thailand | 2,743,949 | 3 – Ariya Jutanugarn, Park Sung-hyun
2017 | Park Sung-hyun |  South Korea | 2,335,883 | 3 – Shanshan Feng, Kim In-Kyung
2016 | Ariya Jutanugarn |  Thailand | 2,550,928 | 5 – Ariya Jutanugarn
2015 | Lydia Ko |  New Zealand | 2,800,802 | 5 – Lydia Ko, Inbee Park
2014 | Stacy Lewis |  United States | 2,539,039 | 3 – Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park
2013 | Inbee Park |  South Korea | 2,456,619 | 6 – Inbee Park
2012 | Inbee Park |  South Korea | 2,287,080 | 4 – Stacy Lewis
2011 | Yani Tseng |  Taiwan | 2,921,713 | 7 – Yani Tseng
2010 | Choi Na-yeon |  South Korea | 1,871,166 | 5 – Ai Miyazato
2009 | Jiyai Shin |  South Korea | 1,807,334 | 3 – Jiyai Shin, Lorena Ochoa
2008 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico | 2,754,660 | 7 – Lorena Ochoa
2007 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico | 4,364,994 | 8 – Lorena Ochoa
2006 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico | 2,592,872 | 6 – Lorena Ochoa
2005 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 2,588,240 | 10 – Annika Sörenstam
2004 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 2,544,707 | 8 – Annika Sörenstam
2003 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 2,029,506 | 6 – Annika Sörenstam
2002 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 2,863,904 | 11 – Annika Sörenstam
2001 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 2,105,868 | 8 – Annika Sörenstam
2000 | Karrie Webb |  Australia | 1,876,853 | 7 – Karrie Webb
1999 | Karrie Webb |  Australia | 1,591,959 | 6 – Karrie Webb
1998 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 1,092,748 | 4 – Annika Sörenstam, Pak Se-ri
1997 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 1,236,789 | 6 – Annika Sörenstam
1996 | Karrie Webb |  Australia | 1,002,000 | 4 – Laura Davies, Dottie Pepper, Karrie Webb
1995 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 666,533 | 3 – Annika Sörenstam
1994 | Laura Davies |  England | 687,201 | 4 – Beth Daniel
1993 | Betsy King |  United States | 595,992 | 3 – Brandie Burton
1992 | Dottie Mochrie |  United States | 693,335 | 4 – Dottie Mochrie
1991 | Pat Bradley |  United States | 763,118 | 4 – Pat Bradley, Meg Mallon
1990 | Beth Daniel |  United States | 863,578 | 7 – Beth Daniel
1989 | Betsy King |  United States | 654,132 | 6 – Betsy King
1988 | Sherri Turner |  United States | 350,851 | 3 – 5 players (see 1)
1987 | Ayako Okamoto |  Japan | 466,034 | 5 – Jane Geddes
1986 | Pat Bradley |  United States | 492,021 | 5 – Pat Bradley
1985 | Nancy Lopez |  United States | 416,472 | 5 – Nancy Lopez
1984 | Betsy King |  United States | 266,771 | 4 – Patty Sheehan, Amy Alcott
1983 | JoAnne Carner |  United States | 291,404 | 4 – Pat Bradley, Patty Sheehan
1982 | JoAnne Carner |  United States | 310,400 | 5 – JoAnne Carner, Beth Daniel
1981 | Beth Daniel |  United States | 206,998 | 5 – Donna Caponi
1980 | Beth Daniel |  United States | 231,000 | 5 – Donna Caponi, JoAnne Carner
1979 | Nancy Lopez |  United States | 197,489 | 8 – Nancy Lopez
1978 | Nancy Lopez |  United States | 189,814 | 9 – Nancy Lopez
1977 | Judy Rankin |  United States | 122,890 | 5 – Judy Rankin, Debbie Austin
1976 | Judy Rankin |  United States | 150,734 | 6 – Judy Rankin
1975 | Sandra Palmer |  United States | 76,374 | 4 – Carol Mann, Sandra Haynie
1974 | JoAnne Carner |  United States | 87,094 | 6 – JoAnne Carner, Sandra Haynie
1973 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 82,864 | 7 – Kathy Whitworth
1972 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 65,063 | 5 – Kathy Whitworth, Jane Blalock
1971 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 41,181 | 5 – Kathy Whitworth
1970 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 30,235 | 4 – Shirley Englehorn
1969 | Carol Mann |  United States | 49,152 | 8 – Carol Mann
1968 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 48,379 | 10 – Carol Mann, Kathy Whitworth
1967 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 32,937 | 8 – Kathy Whitworth
1966 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 33,517 | 9 – Kathy Whitworth
1965 | Kathy Whitworth |  United States | 28,658 | 8 – Kathy Whitworth
1964 | Mickey Wright |  United States | 29,800 | 11 – Mickey Wright
1963 | Mickey Wright |  United States | 31,269 | 13 – Mickey Wright
1962 | Mickey Wright |  United States | 21,641 | 10 – Mickey Wright
1961 | Mickey Wright |  United States | 22,236 | 10 – Mickey Wright
1960 | Louise Suggs |  United States | 16,892 | 6 – Mickey Wright
1959 | Betsy Rawls |  United States | 26,774 | 10 – Betsy Rawls
1958 | Beverly Hanson |  United States | 12,639 | 5 – Mickey Wright
1957 | Patty Berg |  United States | 16,272 | 5 – Betsy Rawls, Patty Berg
1956 | Marlene Hagge |  United States | 20,235 | 8 – Marlene Hagge
1955 | Patty Berg |  United States | 16,492 | 6 – Patty Berg
1954 | Patty Berg |  United States | 16,011 | 5 – Louise Suggs, Babe Zaharias
1953 | Louise Suggs |  United States | 19,816 | 8 – Louise Suggs
1952 | Betsy Rawls |  United States | 14,505 | 8 – Betsy Rawls
1951 | Babe Zaharias |  United States | 15,087 | 9 – Babe Zaharias
1950 | Babe Zaharias |  United States | 14,800 | 8 – Babe Zaharias

