Innovations in the LPGA

Yesterday afternoon, commissioner Michael Whan unveiled the 2011 LPGA calendar. There was a lot of speculation around it because normally it's announced some time before the new season arrives, but with the sponsors coming and going, the calendar was delayed, and for the first time in a decade,it was released until January.

Click on the image to open the schedule

In 2011, women's golf fans will enjoy the Solheim Cup, an event that faces the U.S. and European teams. As every two years, the venue is changed and this time Killeen Castle, located in Ireland, will be in charge of testing both teams, as is tradition, the tourney will be held in September.

One of the surprises included in the schedule is the Taiwan LPGA Championship, to be held in October as part of the Asian swing, it is precisely in that month, that the tour makes stops in South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.

The big news came from the hand of the Founders Cup, an official tournament in which competitors will donate their earnings to the LPGA Foundation, devoted to raising funds for the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program. It will also be the perfect time to honor those who built what is now the most competitive women's tour in the world.

The Titleholders will be the season-ending event, and the fans will have the chance to see the best players of the year, which will be possible since the field will consist of the top 3 golfers of each tournament, if a member repeats, then the subsequent players will be taken into consideration.

The LPGA will have 25 official events (one more than in 2010) and 2 unofficial, in addition to the Solheim Cup. The season will kick-off in Thailand, with the Honda LPGA, on February 17th and end in Orlando, Florida, with the Tittleholders, on November 20th.

The note:

15 year old, professional golfer, Alexis Thompson, will meet on Monday with Commissioner Michael Whan with the hope that she'll be granted with 12 exemptions to play LPGA events. Thompson can not aspire to become a member of the tour, at least for now, since she doesn't meet the minimum age requirement (18 years).