Virginia Golfer January/February 2025 January/February 2025 | Page 31

LPGA Set to Celebrate Milestone Anniversary

The LPGA has never been financially healthier . Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025 , the LPGA will see its total prize purse rise to a record $ 131 million as it tries to capitalize on the excitement of a tremendous 2024 season . Last year , Nelly Korda won six times — including a major championship — cementing herself as the top player in women ’ s golf .
While Korda won the Race to the CME Globe by a significant margin , plenty of talent lurks behind her , including Lydia Ko , Ruonin Yin , Hannah Green and Virginian Lauren Coughlin , all of whom won multiple times on tour in 2024 .
There is some uncertainty at the top , as LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samman announced her resignation , effective January 2025 . Also , some familiar names have announced their retirement from playing full LPGA schedules , including Lexi Thompson , Ally Ewing , and Marina Alex . What new faces will emerge in
2025 to challenge Korda and the rest of the world ’ s best female golfers ?
2025 PGA LPGA Tour Schedule
Dates | Tournament | Location | * Defending champion | x-denotes major championship
PAUL PIERCE JR .
Jan . 30-Feb . 2 : Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions | Lake Nona G & CC | Orlando , Fla . | Lydia Ko Feb . 6-9 : Founders Cup | Bradenton CC | Bradenton , Fla . | Rose Zhang Feb . 20-23 : Honda LPGA Thailand | Siam CC ( Old Course ) | Chonburi , Thailand | Patty Tavatanakit Feb . 27-March 2 : HSBC Women ’ s World Championship | Sentosa GC ( Tanjong ) | Singapore | Hannah Green March 6-9 : Blue Bay LPGA | Jian Lake Blue Bay GC | Hainan Island , China | Bailey Tardy March 20-23 : FIR Hills Seri Pak Championship | Palos Verdes GC | Palos Verdes Estates , Calif . | Nelly Korda March 28-31 : Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass | Whirlwind GC | Chandler , Ariz . | Nelly Korda April 2-6 : T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards | Shadow Creek GC | North Las Vegas , Nev . | Nelly Korda April 17-20 : JM Eagle L . A . Championship presented by Plastpro | El Caballero CC | Tarzana , Calif . | Hannah Green x-April 24-27 : The Chevron Championship | The Club at Carlton Woods | The Woodlands , Texas | Nelly Korda Americans have won the season ’ s first major in each of the last three years , starting with Jennifer Kupcho in 2022 and Lilia Vu in 2023 . Korda earned the first $ 1M + paycheck in event history with her win last year . May 1-4 : Black Desert Championship | Black Desert Resort | Ivins , Utah | New event May 8-11 : Mizuho Americas Open | Liberty National GC | Jersey City , N . J . | Nelly Korda May 22-25 : Mayakoba Open | Mayakoba
( El Camaleon ) | Playa del Carmen , Mexico | New event x-May 29-June 1 : U . S . Women ’ s Open presented by Ally | Erin Hills GC | Erin , Wis . | Yuka Saso The top of last year ’ s leaderboard featured plenty of Japanese flair , with Saso downing countrywoman Hinako Shibuno by three strokes to take home the $ 2.4M top prize . June 6-8 : ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer | Seaview ( Bay Course ) | Galloway , N . J . | Linnea Strom June 12-15 : Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give | Blythefield CC | Belmont , Mich . | Lilia Vu x-June 19-22 : KPMG Women ’ s PGA Championship | Fields Ranch East Course | Frisco , Texas | Amy Yang We get a first major-championship look at the new PGA of America home facility in north Texas . This also marks the first time the Women ’ s PGA has visited the Lone Star State . June 27-30 : Dow Championship | Midland CC | Midland , Mich . | Ruoning Yin and Jeeno Thitikul x-July 10-13 : Amundi Evian Championship | Evian Resort GC | Evian-les-Bains , France | Ayaka Furue The purse at France ’ s major has nearly doubled in the last five years , going from $ 4.5M in 2021 to $ 8M in 2024 . July 24-27 : ISPS Handa Women ’ s Scottish Open | Dundonald Links | Gailes , Scotland | Lauren Coughlin x-July 31-Aug . 3 : AIG Women ’ s Open | Royal Porthcawl GC | Porthcawl , Wales | Lydia Ko Host of three Senior Opens , Porthcawl gets its first crack at hosting a women ’ s major . It hosted the 1964 Curtis Cup , an event for which
ABOVE : Nelly Korda ’ s won six times in 2024 , including a victory in the season ’ s first major , The Chevron Championship .
Virginia Golf Hall of Fame member Robbye King Unger was an alternate . Aug . 1-4 : The Standard Portland Classic | Site TBD | Portland , Ore . | Moriya Jutanugarn Aug . 21-24 : CPKC Women ’ s Open | Mississauga G & CC | Mississauga , Ontario | Lauren Coughlin Aug . 28-31 : FM Championship | TPC Boston | Norton , Mass . | Haeran Ryu Sept . 11-14 : Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P & G | TP River ’ s Bend | Maineville , Ohio | Lydia Ko Sept . 19-21 : Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P & G | Pinnacle CC | Rogers , Ark . | Jasmine Suwannapura Oct . 1-4 : LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei | Hokalei CC | Ewa Beach , Hawaii | A Lim Kim Oct . 9-12 : Buick LPGA Shanghai | Qizhong Garden GC | Shanghai , China | Ruoning Yin Oct . 16-19 : BMW Ladies Championship | Korean location TBA | Hanna Green Oct . 23-26 : Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown | New Korea CC | Goyang , South Korea | Thailand ( 2023 ) Oct . 30-Nov . 2 : Maybank Championship | Kuala Lumpur G & CC | Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia | Ruoning Yin Nov . 6-9 : TOTO Japan Classic | Seta GC | Otsu-shi , Japan | Rio Takeda Nov . 13-16 : The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican | Pelican GC | Belleair , Fla . | Nelly Korda Nov . 20-23 : CME Group Tour Championship | Tiburon GC ( Gold ) | Naples , Fla . | Jeno Thitikul
vsga . org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2025 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 29