1 The five players with three titles in 1988 were Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto.

## Leading career money winners

[edit]

The table below shows the top-10 career money leaders on the LPGA Tour (from the start of their rookie seasons) as of the 2024 season.[40]

Active players on the Tour are shown in bold.

Rank | Player | Country | Played | Earnings ($) | Career
events

|
|
|
|
|

1 | Annika Sörenstam |  Sweden | 1994–2023 | 22,583,693 | 307
2 | Karrie Webb |  Australia | 1996–2024 | 20,293,617 | 497
3 | Cristie Kerr |  United States | 1997–2024 | 20,179,848 | 599
4 | Lydia Ko |  New Zealand | 2014–2024 | 20,143,981 | 245
5 | Inbee Park |  South Korea | 2007–2022 | 18,262,344 | 305
6 | Amy Yang |  South Korea | 2008–2024 | 15,848,328 | 350
7 | Lorena Ochoa |  Mexico | 2003–2010 | 14,863,331 | 175
8 | Suzann Pettersen |  Norway | 2003–2019 | 14,837,578 | 316
9 | Minjee Lee |  Australia | 2015–2024 | 14,746,089 | 228
10 | Lexi Thompson |  United States | 2012–2024 | 14,588,207 | 258

## Historical total prize money awarded

[edit]

Season | Total
purse ($)

|

2024 | 123,950,000
2020 | 41,300,000
(73,500,000[41][42])
2010 | 41,400,000
2000 | 38,500,000
1990 | 17,100,000
1980 | 5,150,000
1970 | 435,040
1960 | 186,700
1950 | 50,000

## See also

[edit]

* Chronological list of LPGA major golf champions
* Golf in the United States
* List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins
* List of LPGA major championship winning golfers
* Professional Golfers' Association of America
* Professional golf tours
* Women's major golf championships
* Women's World Golf Rankings
* LPGA International

