The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Ladies European Tour (LET) have entered a joint venture partnership to drive the women’s professional game in Europe.
Aimed at bolstering the LET schedule and provide more playing opportunities for women professionals in Europe, the partnership was announced yesterday following its ratification by LET members during their annual membership meeting in Spain.
“Two teams, joining for one common purpose, will create opportunities we simply could not have pursued on our own,” said LET board chair Marta Figueras-Dotti. “At its foundation, this joint venture is about creating opportunities for our members to pursue their passion, and their careers as professional athletes. In just the 60 days since we began working on this joint venture, we have already seen a dramatic impact on our LET Tour schedule – an impact that will be a positive result for virtually all of our LET Members.”
LPGA commissioner Mike Whan described the move as an exciting next step for the LPGA’s mission to provide more opportunities for women in the game.
“Over the past 10 years, the LPGA has had tremendous success partnering with other golf stakeholders, including the USGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, R&A and PGA of America, to enhance opportunities for women worldwide. We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with the Ladies European Tour in an effort to create the strongest possible women’s tour in Europe,” said Whan. “We have experienced incredible growth in women’s golf in the U.S. and this is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate and expand the game in Europe as well. I’m excited that this is something we will build together, with the LET.”
The venture will be jointly managed by both tours and will seek to expand and enrichen the LET schedule. This year’s LET schedule saw 20 official events in 13 different countries, including two Majors in The Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s British Open.
