Page 47 - Golf World (February 2020)
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20 questions
will bring bigger sponsors and greater exposure to
the LET. The 2020 schedule is set to offer more
events and larger purses, plus a more specific
pathway to the higher-calibre and more lucrative
LPGA Tour – although it might feed into the
second-tier Symetra Tour rather than straight to the
top table. It was getting very difficult to make a
living on the LET, but more players will now have
the opportunity to pursue their dreams. For the
LPGA, they get direct access to the players, fans,
courses and sponsors in a significant golf market.
The full schedule is yet to be announced but one
important event we know will be visiting the UK is
the UL International Crown. The biennial team
event always attracts a world class field and it will be
at Centurion Club, Hertfordshire, on August 27th-
30th, the week after the Ricoh Women’s British
Open at Royal Troon. This fortnight represents a
huge opportunity for both Tours and the players to
put down a marker for the future of women’s golf in
Europe – expect them to make the most of it.
Two European-based tours (with similar
This is a watershed moment for women’s professional geographical footprints) in search of growth and
golf in Europe. The Ladies European Tour has expansion that are already cooperating on a couple
struggled for a few years, with rarely more than 20 of events in 2020 might have been a more preferable
events per season since 2015, relatively small prize solution to some people, but in reality, this was never
funds and players finding it difficult to attract even a realistic proposition. A joint venture with the
the most basic of sponsorships. Last November’s LPGA with the focus on the global future of the
announcement of a partnership with the LPGA women’s game seems like a more logical coming
Tour has been greeted with enthusiasm by everyone together. The future of the LET is certainly a lot
involved. They’re right to be optimistic. The LPGA brighter than it was just a few months ago.
golfworldtop100.com | February 2020 Golf World 47
