The LPGA Tour has experienced its fair share of challenges over the past three years, facing everything from lost sponsors to early retirements and a dip in TV ratings. Yet, despite these setbacks, the Tour has also seen some impressive highs, including securing major endorsements, witnessing a record-breaking season from Nelly Korda, and hosting one of the biggest event purses in LPGA history at the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner took home $4 million.

Through it all, Mollie Marcoux Samaan has been leading the charge, working tirelessly to improve the Tour and ensure that players have the best possible opportunities. Her efforts have played a key role in elevating the LPGA, increasing both the quality of the product and its overall growth. However, just a few weeks ago, Samaan shocked the sports world by announcing her departure as chairwoman of the LPGA Tour. With her gone, Nelly Korda believes there is one key aspect that the Tour needs to be fixed.

Ahead of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, Nelly Korda was asked about the process of transition for the Tour, and her ideal scenario regarding the schedule of it. The LPGA Tour has its events aligned in different parts of the coast and the players continue traveling back and forth. From Florida to China to Thailand, it just makes things very difficult.

Taking to this, she replied, “When it comes to schedule, just the flow in it. When we’re on the West Coast having a flow in the West Coast schedule, having all our events kind of aligned so we’re not traveling from coast to coast in the U.S. I think with scheduling it’s just about making it a little easier for us with travel.Then obviously trying to grow the game as many ways as possible, being put on primetime TV, people investing in us and seeing our product. I think all you need is an opportunity and hopefully, we can continue getting those.”

The LPGA truly has been in deep waters for quite some time. And the scheduling is not the only problem.

LPGA Tour removes event due to failed payments

The LPGA is kicking off its season this week with one less tournament on the calendar. On Friday, the Tour announced that the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, originally slated for March 20-23 at Palos Verdes Golf Club near Los Angeles, has been canceled. The LPGA explained that the cancellation was “unavoidable due to the event underwriter failing to meet any of its payment obligations for the 2024 and 2025 events.”

“We are deeply disappointed to announce this year’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship will not go forward in March,” said Liz Moore, the LPGA’s interim commissioner. “We apologize for the impact this has on our players, as well as on our fans, partners, and volunteers.” The Tournament was first started in 2018 as the Hugel-JTBC LA Open. However, its title sponsorship was shifted to FIR HILLS, and Seri Pak was the tournament host. When do you think will the sponsorship problem of the Tour resolve? Let us know in the comments section below!