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "LPGA Unveils New Logo". Golf Channel. LPGA Tour Media. October 4, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
2. ^ "LPGA logo". famouslogos.us. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
3. ^ "Learn more about the 13 LPGA founders". LPGA. 2011. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
4. ^ "Craig Kessler named LPGA commissioner, sees explosive potential". ESPN. Associated Press. May 22, 2025.
5. ^ "LPGA Tour: History". The Golf Channel. 2000. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
6. ^ a b "About the LPGA". LPGA. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
7. ^ Mallon, Bill (January 21, 2011). Historical Dictionary of Golf. Scarecrow Press. p. 330\. ISBN 9780810874657.
8. ^ Spencer-Devlin, Muffin (November 12, 1996). "Reviews – Books: Fore play". The Advocate. p. 88.
9. ^ Kirsch, George B. (2009). Golf in America. University of Illinois Press. p. 170\. ISBN 978-0-252-03292-9.
10. ^ "When was the LPGA founded? [Infographic]". Keiser University College of Golf. January 4, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
11. ^ "About the LPGA - Our Founders". LPGA. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
12. ^ a b Carlson, Michael (September 12, 2006). "Patty Berg". The Guardian. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
13. ^ "Padraig Harrington, LPGA founders join '24 Golf Hall of Fame class". ESPN. Associated Press. March 9, 2023.
14. ^ "Polly Riley Victor With 295 at Tampa". The New York Times. January 23, 1950. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
15. ^ "LPGA Tour names Whan commissioner". ESPN. Associated Press. October 28, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
16. ^ "LPGA Names Michael Whan as its Commissioner". LPGA. October 28, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
17. ^ Achenbach, James (October 13, 2010). "Who is former Long Drive champ Lana Lawless?". Golfweek. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
18. ^ Thomas, Katie (October 12, 2010). "Transgender Woman Sues L.P.G.A. Over Policy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
19. ^ Thomas, Katie (December 1, 2010). "L.P.G.A. Will Allow Transgender Players to Compete". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
20. ^ Boivin, Paola (March 12, 2013). "Transgender golfer dreams of playing in LPGA". USA Today.
21. ^ "LPGA says its players must be female at birth or transition before puberty". The Guardian. Associated Press. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
22. ^ "Executive Women's Golf Association to be Rebranded as LPGA Women Who Play". LPGA. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
23. ^ "Find a Chapter". LPGA Amateur Golf Association. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
24. ^ "Major Championship Records". LPGA. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
25. ^ "LPGA Tour goes to points race". ESPN. Associated Press. January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
26. ^ Stanley, Adam (August 16, 2019). "LPGA commissioner: 'If I had 150 Brooke Hendersons, I could own the sporting world'". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
27. ^ LPGA – South Korean women dominate women's golf in 2008
28. ^ Mario, Jennifer. "Why Korean golfers are dominating LPGA Tour". Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
29. ^ "LPGA Information: 2009 International Players" (PDF) (Press release). LPGA. Retrieved January 24, 2009.[dead link]
30. ^ "Schedule - All Tournaments". LPGA. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
31. ^ Multiple sources:
* "LPGA Tour Announces Record-Breaking 2024 Schedule". LPGA. November 16, 2023.
* "Ally Financial and USGA Join Forces to Elevate U.S. Women's Open and Pipeline of Future Talent". LPGA. February 1, 2024.
* "LPGA and Chevron to Elevate and Extend Major Relationship". LPGA. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
* "Who Will Win the JM Eagle LA Championship Presented by Plastpro?". LPGA. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
* "The Aundi Evian Championship Increases Its Prize Money to 8 Million Dollars". LPGA. June 6, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
32. ^ Multiple sources:
* "LPGA Tour Announces Record-Breaking 2023 Schedule". LPGA. November 18, 2022.
* Ryan, Shane (November 18, 2022). "LPGA releases 2023 schedule, features $100 million in total prize money". Golf Digest.
* "2023 Blue Bay LPGA Cancelled". LPGA. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
* The net $800,000 increase from the cancellation of the $2.2 million Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA to the new $3.0 million Maybank Championship, makes the total purse $100.1 million for 2023.
* "Kroger Queen City Championship Presented By P&G Announces Increase In Purse To $2 Million In 2023". LPGA. May 16, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
* Hirsch, Jack (June 25, 2023). "2023 KPMG Women's PGA Championship purse: Payout breakdown, winner's share". Golf Magazine. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
* Paisley, Kent (July 5, 2023). "USGA bumps U.S. Women's Open prize money payout to record $11M with eventual goal of equal purse to men". Golf Digest.
33. ^ Multiple sources:
* "LPGA unveils 2022 schedule with 34 events, nearly $86 million in prize money". Golf Channel. November 19, 2021.
* "U.S. Women's Open 2022: Purse increasing to $10 million, a $4.5 million leap over 2021". Golf Channel. January 7, 2022.
* "KPMG Women's PGA doubles its purse to $9 million, marking a 300 percent increase since 2014". Golfweek. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
* "The Amundi Evian Championship Continues to Assert Its Ambition to Promote Parity in Sport, Increases its Prize Purse to $6.5 Million". LPGA. May 17, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
* "Buick LPGA Shanghai canceled for 3rd straight year due to COVID-19 restrictions in China". ESPN. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
* "Prize money increased again for 2022 AIG Women's Open". AIG Women's Open. August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
* "Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA Cancelled for 2022". LPGA. August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
* "LPGA Tour's 2022 Portland Classic Announces New Title Sponsor, Amazingcre". LPGA. May 11, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
* "Volunteers of America Classic Preview, Field and Prize Money". Golf Monthly. September 27, 2022.
34. ^ "Atthaya Thitikul Wins 2022 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie Of The Year Award". LPGA. November 10, 2022.
35. ^ Levins, Keely (October 25, 2021). "Patty Tavatanakit clinches Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors". Golf Digest. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
36. ^ "Ariya Jutanugarn Earns 2018 Rolex Player of the Year Award". LPGA. October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
37. ^ "Jin Young Ko Earns 2018 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award". LPGA. October 23, 2018. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
38. ^ "Sung Hyun Park Clinches 2017 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Honors". LPGA. October 18, 2017. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
39. ^ "Lydia Ko is LPGA's top rookie". ESPN. Associated Press. November 12, 2014.
40. ^ "Career Money". LPGA. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
41. ^ Total purse before COVID-19 pandemic schedule changes.
42. ^ "LPGA Tour Announces a 2020 Schedule with Record-Breaking Purse Levels and Television Coverage". LPGA. November 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
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* v
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LPGA Tour seasons

