Ladies European Tour professionals will play for record prize money this season with the announcement of a 2020 schedule worth €18 million, an increase of €4.5 million over 2019.
The new schedule features 24 tournaments, three more than last year. Fifteen of the 24 will be held in Europe. There are seven new events.
The 2020 season kicks off with next month’s Australian Ladies Classic Bonville. The season ends in November with the €600,000 Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino, double last year’s prize money.
The top three players on the money list, the Race to Costa del Sol, will split a bonus pot of €250,000.
The schedule includes two new Swedish tournaments, the Creekhouse Ladies Open and the €1.5 million Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika, a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour. The LET will travel to Saudi Arabia for a €1 million tournament, the Saudi Ladies Championship. Another €1.1 million event is still to be announced.
The improved schedule is the result of a new partnership between the LET and LPGA, with the R&A and European Tour also sitting on the board of directors. The enhanced schedule comes on the back of Europe’s Solheim Cup victory at Gleneagles last September, when talks between the LET and LPGA began in earnest.
“The LET and the LPGA only began working together in September 2019, but we’ve been blown away with the results in the first 90 days and the positive response from across the golf industry,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. “With overall purse increases and seven new events, our athletes will have more opportunities for success.
“It’s exciting to think what we can accomplish after a full year of working with our new Board. We have a long way to go, but I’m so happy to say that this is the best position that European women’s professional golf has ever been in.”
Alexandra Armas, who was reappointed as LET CEO this month after serving in the role from 2008-2012, said:
“I want to thank all the federations who have shown their belief in our new team and vision, but also recognise the important contribution of our existing event promoters and sponsors, whose long-term support and commitment is immensely valuable to our organisation. What we have achieved in the last 90 days in incredible and this is just the start of a new direction for the LET.”
Victorious European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew gave the schedule her seal of approval:
“I couldn’t be more excited about what’s been achieved over the last 90 days to improve the schedule. This is a tour that existing players and those joining for the first time should be proud to be part of.”
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