LPGA kicks off season of record purses but disparity remains

Reuters: The LPGA Tour season kicks off on Thursday, launching a year which will see the world’s best women golfers compete for $75 million in prize money — a record but still a pittance compared to what their male counterparts will play for on the PGA Tour.

The LPGA purses — an average of more than $2 million per event over the 33 official-money tournaments — are nothing to scoff at, even if they are not comparable to the men.

Total prize money on the PGA Tour will be more than $400 million, including bonus money for the season-long FedEx Cup points race.

LPGA commissioner Mike Whan has long been sanguine about the disparity, which he says reflects the higher television ratings for men’s golf in the United States. And LPGA player Pernilla Lindberg says the women’s circuit nevertheless can only focus on their own product.

“We can only focus on what we’re doing and we’re increasing our purses but as we’re increasing them, the guys are still running away from us,” Lindberg, a member of the LPGA Player Board, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

“We’re doing our part trying to catch up but they’re moving further ahead which in one way is sad but I’m happy with the purses we (have) and we’re for sure going in the right direction.

“It is such a good time to be part of the women’s game. It’s going to be my 11th year on the LPGA Tour and I feel each and every year it’s getting better.”