* 1950
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* v
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Women's professional golf tours

Major tours|

* Ladies European Tour
* LPGA of Japan Tour
* LPGA of Korea Tour
* LPGA Tour
* WPGA Tour of Australasia

Development tours|

* Epson Tour
* LET Access Series

Other tours|

* Ladies Asian Golf Tour
* China LPGA Tour
* Sunshine Ladies Tour
* Swedish Golf Tour
* Taiwan LPGA Tour
* Thai LPGA Tour
* All Thailand Golf Tour
* Rose Ladies Series
* Cactus Tour

Senior tours|

* Legends Tour

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Golf

Overview|

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Technical|

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Facilities|

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Governing
organizations|

* International Golf Federation
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Majors
(Grand Slam,
Triple Crown)|

| Men|

* Masters Tournament
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* venues
* Challenge Belt
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|

Women|

* Chevron Championship
* U.S. Women's Open
* Women's PGA Championship
* The Evian Championship
* Women's British Open

Senior|

* The Tradition
* Senior PGA Championship
* U.S. Senior Open
* Senior Players Championship
* Senior Open Championship

Senior Women's|

* LPGA Legends Championship
* U.S. Senior Women's Open

International
events|

| Team|

* Curtis Cup
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* European Amateur Team Championship
* European Ladies' Team Championship
* International Crown
* Presidents Cup
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* Solheim Cup
* Walker Cup
* World Cup
* Men's
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|

Multi-sport event|

* Summer Olympics
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Rankings|

* Men
* No 1s
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Golfers|

* Male golfers
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* chronologically
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* chronologically
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* Olympic medalists
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Lists of
golf courses|

| by feature|

* Granted Royal status
* Links
* Olympic venues

|

by country|

* Canada
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by designer|

* Coore & Crenshaw
* Pete Dye
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* Old Tom Morris
* Jack Nicklaus
* Greg Norman
* Donald Ross
* A. W. Tillinghast

