The PGA of America and LPGA will hold the first KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, designed to “continue the rich tradition of the LPGA Championship” at Westchester CC in Rye, N.Y., from June 8-14, 2015, with a $3.5 million purse.
The PGA of America and the LPGA made a joint announcement on May 29 that the LPGA Championship will be recast as the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a major tournament that the organizations said has been designed to “continue the rich tradition of the LPGA Championship.” The tournament will rotate annually among prestigious courses in major metropolitan markets, the organizations said, and will be held in its first year from June 8-14, 2015 at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be operated by the PGA of America “in close collaboration with the LPGA” and the purse for the tournament has been set at $3.5 million. Activities around the Championship, which will be broadcast by NBC and the Golf Channel, will include “a women’s leadership summit and an ongoing community initiative to inspire and develop new generations of female leaders,” organizers said.
“This is a landmark moment for the PGA of America as we partner with KPMG and the LPGA to embrace an historic Championship and focus on the advancement of women,” said PGA of America President Ted Bishop. “We look forward to teaming with the LPGA to make the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship the can’t-miss week for female leaders. Together, we believe this Championship—broadcast to millions around the world—will energize new audiences in our collective effort to grow the game.”
The LPGA Championship began in 1955, five years after the birth of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Past champions include legendary players Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls, Kathy Whitworth, Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship field of 156 will include the top eight finishers from the previous year’s LPGA Teaching & Club Professional National Championship, including PGA of America women members if they rank among the eight positions.
“The LPGA Championship has a very proud 60-year tradition and I couldn’t be more excited to carry this forward in an even bigger way with the partnership of KPMG, the PGA of America and NBC. The Championship will now reach even greater levels of global exposure, player opportunities, and community impact,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “This event will change lives—both for the female professionals that will compete in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and for the women it will impact in both the women’s leadership summit and community initiative.”
Comments issued by former LPGA champions about the new Championship included:
“This new partnership between the LPGA, PGA of America and KPMG is ‘big’ in every way. The women on Tour are being given a special gift in the form of huge prize money, greater exposure and a bigger career impact.”—Annika Sorenstam
“I am so excited to see the LPGA Championship take another huge leap forward! For me, it has always been a special event that every player strives to win. But now, with the addition of network television, the awesome jump in prize money, and the rotation of world-class venues, this is big time!”—Nancy Lopez
“As someone who loves the tradition of the game, it will be tough to see the name change away from ‘LPGA Championship,’ but it’s comforting that the traditions, legacy, and opportunities for our members will still remain. For younger players on Tour, they can be confident that this tremendous Championship will continue for decades to come, and be bigger and better than ever before.”—Karrie Webb
“As an LPGA member and former Tour player who has now joined the PGA of America as a Board member, I can see the great strides that have been made bringing these two organizations together for this Championship. Each of them is committed to growing the game and growing career opportunities for women.It is very satisfying to know that one of the greatest events in women’s golf will now coincide with one of the greatest women’s business forums. I have no doubt that there will be significant impacts on the lives of women, both on and off the golf course.”—Dottie Pepper
KPMG, the PGA and the LPGA will create an advisory board of exemplary female leaders to shape the strategic direction of the women’s leadership summit and community initiative. KPMG will spearhead the women’s leadership summit hosted on-site during Championship week, bringing together top women leaders in business, politics, sports and society to network, learn and give back.
KPMG also will manage the ongoing community initiative to provide today’s top women leaders with the opportunity to cultivate the next generation of female leaders and equip them with the leadership skills, networks, and confidence through scholarships, training, and internship and mentoring programs.
“KPMG is proud to take on this groundbreaking sponsorship and to work with the LPGA, the PGA of America and NBC to inspire today’s and tomorrow’s women leaders,” said John Veihmeyer, Global Chairman of KPMG. “This collaboration will not only bring women’s golf to new audiences, it also creates opportunities to expand women’s leadership on and off the course, empowering today’s women leaders and cultivating the next-generation of female leaders.”
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