History of LPGA in Timeline

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organization for female golfers. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, it's primarily known for operating the LPGA Tour. The LPGA Tour is a series of weekly golf tournaments featuring elite women professional golfers globally.

1944: Founding of the WPGA

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

1948: WPGA Tour Ends

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

December 1949: WPGA Ceases Operations

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

1950: LPGA Certificate of Incorporation

In 1950, the Ladies Professional Golf Association received its Certificate of Incorporation from the State of New York. Five women signed the original charter, and an organizational meeting was held at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, Kansas.

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.

1951: LPGA Establishes Hall of Fame of Women's Golf

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 U.S.

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

1967: Hall of Fame Moves to Augusta, Georgia

In 1967, the Hall of Fame moved to its first physical premises in Augusta, Georgia, and was renamed the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame.

1968: Sandra Post First Non-US Player to Gain LPGA Tour Card

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 and First Non-U.S. LPGA Tour Card

In 1968, the PGA Tour became independent of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. Also in 1968, Sandra Post of Canada became the first player living outside the United States to gain an LPGA tour card.

1978: Nancy Lopez Wins All Three Awards

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

1988: Five Players with Three Titles

In 1988, five players each held three titles: Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, and Ayako Okamoto.

1998: Hall of Fame Merges into World Golf Hall of Fame

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

2000: Non-Americans Dominate Major Championships

From 2000 through 2009, non-Americans won 31 of 40 major championships.

2001: Establishment of the Women's Senior Golf Tour

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.

2006: LPGA Championship Qualifying Format

From 2006, 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: Inaugural LPGA Season-Ending Championship Tournament

In 2006, the LPGA began playing a season-ending championship tournament, initially known as the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT.

2008: LPGA Tour Prize Money and Tournaments

In 2008, there were 34 official tournaments on the LPGA tour.

2008: LPGA Championship Qualifying Format

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.

2008: LPGA Playoffs at The ADT

Through the 2008 season, the LPGA season-ending championship tournament was known as the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT.

October 2009: Michael Whan Appointed LPGA Commissioner

In October 2009, Michael Whan 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.

2009: LPGA Tour Championship Field Expansion

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.

2009: International Representation on the LPGA Tour

In 2009, there were 122 non-Americans from 27 countries on the LPGA tour, including 47 from South Korea.

2009: LPGA Tour Prize Money and Tournaments

In 2009, there were 28 official tournaments on the LPGA tour.

2010: LPGA Rules Changed to Allow 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 Maintained

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

2010: Decrease in LPGA Tour Prize Money

In 2010, total official prize money on the LPGA Tour decreased to $41.4 million, a drop of over $6 million from 2009, with 24 official tournaments.

2011: CME Group Titleholders Inaugural Tournament

In 2011, the CME Group Titleholders, named after a former LPGA major championship, was first played, featuring qualifiers from each official tour event.

2011: LPGA Season-Ending Championship Renamed to CME Group Titleholders

In 2011, the LPGA season-ending event became the CME Group Titleholders and was held in November.

2013: CME Group Titleholders Qualifying

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

2013: Bobbi Lancaster attempts to play in Arizona's Cactus Tour

In 2013, trans woman Bobbi Lancaster faced local scorn for attempting to play in Arizona's Cactus Tour, hoping to qualify for the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

2014: Introduction of the 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.

2014: Last Time an American Player Topped the LPGA Money List

In 2014, Stacy Lewis was the last American player to top the LPGA money list.

2014: LPGA Season-Ending Championship Renamed to CME Group Tour Championship

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

2015: Lydia Ko Wins Race to the CME Globe

In 2015, Lydia Ko was the Race to the CME Globe champion.

2016: Record-High LPGA Tour Prize Money

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

2016: Ariya Jutanugarn Wins Race to the CME Globe

In 2016, Ariya Jutanugarn was the Race to the CME Globe champion.

2017: Top 12 Players Eligible for $1 Million Bonus

In 2017, the top 12 players were mathematically eligible to win a $1 million bonus at the CME Group Tour Championship.

2018: Top 72 Players Compete in CME Group Tour Championship

From 2014 to 2018, the top 72 players in the Race to the CME Globe competed in the CME Group Tour Championship.

2018: LPGA Acquires Executive Women's Golf Association

In 2018, the LPGA acquired the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA), expanding its focus to include amateur golfers in the U.S. and North America, rebranding it as the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

2019: New Record for Total Prize Money on LPGA Tour

In 2019, a new record was set with total prize money amounting to $70.5 million on the LPGA Tour.

2020: Last Time an American Led the Tour in Tournaments Won

In 2020, Danielle Kang was the last American to lead the LPGA tour in tournaments won.

2020: LPGA Tournaments Held Outside of the United States

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

2023: LPGA Founders inducted into the 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, though six had already been inducted individually.

December 2024: LPGA Publishes New Transgender Policy

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

2024: CME Group Tour Championship Name in Use

As of 2024, the LPGA's season-ending championship tournament is called the CME Group Tour Championship.

2024: Top-10 Career Money Leaders

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

2025: LPGA Co-Sanctioned Tournaments

As of 2025, six of the LPGA tournaments held outside North America are co-sanctioned with other professional tours, including the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA of Japan Tour.

2025: LPGA's New Transgender Policy Goes Into Effect

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