The LPGA Tour announced its 2018 schedule, which includes new events the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, which will give the circuit four tournaments in California.
The inaugural HUGEL-JTBC Championship will be played on April 19-22 at a course in the Greater Los Angeles area that will be announced early next year, followed a week later on April 26-29 by a tournament yet to be named and sponsored by Korean skincare company L&P Cosmetic at Lake Merced Golf Club (pictured) near San Francisco.
“These two new events are perfect additions to our schedule,” Commissioner Mike Whan said. “We believe they will offer terrific playing opportunities in wonderful golf environments, and make it more enticing for our players by strengthening this West Coast swing.
“They create a great four-week stretch that starts in Hawaii and finishes in Texas with our always exciting Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic, which is now being played at a new venue, Old American Golf Club.”
Lake Merced, located in Daly City, hosted the Swinging Skirts LPGA Championship in 2014-16, but that event moved to Taiwan in 2017.
The first two events of the season in California will be the Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, and the first major of the season, the ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
The 2018 LPGA schedule features 34 events across 14 countries, with a record $68.75 million in prize money.
“Perhaps the most important aspect of our schedule is the consistency—continuing to deliver strong playing opportunities both in North America and around the world, while growing overall purse levels every year,” Whan said.
“There is simply no better Tour opportunity in the world, when it comes to purses, global TV coverage or strength of field. It’s an exciting time in women’s golf, with the best players from every corner of the globe competing against each other in virtually every event.”
The other new event will be a yet-to-be named tournament in Shanghai, China, on Oct. 18-21, as part of the LPGA’s Fall Asian Swing.
For the complete schedule, visit http://www.lpga.com/news/lpga-announces-2018-season-schedule.
