LPGA Tour - Complete Guide for Golf Fans

The LPGA Tour is the premier professional golf tour for women, featuring the best female golfers in the world competing across a global schedule of events. Founded in 1950, the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) has grown from humble beginnings into a world-class sporting organisation with a passionate global fanbase. This guide covers everything you need to know about the LPGA Tour - its history, format, major championships and how to follow the action.

History of the LPGA Tour

The LPGA was founded in 1950 by 13 pioneering women, with Patty Berg, Louise Suggs and Babe Zaharias among the driving forces. The early years were modest - players often drove themselves between events and helped set up the courses - but the quality of play was never in doubt.

The tour grew steadily through the decades. The 1970s and 1980s saw players like Nancy Lopez bring mainstream attention to women's golf, while the arrival of Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak in the late 1990s and 2000s transformed the tour into a truly global circuit. Pak's breakthrough, in particular, inspired a generation of South Korean players who would go on to dominate the LPGA for years.

Today, the LPGA Tour is more competitive and diverse than ever, with players from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia, the United States, Europe and beyond competing at the highest level.

LPGA Major Championships

The LPGA Tour recognises five major championships - the most prestigious events on the women's golf calendar:

The Chevron Championship

Formerly known as the ANA Inspiration, this event was held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California for decades. The winner traditionally jumps into "Poppie's Pond" behind the 18th green. The event has since moved to a new venue but retains its major championship status and iconic traditions.

U.S. Women's Open

Organised by the USGA, the U.S. Women's Open is arguably the most prestigious event in women's golf. It features the toughest course setups and the deepest fields, with qualification open to professionals and amateurs alike. The purse has grown significantly in recent years, reflecting the growing stature of the event.

Women's PGA Championship

Run by the PGA of America, this championship has a rich history dating back to 1955. It regularly features some of the most dramatic finishes in women's golf and is a highlight of the summer schedule.

The Evian Championship

Held at the Evian Resort Golf Club in the French Alps, this became the fifth LPGA major in 2013. The stunning setting and European location give it a unique feel among the women's majors.

Women's Open (AIG Women's Open)

The AIG Women's Open is run by the R&A and is the only women's major played on links courses, rotating around the great British and Irish links venues. The event carries enormous prestige and has produced some of the most memorable moments in women's golf.

Race to CME Globe

The Race to CME Globe is the LPGA Tour's season-long points competition, culminating in the CME Group Tour Championship - the season finale. The format rewards consistent performance throughout the year, with the top players in the season standings qualifying for the finale.

The CME Group Tour Championship features a substantial purse and bonus pool, making it one of the most lucrative events on the LPGA calendar. The Race to CME Globe champion is recognised as the tour's player of the year in all but name.

Top LPGA Players to Watch

The LPGA Tour features extraordinary depth of talent:

• Nelly Korda - the dominant American player who has held the world number one ranking and won major championships with a powerful, athletic game
• Jin Young Ko - a South Korean star known for her incredible consistency and putting prowess
• Lydia Ko - the New Zealand prodigy who became the youngest number one in the world at just 17, and has continued to compete at the highest level
• Celine Boutier - a French player who won the Evian Championship on home soil, becoming a hero of European women's golf
• Lilia Vu - a multiple major champion who emerged as one of the tour's brightest stars

How the LPGA Tour Season Works

The LPGA season typically runs from January through November, with around 30-35 events across multiple countries. The schedule includes stops in the United States, Asia (South Korea, Japan, Thailand, China), Europe, Australia and other regions.

Tournament Format

LPGA events follow standard stroke play format:

• 72 holes over four rounds (some events are 54 holes)
• 36-hole cut - typically the top 60 players and ties make the weekend
• Lowest cumulative score wins

Qualification

Players earn their LPGA Tour cards through several pathways:

• LPGA Q-School - a multi-stage qualifying competition
• Epson Tour - the LPGA's developmental tour, with top finishers earning promotion
• World ranking - top-ranked players receive tournament exemptions
• Non-member performance - strong finishes as a non-member can earn playing privileges

International Diversity

One of the LPGA Tour's greatest strengths is its international diversity. On any given leaderboard, you might see players from ten or more countries. South Korean and Japanese players have been particularly successful in recent decades, while American, Australian, Thai, Swedish and British players also feature prominently.

This diversity is reflected in the tour's global schedule and gives the LPGA a truly international flavour that is unmatched by any other professional golf circuit. By comparison, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have more geographically concentrated fields.

The Solheim Cup

The Solheim Cup is the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup - a biennial team competition between Europe and the United States. First played in 1990, the Solheim Cup has grown into one of the most exciting events in women's golf, featuring passionate crowds, dramatic matches and intense rivalry.

Qualifying for the Solheim Cup through LPGA Tour performance is a major motivation for players on both sides, and the event consistently delivers memorable moments.

How to Follow the LPGA Tour Live

GolfMode provides live scoring and player tracking for LPGA Tour events, bringing the same hole-by-hole detail to women's golf that fans expect from men's tour coverage. Follow your favourite LPGA players through their rounds, track the leaderboard in real time and get notifications for key moments.

With events spread across multiple time zones, GolfMode makes it easy to follow the action no matter where in the world the LPGA is playing this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many majors are there on the LPGA Tour?

The LPGA Tour recognises five major championships: the Chevron Championship, U.S. Women's Open, Women's PGA Championship, The Evian Championship and the AIG Women's Open.

What is the prize money on the LPGA Tour?

LPGA Tour purses have grown significantly in recent years. The U.S. Women's Open now offers a purse exceeding $10 million, and total prize money across the season continues to increase. While still below PGA Tour levels, the gap is narrowing.

Who is the greatest LPGA player of all time?

This is a matter of debate, but Annika Sorenstam is frequently cited as the greatest women's golfer ever, with 72 LPGA victories and ten major championships. Other all-time greats include Kathy Whitworth (88 LPGA wins, the all-time record for any tour), Mickey Wright and Patty Berg.

Can men play on the LPGA Tour?

No. The LPGA Tour is exclusively for women. The men's equivalent circuits are the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

Track every LPGA Tour event live on GolfMode - download free.