LPGA facts for kids
Logo introduced in October 2007
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| Sport | Golf |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1950 |
| Founder | 13 original LPGA players |
| Inaugural season | 1950 |
| Commissioner | Mollie Marcoux Samaan |
| Country |  United States, with events in other countries around the world |
| Most titles |  Kathy Whitworth (88) |
| TV partner(s) | NBC Sports Golf Channel CBS Sports |
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American group for female golfers. It is based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The LPGA is most famous for running the LPGA Tour. This tour is a series of weekly golf tournaments. It features top women professional golfers from all over the world.
Contents
About the LPGA and Its History
Other "LPGAs" exist in different countries. But the U.S. LPGA was the first. It is also the largest and most respected. The LPGA also helps female golf club and teaching professionals. This is different from the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour runs the main professional golf tours for men in the U.S.
How Golfers Join the LPGA Tour
The LPGA has a yearly qualifying school. This is where golfers try to earn a spot on the LPGA Tour. Depending on how well a golfer plays, she can get full or partial playing rights. The LPGA also runs the Epson Tour. This is a special tour where new golfers can develop their skills. The best players from the Epson Tour can earn a spot on the main LPGA Tour for the next year.
The LPGA's Beginnings
The LPGA is the oldest ongoing women's professional sports group in the United States. It took over from an earlier group called the WPGA. The WPGA was started in 1944 but stopped its tour in 1948.
The LPGA officially began in 1950. It was founded by 13 amazing female golfers. They started it at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas. These 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. Patty Berg was the first president. All the founders were added to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023.
The very first LPGA tournament was the 1950 Tampa Women's Open. It was held in Tampa, Florida. An amateur golfer named Polly Riley won it. She beat many professional players.
In 1956, the LPGA held its first tournament outside the U.S. This was the Havana Open in Havana, Cuba.
Recent Changes and Growth
Since 2006, the LPGA has held a special championship tournament at the end of each season.
Michael Whan became the LPGA's commissioner in 2009. He used to work in sports marketing.
In 2018, the LPGA bought an amateur golf group. It was called the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA). This helped the LPGA include more amateur golfers in the U.S. and North America. This amateur group is now called the LPGA Amateur Golf Association. It has many local groups across North America.
Prize Money and Tournaments
The total prize money on the LPGA Tour changes each year. In 2010, it was about $41.4 million. This was less than in 2009. There were also fewer tournaments. But by 2016, the number of tournaments grew to 33. The total prize money was over $63 million. In 2019, a new record was set. The total prize money reached $70.5 million.
LPGA's Global Reach
For its first 40 years, most LPGA Tour players were American. Sandra Post from Canada was the first player living outside the U.S. to join the tour in 1968. Now, many players are from other countries. The last time an American player earned the most money was in 2014.
A big change in the early 2000s was the rise of Korean golfers. Se Ri Pak's success inspired many Korean women to join the LPGA Tour. In 2009, 122 players were from outside the U.S. They came from 27 different countries. Forty-seven of them were from South Korea.
LPGA Tour Tournaments
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Most LPGA Tour events are held in the United States. But many are also held around the world. In 2020, 14 tournaments were held outside the U.S. These included seven events in Asia, four in Europe, two in Australia, and one in Canada.
Some tournaments are "co-sanctioned." This means they are part of the LPGA Tour and other professional tours. For example, the Women's British Open is also part of the Ladies European Tour.
LPGA Major Championships
The LPGA has five very important tournaments each year. These are called "major championships":
- Chevron Championship
- U.S. Women's Open
- Women's PGA Championship
- Women's British Open
- The Evian Championship
LPGA Season-Ending Championship
Since 2006, the LPGA has held a special tournament at the end of the season. It has had different names over the years. From 2011, it became the CME Group Titleholders. This event is held in November.
From 2006 to 2008, the top players from the first and second halves of the season qualified for this championship. The winner of this tournament could earn $1 million. In 2009, more players could join the Tour Championship. The total prize money was $1.5 million.
The CME Group Titleholders now uses a season-long points race to decide who plays. The player who wins the points race gets a $1 million bonus.
2024 LPGA Tour
Past Tour Schedules and Results
| Year | Number of official tournaments |
Countries hosting tournaments |
Tournaments in United States |
Tournaments in other countries |
Total prize money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 124,000,000 |
| 2023 | 32 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 102,350,000 |
| 2022 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 9 | 93,900,000 |
| 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 events where players earn money and scores that count toward their official LPGA record.
