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Randall Mell

15LPGA releases smaller 2010 schedule

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profileIconRANDALL MELL, Senior Writer, GolfChannel.com
 Posted 11/18/2009, 10:04 AM EST

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The LPGA released a 2010 schedule Wednesday with the fewest tour events in nearly 40 years.

The new schedule features 24 events, fewest since 1971.

Given the difficult economic climate and fallout from the forced ouster of commissioner Carolyn Bivens in July, it’s a schedule LPGA officials were more than satisfied to present in a news conference a day before the start of the LPGA Tour Championship.

For acting commissioner Marty Evans, the schedule represents a foundation to build upon after four months of hard salvage work.

When Evans took over in July, there were just nine tournaments under contract.

“This is obviously a resilient organization, and I believe wholeheartedly a resurgent one,” Evans said. “Given the circumstances, I hope people look at the momentum created, where we are poised to go.”

The 2010 schedule is down from 27 events this year and 34 a year ago. There are just 13 events scheduled in the United States and one in Canada. There are five events in the Far East, three in Mexico and two in Europe. There are no events scheduled in Hawaii, Florida, Arizona or Texas.

The 13 domestic events are down from 24 on last year’s schedule and 17 on the current season’s schedule.

The biggest tournament change occurs at the LPGA Championship, where Wegmans steps up from its role as a regular tour stop to become temporary host of a major championship at Locust Hill Country Club outside Rochester, N.Y. Wegmans is expected to resume its role as a regular tour stop in 2011 with the LPGA Championship getting a new sponsor and site that year. 

Events that were played this season but aren’t on the 2010 schedule are: the MasterCard Classic, the Michelob Ultra Open, the Sybase Classic, the Corning Classic, and the Samsung World Championship. Phoenix also lost its event with no title sponsor taking over there. The J Golf Classic was played in Phoenix last year but will move to LaCosta, Calif.

The Hana Bank Kolon Championship wasn’t included on the schedule released Wednesday but Evans said the deal is nearly complete. That would give the LPGA its 24th event next season.

2010 LPGA schedule
Feb. 18-21, Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, Chonburi, Thailand (Purse: $1.3 million).
Feb. 25-28, HSBC Women's Champions, Singapore ($1.3 million).
March 25-28, LPGA Classic presented by J Golf, Carlsbad, Calif. ($1.7 million).
April 1-4, Kraft Nabisco Championship, Rancho Mirage, Calif. ($2 million).
April 29-May 2, Tres Marias Championship, Morelia, Mexico ($1.2 million).
May 13-16, Bell Micro LPGA Classic, Mobile, Ala. ($1.3 million).
June 10-13, State Farm Classic, Springfield, Ill. ($1.7 million).
June 18-20, ShopRite LPGA Classic, Galloway, N.J. ($1.5 million). 
June 24-27, LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans, Pittsford, N.Y. ($2.25 million).
July 1-4, Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, Sylvania, Ohio ($1 million).
July 8-11, U.S. Women's Open, Oakmont, Pa. ($3.25 million).
July 22-25, Evian Masters, Evian-les-Bains, France ($3.25 million).
July 29- Aug. 1, Ricoh Women's British Open, South Port, England ($2.5 million).
Aug. 20-22, Safeway Classic presented by Coca Cola, North Plains, Ore. ($1.5 million).
Aug. 26-29, CN Canadian Women's Open, Winnipeg, Canada (TBD).
Sept. 10-12, P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship, Rogers, Ark. ($2 million).
Sept. 30-Oct. 3, Acapulco LPGA Classic, Acapulco, Mexico ($1.1 million).
Oct. 7-10, Navistar LPGA Classic, Prattville, Ala. ($1.3 million).
Oct. 14-17, CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, Danville, Ill. ($1.1 million).
Oct. 29-31, LPGA China (TBD).
Nov. 5-7, Mizuno Classic, Shima-shi, Japan ($1.2 million).
Nov. 11-14, Lorena Ochoa Invitational, Guadalajara, Mexico ($1.1 million).
Nov. 18-21, LPGA Tour Championship (site TBA, purse TBA).

 

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  1. egrove

    egrove Said on 11/24/2009, at 12:59 PM EST

    “Most of the posters seem to be suffering from ADD. I dont care if there are more overseas events. They dont cover them on TV and, I certainly cant attend any of them. The only coverage we will get is from the GC if MW is on the leaderboard. I want more domestic events, with some Network coverage. Sure the economy is a factor, but with some American Stars, the sponsors will come. The LPGA is a bargain for sponsors compared to other sporting events. You can sponsor a whole event for the same money as one 20 second commercial on the NFL or Nascar coverage. I know I will get slammed, but the foreign players just arent a draw ( some exceptions ). If the trend continues the situation will just get worse. Americans like to wave the Flag, and the LPGA has all the igredients to be really great, but they seem to have wandered off track in the past few years. TV watchers want more than just athletic talent for entertainment. Thats why some sports dont get any coverage at all. ”

  2. LVK Alan

    LVK Alan Said on 11/22/2009, at 1:08 AM EST

    “To the asian player's credit they are definitely dressing more attractively. Someone has convinced them that modest doesn't mean dull and that it's alright to wear bright colors. Much more interesting to watch.”

