History of LPGA in Timeline

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organization based in Daytona Beach, Florida, dedicated to women's professional golf. It is primarily known for operating the LPGA Tour, a global series of weekly golf tournaments showcasing elite female golfers. The LPGA provides a platform for competition and advancement within women's professional golf.

1944: Founding of the WPGA

In 1944, the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA) was founded by Ellen Griffin, Betty Hicks, and Hope Seignious. The WPGA was the predecessor to the LPGA.

1948: WPGA Tour Ends

In 1948, the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA) stopped its limited tour after the season, marking the end of its active tournaments.

December 1949: WPGA Ceases Operations

In December 1949, the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA) officially ceased operations.

1950: LPGA Founded

In 1950, the LPGA was founded at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas. Its 13 founders were: Alice Bauer, Patty Berg, Bettye Danoff, Helen Dettweiler, Marlene Hagge, Helen Hicks, Opal Hill, Betty Jameson, Sally Sessions, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias. Patty Berg served as its first president.

1950: Inaugural LPGA Tournament

In 1950, the first LPGA tournament, the Tampa Women's Open, was held at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida. Amateur Polly Riley won the tournament, defeating the field of professional founders.

1951: Hall of Fame of Women's Golf Established

In 1951, the LPGA established the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf with four charter members: Patty Berg, Betty Jameson, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias.

1956: First International Tournament

In 1956, the LPGA hosted its first tournament outside the United States at the Havana Open in Havana, Cuba.

1967: Hall of Fame Relocation

After being inactive for several years, the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf moved in 1967 to its first physical premises, in Augusta, Georgia, and was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.

1968: PGA Tour Independence

In 1968, the PGA Tour became independent of the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America), which represents club and teaching professionals. This separation distinguished the main professional tours from the organization for club and teaching professionals. Sandra Post of Canada also became the first player living outside the United States to gain an LPGA tour card in 1968.

1968: First Non-U.S. LPGA Tour Card Holder

Sandra Post of Canada became the first player living outside the United States to gain an LPGA tour card in 1968.

1978: Nancy Lopez Wins All Three Awards

In 1978, American golfer Nancy Lopez became the only player to win all three LPGA awards in the same season. Lopez was also the Tour's top money earner that season.

1988: Players with Three Titles

In 1988, the five players with three LPGA titles were Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto.

1998: Hall of Fame Merger

In 1998, the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame merged into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

2000: Non-American Major Championship Wins

From 2000 through 2009, non-Americans won 31 of 40 major championships on the LPGA Tour.

2001: Women's Senior Golf Tour Established

In 2001, Jane Blalock's JBC Marketing established the Women's Senior Golf Tour, now known as the Legends Tour, for women professionals aged 45 and older. This tour is affiliated with the LPGA but not owned by it.

2006: LPGA Playoffs Qualification

From 2006 through 2008, the LPGA schedule was divided into two halves, with 15 players from each half qualifying for the Championship based on their performance. Two wild-card selections were also included for a final field of 32 players.

2006: Season-Ending Championship Tournament Established

Since 2006, the LPGA has held a season-ending championship tournament. From 2006 through 2008 it was known as the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT.

2008: LPGA Playoffs Qualification

2008: Decline in Tournaments

In 2008 there were 34 official tournaments.

October 2009: Michael Whan Appointed LPGA Commissioner

In October 2009, Michael Whan, a former marketing executive, became the eighth commissioner of the LPGA, succeeding Carolyn Bivens.

2009: Non-American Major Championship Wins

From 2000 through 2009, non-Americans won 31 of 40 major championships on the LPGA Tour.

2009: Decline in Tournaments

In 2009 there were 28 official tournaments.

2009: LPGA Tour Championship Field Expansion

In 2009, the Tour Championship field was increased to 120 players, with entry open to all Tour members in the top 120 on the money list as of three weeks prior to the start of the tournament. The total purse was $1.5 million with $225,000 going to the winner.

2009: LPGA Tour Championship Name

In 2009, the season-ending championship tournament was known as the LPGA Tour Championship.

2009: Diversity on the LPGA Tour

In 2009, there were 122 non-Americans from 27 countries on the LPGA tour, including 47 from South Korea, 14 from Sweden, 10 from Australia, eight from the United Kingdom (four from England, three from Scotland and one from Wales), seven from Canada, five from Taiwan, and four from Japan.

2010: Rule Change for Transgender Competitors

In 2010, following a lawsuit by golfer Lana Lawless, the LPGA changed its rules to allow transgender competitors.

