Naples, Florida, United States: The Asia Pacific region will host nine events on the 2020 LPGA Tour, boasting combined prize money of US$15.4 million.

Describing its 2020 schedule as showing ‘true signs of the continued growth for the game’s global Tour’, the LPGA’s schedule for next year will feature 33 official events across 11 countries and regions.

As well as offering a record combined prize fund of US$75.1 million, the LPGA Tour will receive more than 500 hours of broadcast coverage, the most hours of television production in LPGA history with at least seven tournaments airing on network television.

Additionally, the UL International Crown, a unique biennial team event, will feature a US$1.6 million unofficial purse and showcase the best female golfers from the top eight countries across the globe.

As well as visiting for two events each in Australia, China and Japan and one each in Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, the world’s top female players will head to Japan’s Kasumigaseki Country Club in early August for the Summer Olympics, bringing the game into even more households around the world.

“As we close 2019 and move to 2020, I could not be more excited about what the future will bring for the LPGA Tour and the sponsors that support us,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.

“US$75.1 million in total purse. That number is a testament to the support we are receiving from sponsors and industry partners around the globe. As I enter my second decade as Commissioner, we find ourselves in a new phase of the LPGA Tour. We’ve grown, but now we must flourish.

“We talk a lot about the next generation, but we will lift this generation. I know a lot of our fans understand the difference we are making for women’s golf in America, but they might be surprised to know about the impact our Tour is having all around the globe.”

Among the highlights for 2020 will be the return to the calendar of the Blue Bay LPGA, which was not conducted in 2019 to transition the competition into a spring time slot. The tournament in the People’s Republic of China will now be held from March 5-8 as part of the LPGA Tour’s Spring Asia Swing, following stops in Thailand (Honda LPGA) and Singapore (HSBC Women’s World Championship).