Seeking to grow women’s golf, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has united with the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The joint venture aims to boost the sport’s European and global presence, building on the combination of the LET’s European expertise and relationships in the region, with the LPGA’s global strength and worldwide exposure.
LET Board Chair Marta Figueras-Dotti commented: Two teams, joining for one common purpose, will create opportunities we simply could not have pursued on our own. At its foundation, this joint venture is about creating opportunities for our members to pursue their passion, and their careers as professional athletes. In just the 60 days since we began working on this joint venture, we have already seen a dramatic impact on our LET Tour schedule – an impact that will be a positive result for virtually all of our LET Members.”
LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan added: “This is an exciting next step for the LPGA’s mission to provide more opportunities for women in this game. Over the past 10 years, the LPGA has had tremendous success partnering with other golf stakeholders, including the USGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, R&A and PGA of America, to enhance opportunities for women worldwide.
“We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with the Ladies European Tour in an effort to create the strongest possible women’s tour in Europe. We have experienced incredible growth in women’s golf in the U.S., and this is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate and expand the game in Europe as well. I’m excited that this is something we will build together, with the LET.”
The venture will be jointly managed by the LPGA and the LET and, through their combined resources, will seek to fast track an expanded LET schedule. This year’s LET schedule currently includes 20 official events in 13 different countries, with eight of those events in Europe, including two major championships, The Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s British Open.
The partnership aims to immediately increase playing opportunities for women in Europe, and to have that schedule growth lead to both increased financial opportunities and an optional pathway to the LPGA for the tour’s top performers
Insider Insight: This collaboration marks two of the most significant bodies in women’s golf coming together in order to enhance the growth of the game. The two groups undoubtedly share a common vision, taking the sport to new markets and increasing its engagement in Europe.