2010: LPGA Tour Championship Name

In 2010, the season-ending championship tournament was known as the LPGA Tour Championship.

2010: Decline in Prize Money and Tournaments

In 2010, total official prize money on the LPGA Tour was $41.4 million, a decrease of over $6 million from 2009. In 2010 there were 24 official tournaments, down from 28 in 2009 and 34 in 2008.

2011: CME Group Titleholders Event Name

In 2011, the season-ending championship tournament became the CME Group Titleholders, held in November.

2011: First CME Group Titleholders Tournament

The CME Group Titleholders, which resurrected the name of a former LPGA major championship (the Titleholders Championship), was first played in 2011. From 2011 to 2013, its field was made up of three qualifiers from each official tour event during the season, specifically the top three finishers not previously qualified.

2013: CME Group Titleholders Qualification

From 2011 to 2013, the CME Group Titleholders field was made up of three qualifiers from each official tour event during the season, specifically the top three finishers not previously qualified.

2013: Bobbi Lancaster's Attempt to Play Cactus Tour

In 2013, trans woman Bobbi Lancaster faced local scrutiny for attempting to play in Arizona's Cactus Tour in hopes of qualifying for the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

2014: Race to the CME Globe

After 2014, the CME Group Tour Championship field is determined by a season-long points race, the Race to the CME Globe. Points conferred to players on tour depend on whether the tournament is major or not, and placement.

2014: CME Group Tour Championship Name

Since 2014, the season-ending championship tournament has been known as the CME Group Tour Championship.

2014: Last American Player to Top Money List

The last time an American player topped the LPGA money list was in 2014 (Stacy Lewis).

2015: Race to the CME Globe Champion

Lydia Ko won the Race to the CME Globe in 2014 and 2015.

2016: Race to the CME Globe Champion

Ariya Jutanugarn won the Race to the CME Globe in 2016 and 2018.

2016: Record-High Prize Money

By 2016, the number of LPGA tournaments had risen to 33 with a record-high total prize money in excess of $63 million.

2017: Race to the CME Globe in 2017

From 2014 to 2018, the top 72 players in the Race to the CME Globe competed in the CME Group Tour Championship, with the top 12 players mathematically eligible to win a $1 million bonus in 2017 and 2018. Lexi Thompson won the Race to the CME Globe in 2017.

2018: Race to the CME Globe in 2018

From 2014 to 2018, the top 72 players in the Race to the CME Globe competed in the CME Group Tour Championship, with the top 12 players mathematically eligible to win a $1 million bonus in 2017 and 2018. Ariya Jutanugarn won the Race to the CME Globe in 2018.

2018: LPGA Acquires Executive Women's Golf Association

In 2018, the LPGA acquired the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA), an amateur golf association, and expanded its focus to include amateur golfers in the U.S. and North America. The amateur organization was rebranded as the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

2019: New Prize Money Record

In 2019, a new record was set for LPGA total prize money amounting to $70.5 million (a rise of over $5 million in one year).

2020: International Tournaments in 2020

In 2020, fourteen LPGA tournaments were held outside of the United States, including seven events in Asia, four in Europe, two in Australia, and one in Canada.

2020: Last American Player to Lead in Tournament Wins

The last time an American led the LPGA tour in tournaments won was in 2020 (Danielle Kang).

2023: LPGA Founders Inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame

In 2023, the 13 founders of the LPGA were collectively elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, although six had already been inducted individually.

December 2024: LPGA Publishes New Transgender Policy

In December 2024, the LPGA published a new policy stating that to compete as female, players must either be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before male puberty.

2024: CME Group Tour Championship Name

As of 2024, the season-ending championship tournament continues to be known as the CME Group Tour Championship.

2024: Top-10 Career Money Leaders

As of the 2024 season, the table shows the top-10 career money leaders on the LPGA Tour (from the start of their rookie seasons).

2025: Co-sanctioned Tournaments in 2025

As of 2025, six of the LPGA tournaments held outside North America are co-sanctioned with other professional tours. The Ladies European Tour co-sanctions the Women's British Open, The Evian Championship in France, and the Women's Scottish Open. The other three co-sanctioned events—the Blue Bay LPGA, Buick LPGA Shanghai (China LPGA Tour) and Toto Japan Classic (LPGA of Japan Tour)—are held during the tour's autumn swing to Asia.

2025: New Transgender Policy Goes into Effect

In 2025, the LPGA's new policy regarding transgender competitors will go into effect, requiring players to either be assigned female at birth or have transitioned before male puberty to compete as female.