  3. ashburner

    ashburner Said on 11/21/2009, at 10:06 AM EST

    “this matter is bigger than "unrecognizable names & faces" and marketing. Unfortunately, the US has systemic and long lasting economic problems which will impinge on the LPGA for a very long time. Get used to the unrecognizable names, etc. as it may well be their sponsors who may save the US's LPGA.”

  4. obleft

    obleft Said on 11/20/2009, at 6:12 PM EST

    “unrecognizable names and faces seems to be a euphemism for foreign or oriental... they aren't any more unrecognizable than Harrington or Casey were when they first came on the scene. Bottom line... the unrecognizable appear to want it more... and not just in ladies golf”

  5. babshoney

    babshoney Said on 11/20/2009, at 11:09 AM EST

    “I live in South Florida and have always looked forward to the ADT championship...my only chance to see the LPGA. There is nothing remotely near FL this year. What a disappointment!”

  6. foxhay

    foxhay Said on 11/20/2009, at 3:07 AM EST

    “egrove how right you are and what a great way of saying it "unrecognizabe names and faces" we were watching the final round of the Ladies European Tour tournament last evening when my wife who plays golf switched channel for the same reason we all know what we want we just don't feel comfortable saying it so we switch over I cant see that being a sponsors dream. ”

  7. jeff7

    jeff7 Said on 11/19/2009, at 5:43 PM EST

    “24 events in 2010? How will the young women coming up make a living? Obviously they can't. They better consider other careers. ”

  8. golfnut6912

    golfnut6912 Said on 11/18/2009, at 6:30 PM EST

    “I think we need to give Marty Evans alot of credit. Considering there were only 10 scheduled events when Bivens resigned. She did a great job as interm.”

  9. catbirdseat

    catbirdseat Said on 11/18/2009, at 2:13 PM EST

    “Nice work but what's the deal with scheduling a major championship (Nabisco) over both Easter (final round is Easter Sunday) and Passover? ”

  10. AZgirlgolf

    AZgirlgolf Said on 11/18/2009, at 2:03 PM EST

    “I think it is really sad that Phoenix has now lost 2 tournaments? LPGA and Frys.com to California- what is up with that???”

  11. harleyrod2007

    harleyrod2007 Said on 11/18/2009, at 1:48 PM EST

    “Marty Evans has done yeoman's work. Losing only 3 events with the sad state of affairs proves she was the perfect interim choice. What I didn't read was if there could be added events during the year. Also, derogatory comments directed at a group or any one person is indicative of someone of little self respect or dignity. Posting an imaginary employer, trip, or inside relationship to support an argument also relegates someone as inadequate to support their own argument. We all agree, you are inadequate and your callous comments are simply ignored.”

  12. coast2coastglfr

    coast2coastglfr Said on 11/18/2009, at 1:33 PM EST

    “Ummm "brutally frank" is a serious understatement. How about misogynist, bigotted, and borderline rascist? I think that more accurately colors Chow's comments. ”

  13. stub

    stub Said on 11/18/2009, at 1:27 PM EST

    “ Harley..yup, I was hoping the Hawaiian event would come back..always a great start to the year..at least, there is some open space for 2011 events to get in...E-grove..you have to get over it..this trying to say who can play and who can't by virtue of where they come from..how about Sweden,Denmark,UK,etc..good head to head competition will be good for the ladies..Also a major TV network needs to step up..Chowdawg..your name says it all..humble, from you rant, I don't buy that for a minute, and your CEO is wrong, the worse money he spent is your wages...STUB ”

  14. egrove

    egrove Said on 11/18/2009, at 1:13 PM EST

    “chowdawg is right. He was little more brutally frank than I would be. This tour is not going to improve, and will likely lose more sponsors next year if the majority of winners are unrecognizabe names and faces. Its all about marketing. The sponsors know what they want, and have been telling the tour what they dont want. The current economy hasnt caused all the problem, but has served to make the sponsors take a second look at where they are spending their money. Last week Wie wins, but equally important was the leaderboard. Paula,Christy,Morgan, Lorena. They all move the needle and keep the fans glued to the TV. Its going to take some guts to turn this around or it will go the way of the old Studebaker car.”

  15. harleyrod2007

    harleyrod2007 Said on 11/18/2009, at 12:32 PM EST

    “After this week's tournament there won't be another event on US soil until March 25-28 which is "4 months"..120 days between events in US...Talk about having room for improvement..that's an understatment...”