LPGA Hall of Fame
The LPGA started its Hall of Fame in 1951. The first four members were Patty Berg, Betty Jameson, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias. In 1998, it joined the World Golf Hall of Fame.
LPGA Tour Awards
The LPGA Tour gives out several awards each year. Three main awards are based on how well players perform throughout the season.
- The Player of the Year award goes to the player who earns the most points. Players get points for finishing in the top 10 at tournaments. Points are doubled at the five major championships.
- The Vare Trophy is for the player with the lowest average score for the season. It is named after Glenna Collett-Vare.
- The Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year Award goes to the best first-year player on the LPGA Tour. Players earn points based on how they finish in events. Points are doubled in major events and the season-ending championship. This award is named after Louise Suggs, one of the LPGA founders.
American golfer Nancy Lopez is the only player to win all three of these awards in the same year. She did this in 1978.
| Year | Player of the Year | Vare Trophy | Rookie of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lilia Vu |
 Atthaya Thitikul |
 Ryu Hae-ran |
| 2022 |  Lydia Ko |
Lydia Ko |
Atthaya Thitikul |
| 2021 | Ko Jin-young |
Lydia Ko |
Patty Tavatanakit |
| 2020 | Kim Sei-young |
Danielle Kang |
– |
| 2019 | Ko Jin-young |
Ko Jin-young |
Lee Jeong-eun |
| 2018 | Ariya Jutanugarn |
Ariya Jutanugarn |
Ko Jin-young |
| 2017 | Sung Hyun Park So Yeon Ryu |
Lexi Thompson |
Sung Hyun Park |
| 2016 | Ariya Jutanugarn |
In Gee Chun |
In Gee Chun |
| 2015 | Lydia Ko |
Inbee Park |
Sei Young Kim |
| 2014 | Stacy Lewis |
Stacy Lewis |
Lydia Ko |
| 2013 | Inbee Park |
Stacy Lewis |
Moriya Jutanugarn |
| 2012 | Stacy Lewis |
Inbee Park |
So Yeon Ryu |
| 2011 |  Yani Tseng |
Yani Tseng |
Hee Kyung Seo |
| 2010 | Yani Tseng |
Na Yeon Choi |
 Azahara Muñoz |
| 2009 |  Lorena Ochoa |
Lorena Ochoa |
Jiyai Shin |
| 2008 | Lorena Ochoa |
Lorena Ochoa |
Yani Tseng |
| 2007 | Lorena Ochoa |
Lorena Ochoa |
 Angela Park |
| 2006 | Lorena Ochoa |
Lorena Ochoa |
Seon Hwa Lee |
| 2005 |  Annika Sörenstam |
Annika Sörenstam |
Paula Creamer |
| 2004 | Annika Sörenstam |
Grace Park |
Shi Hyun Ahn |
| 2003 | Annika Sörenstam |
Se Ri Pak |
Lorena Ochoa |
| 2002 | Annika Sörenstam |
Annika Sörenstam |
Beth Bauer |
| 2001 | Annika Sörenstam |
Annika Sörenstam |
Hee-Won Han |
| 2000 |  Karrie Webb |
Karrie Webb |
Dorothy Delasin |
| 1999 | Karrie Webb |
Karrie Webb |
Mi Hyun Kim |
| 1998 | Annika Sörenstam |
Annika Sörenstam |
Se Ri Pak |
| 1997 | Annika Sörenstam |
Karrie Webb |
 Lisa Hackney |
| 1996 | Laura Davies |
Annika Sörenstam |
Karrie Webb |
| 1995 | Annika Sörenstam |
Annika Sörenstam |
Pat Hurst |
| 1994 | Beth Daniel |
Beth Daniel |
Annika Sörenstam |
| 1993 | Betsy King |
Betsy King |
Suzanne Strudwick |
| 1992 | Dottie Mochrie |
Dottie Mochrie |
Helen Alfredsson |
| 1991 | Pat Bradley |
Pat Bradley |
Brandie Burton |
| 1990 | Beth Daniel |
Beth Daniel |
 Hiromi Kobayashi |
| 1989 | Betsy King |
Beth Daniel |
 Pam Wright |
| 1988 | Nancy Lopez |
Colleen Walker |
Liselotte Neumann |
| 1987 | Ayako Okamoto |
Betsy King |
Tammie Green |
| 1986 | Pat Bradley |
Pat Bradley |
Jody Rosenthal |
| 1985 | Nancy Lopez |
Nancy Lopez |
Penny Hammel |
