History of LPGA in Timeline

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organization dedicated to women's professional golf. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, it's renowned for operating the LPGA Tour, a prominent series of weekly golf tournaments featuring top female professional golfers globally. The LPGA's mission is to advance women's golf through tournaments, development programs, and promoting the sport worldwide.

1944: WPGA Founded

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

1948: WPGA Tour Stops

In 1948, the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA) stopped its limited tour after the 1948 season. The WPGA officially ceased operations in December 1949.

December 1949: WPGA Ceases Operations

In December 1949, the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA) officially ceased operations. The WPGA had been founded in 1944 but ended its tour after the 1948 season.

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 and the first LPGA tournament was the 1950 Tampa Women's Open.

1951: LPGA Hall of Fame 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 LPGA Tournament Outside the United States

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

1956: First International Tournament

In 1956, the LPGA hosted its first tournament outside the United States at the Havana Open in Havana, Cuba. This marked a significant step in the LPGA's expansion.

1967: LPGA Hall of Fame Physical Premises

In 1967, the Hall of Fame moved to its first physical premises, in Augusta, Georgia, and was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. The LPGA established the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf in 1951.

1968: Sandra Post Joins LPGA Tour

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

1968: PGA Tour Independence

In 1968, the PGA Tour became independent of the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America), which is the organization for club and teaching professionals. Before 1968, the PGA Tour was not separate from the club and teaching professionals' organization. Sandra Post of Canada also 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 awards (Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and Vare Trophy) 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 titles were Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto.

1998: LPGA Hall of Fame Merges

In 1998, the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame merged into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The LPGA established the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf in 1951.

2000: Non-Americans Dominate Major Championships

From 2000 through 2009, non-Americans won 31 of 40 major championships. The LPGA Tour was dominated by American players in its first four decades.

2001: Women's Senior Golf Tour Established

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

2006: LPGA Playoffs at The ADT Format

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 21 players.

2006: Season-Ending Championship Tournament Established

Since 2006, the LPGA has played a season-ending championship tournament, initially known as the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT through the 2008 season.

2008: LPGA Playoffs at The ADT Format

2008: LPGA Tournaments

In 2008, there were 34 official LPGA tournaments. The number of tournaments decreased to 24 in 2010.

October 2009: Michael Whan Becomes LPGA Commissioner

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

2009: Non-Americans Dominate Major Championships

From 2000 through 2009, non-Americans won 31 of 40 major championships. The LPGA Tour was dominated by American players in its first four decades.

2009: LPGA Tournaments and Prize Money

In 2009 there were 28 official LPGA tournaments. Total official prize money on the LPGA Tour decreased by over $6 million from 2009 to $41.4 million in 2010.

2009: LPGA Tour Championship Field Increase

In 2009, the LPGA 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: International Representation on 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: Rules Changed to Allow Transgender Competitors

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

2010: LPGA Tour Championship Name

In 2010, the LPGA season-ending championship tournament was known as the LPGA Tour Championship. The season-ending tournament has been played since 2006.

2010: LPGA Tour Prize Money Decline

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

2011: CME Group Titleholders

In 2011, the LPGA season-ending championship tournament became the CME Group Titleholders, held in November. The season-ending championship has been played since 2006.

2013: CME Group Titleholders Qualifier Format

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. The CME Group Titleholders was first played in 2011.

2013: Bobbi Lancaster Attempts to Qualify for LPGA

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

2014: Race to the CME Globe

After 2014, the field for the CME Group Tour Championship 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. 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.

2014: Last American to Top Money List

In 2014, Stacy Lewis was the last American player to top the LPGA money list. The non-U.S. contingent is now very large.

2014: CME Group Tour Championship Name

Since 2014, the LPGA season-ending championship tournament has been known as the CME Group Tour Championship. The season-ending championship has been played since 2006.

2015: Lydia Ko, Race to the CME Globe champion

After 2014, the field is determined by a season-long points race, the Race to the CME Globe. Lydia Ko was a Past Race to the CME Globe champion in 2014 and 2015.

2016: Ariya Jutanugarn, Race to the CME Globe champion

After 2014, the field is determined by a season-long points race, the Race to the CME Globe. Ariya Jutanugarn was a Past Race to the CME Globe champion in 2016 and 2018.

2016: LPGA Prize Money Record

By 2016, the number of LPGA tournaments had risen to 33 with a record-high total prize money in excess of $63 million. In 2010, total official prize money on the LPGA Tour was $41.4 million.

2017: Race to the CME Globe Bonus Eligibility

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 was a Past Race to the CME Globe champion in 2017.

2018: Race to the CME Globe Format

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. Past Race to the CME Globe champions include Ariya Jutanugarn (2016, 2018) and Lexi Thompson (2017).

2018: LPGA Acquires EWGA

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

2019: LPGA Prize Money Record

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

2020: Last American to Lead in Tournaments Won

In 2020, Danielle Kang was the last American to lead the LPGA tour in tournaments won. The non-U.S. contingent is now very large.

2020: LPGA Tournaments Held Outside the United States

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

2023: Founders Elected to World Golf Hall of Fame

In 2023, the 13 founders of the LPGA were elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame as a group, even though six had already been inducted individually. The LPGA was founded in 1950.

December 2024: LPGA Publishes New Transgender Policy

In December 2024, the LPGA published a new policy that states in order to compete as female in their tournaments, players must either be assigned female at birth, or have transitioned to female before undergoing male puberty. The policy is set to go into effect in 2025.

2024: CME Group Tour Championship Still in Use

As of 2024, the LPGA season-ending championship tournament is known as the CME Group Tour Championship. The season-ending championship has been played since 2006.

2024: Top-10 Career Money Leaders

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

2025: New Transgender Policy Goes into Effect

In 2025, the LPGA's new policy regarding transgender athletes will go into effect. According to the policy, players must either be assigned female at birth, or have transitioned to female before undergoing male puberty, in order to compete as female in LPGA tournaments.