Countries|

* Australia
* China
* India
* Ireland
* Philippines
* Russia
* Scotland
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Years|

* 1353–1850
* 1851–1945
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Variations|

* Beach golf
* Disc golf
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* GolfCross
* Hickory golf
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* Long drive
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* Pitch and putt
* Shotgun start
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* Snow golf
* Speed golf
* Urban golf

Media|

* Golf Channel
* personalities
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* Links
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* Video games
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Miscellaneous|

* Albatrosses in notable tournaments
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* Lowest rounds
* Furyk's 58
* Open tournaments
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* World Golf Hall of Fame

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Top-level professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada

Men's|

| Majors|

* Major League Baseball
* National Basketball Association
* National Football League
* National Hockey League
* Major League Soccer
* Canadian Football League

|

Other top-flight leagues|

* Canadian Premier League
* Major League Cricket
* Arena football
* AF1
* IFL
* National Lacrosse League
* Premier Lacrosse League
* USA Rugby League
* Major League Rugby
* Premier Rugby Sevens
* Major Arena Soccer League
* Ultimate Frisbee Association
* National Volleyball Association

Women's|

| Majors|

* Women's National Basketball Association
* National Women's Soccer League
* Professional Women's Hockey League

|

Other top-flight leagues|

* Women's Pro Baseball League
* Women's Football Alliance
* Women's Lacrosse League
* National Ringette League
* Women's Elite Rugby
* Premier Rugby Sevens
* Soccer
* USLS
* NSL
* Softball
* AUSL
* WPF
* Ultimate
* PUL
* WUL
* Volleyball
* LOVB Pro
* Major League Volleyball

Others|

| Individual|

* Bowling
* PBA
* PWBA
* Bull riding
* PBR
* WPRA
* Golf
* PGA Tour
* LPGA
* Tennis
* ATP
* WTA

|

Motorsports|

* IndyCar Series
* NASCAR Cup Series

Other|

* Major League Eating

* USA
* Canada

* v
* t
* e

Major women's sport leagues in North America

Leagues
by sport|

| Basketball|

WNBA
Unrivaled
WABA
WBDA
Athletes Unlimited
American League (defunct)
WABA (1984) (defunct)
WBA (defunct)
NWBL (defunct)
WBL (defunct)
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division II
NCAA Division III
NAIA
U Sports

|

Ice hockey|

PWHL
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division III
U Sports
CWHL (defunct)
WWHL (defunct)
PHF (defunct)

Soccer|

NWSL
USL Super League
WPSL
UWS
Liga MX
LIMEFFE
NCAA Division I
NAIA
U Sports
WPS (defunct)
WUSA (defunct)
WLS (defunct)
WPSL Elite (defunct)
USL
USL (1995) (defunct)
Northern Super League (beginning play in 2025)

Softball|

AUSL
WPF
NCAA Division I (WCWS)
NAIA
NPF (defunct)
AFP (defunct)

Gridiron
football|

WNFC
WFA
USWFL
MWFL
WWCFL
X League
AFWL (defunct)
IWFL (defunct)
LFL (defunct)
LFL Canada (defunct)
NWFA (defunct)
WAFL (defunct)
WFA (defunct)
WFL (defunct)
WPFL (defunct)

Rugby union|

WER
WPL

Lacrosse|

UWLX (defunct)
WPLL (defunct)
Athletes Unlimited (defunct)
WLL

Volleyball|

Athletes Unlimited
LOVB Pro
MLV
MLV (1987–89) (defunct)

Other sports|

Baseball
Golf
Ringette
Roller derby
Ultimate disc

Leagues
by association|

| NCAA|

Beach volleyball
Bowling
Cross country
Field hockey
Golf
Gymnastics
Lacrosse
Rowing
Swimming and diving
Tennis
Indoor track and field
Outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling (starting in 2025–26)

|

NAIA|

Cross country
Golf
Swimming and diving
Tennis
Indoor track and field
Outdoor track and field
Volleyball
Lacrosse
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