| 1984 | Betsy King |
Patty Sheehan |
Juli Inkster |
| 1983 | Patty Sheehan |
JoAnne Carner |
Stephanie Farwig |
| 1982 | JoAnne Carner |
JoAnne Carner |
Patti Rizzo |
| 1981 | JoAnne Carner |
JoAnne Carner |
Patty Sheehan |
| 1980 | Beth Daniel |
Amy Alcott |
Myra Blackwelder |
| 1979 | Nancy Lopez |
Nancy Lopez |
Beth Daniel |
| 1978 | Nancy Lopez |
Nancy Lopez |
Nancy Lopez |
| 1977 | Judy Rankin |
Judy Rankin |
Debbie Massey |
| 1976 | Judy Rankin |
Judy Rankin |
Bonnie Lauer |
| 1975 | Sandra Palmer |
JoAnne Carner |
Amy Alcott |
| 1974 | JoAnne Carner |
JoAnne Carner |
Jan Stephenson |
| 1973 | Kathy Whitworth |
Judy Rankin |
Laura Baugh |
| 1972 | Kathy Whitworth |
Kathy Whitworth |
 Jocelyne Bourassa |
| 1971 | Kathy Whitworth |
Kathy Whitworth |
 Sally Little |
| 1970 | Sandra Haynie |
Kathy Whitworth |
JoAnne Carner |
| 1969 | Kathy Whitworth |
Kathy Whitworth |
Jane Blalock |
| 1968 | Kathy Whitworth |
Carol Mann |
Sandra Post |
| 1967 | Kathy Whitworth |
Kathy Whitworth |
Sharron Moran |
| 1966 | Kathy Whitworth |
Kathy Whitworth |
Jan Ferraris |
| 1965 | – | Kathy Whitworth |
Margie Masters |
| 1964 | – | Mickey Wright |
Susie Maxwell |
| 1963 | – | Mickey Wright |
Clifford Ann Creed |
| 1962 | – | Mickey Wright |
Mary Mills |
| 1961 | – | Mickey Wright |
– |
| 1960 | – | Mickey Wright |
– |
| 1959 | – |  Betsy Rawls |
– |
| 1958 | – |  Beverly Hanson |
– |
| 1957 | – | Louise Suggs |
– |
| 1956 | – | Patty Berg |
– |
| 1955 | – | Patty Berg |
– |
| 1954 | – | Babe Zaharias |
– |
| 1953 | – | Patty Berg |
– |
Top Earners by Year
This table shows the players who earned the most prize money each year on the LPGA Tour.
| Year | Player | Country | Earnings ($) | Most wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lilia Vu | United States |
3,502,303 | 4 – Celine 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, Sung Hyun Park |
| 2017 | Sung Hyun Park | South Korea |
2,335,883 | 3 – Shanshan Feng, In-Kyung Kim |
| 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 | Na Yeon Choi | 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, Se Ri Pak |
| 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 |
Top Career Money Winners
This table shows the top 10 players who have earned the most money on the LPGA Tour in their careers, as of June 23, 2024. Players who are still active 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 |
1996–2022 | 20,293,617 | 494 |
| 3 | Cristie Kerr | United States |
1997–present | 20,179,848 | 599 |
| 4 | Inbee Park | South Korea |
2007–2022 | 18,262,344 | 305 |
| 5 | Lydia Ko | New Zealand |
2014–present | 17,635,555 | 236 |
| 6 | Amy Yang | South Korea |
2008-present | 15,555,362 | 340 |
| 7 | Lorena Ochoa | Mexico |
2003–2010 | 14,863,331 | 175 |
| 8 | Suzann Pettersen |  Norway |
2003–2019 | 14,837,578 | 316 |
| 9 | Stacy Lewis | United States |
2009–present | 14,538,971 | 352 |
| 10 | Lexi Thompson | United States |
2012-present | 14,481,678 | 249 |
Total Prize Money Over the Years
This table shows how much total prize money has been awarded on the LPGA Tour in different years.
| Season | Total purse ($) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 102,350,000 |
| 2022 | 93,900,000 |
| 2021 | 69,200,000 |
| 2020 | 41,300,000 (73,500,000) |
| 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
- 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
