Hall of Famers, Major Champions to Compete in Televised Event July 10-12, 2017
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., December 13, 2016 - The LPGA Tour announced today the first-ever Senior LPGA Championship, which will be contested July 10-12, 2017 at The Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort in Indiana. The Tour has reached a multi-year deal to both host the tournament and have it televised live on Golf Channel.
The field of 81 players will feature a collection of past greats in the women’s game including LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members, current LPGA members and major champions over the age of 45. The 54-hole event will feature a total purse of $600,000. There will be no cut.
The Senior LPGA Championship comes on the heels of the February announcement by the USGA of the creation of the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, which will begin in 2018 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill.
“This is a landmark event for the LPGA because it provides a larger platform to celebrate the legends of the game,” said Mike Whan, LPGA Commissioner. “With the USGA’s recently announced U.S. Senior Women’s Open and now our event, the women who forged the way for the current generation will now have two major championships each year.”
The inaugural Senior LPGA Championship will take place Monday-Wednesday. The Pete Dye Course is no stranger to hosting premier tournaments including the 2015 Senior PGA Championship, the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Championship from 2012-2014 and the 2010 PGA Professionals National Championship. It has also hosted a Legends Tour event since 2013.
“French Lick is proud to host such a prestigious event,” said Steve Ferguson, Chairman of the Board of the Cook Group, owners of the French Lick Resort. “We have long supported women’s golf and to now be part of the first major championship for senior women is indeed an honor. We look forward to a great relationship with the LPGA and an outstanding Championship.”
“French Lick has been such a tremendous supporter of women’s golf and we are excited that they have chosen the Senior LPGA Championship as their next big showcase,” said seven-time LPGA Tour winner Michelle McGann. “The Pete Dye Course is both beautiful and challenging and I look forward to returning this summer to compete again.”
A week-long celebration of women’s golf will begin the weekend prior to the Senior LPGA Championship with a new Epson Tour event on The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort from Friday-Sunday, July 7-9. The Epson Tour’s 54-hole tournament will have a purse of $200,000 and a winner’s payout of $30,000.
The Senior LPGA Championship will host pro-ams on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8 on the Pete Dye Course. For more information on playing in the pro-am with an LPGA legend, sponsorship, to volunteer or other information contact seniorlpga@frenchlick.com.
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