China expected to host second LPGA event

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has released next year’s schedule and China is expected to host a second event. 

Under the schedule, the prize money on the tour will rise by $ 4 million. Eighteen of the thirty three official events will be held in the United States. Prize money will rise from $59.1 million to $63.1 million, a tournament has been added in Michigan and the LPGA will take a three-week break to accommodate the return of golf to the Olympics in August.

"Stability with growth," LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. "We've had some dramatic things we needed to address in the last six years ... and the numbers, I think, kind of speak for themselves."

China was expected to host two events in 2015, though one was cancelled about two weeks before the start. The LPGA plans to return for an event that ends on October 2nd. Whan said he's confident the second tournament, which is still listed as TBD on the schedule, will come together as planned.

In 2011, the LPGA had 23 official events and $40.5 million in total prize money with 220 hours of TV coverage. The TV hours will increase again to about 410 next year. 

The LPGA also announced a partnership with the “Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin” for a tournament that will start in 2017 and offer a $2 million purse.

Source: LPGA

Proofread by John Devlin