On Wednesday the LPGA announced a five-year deal with Epson to make the tech company the title sponsor of the “Road to the LPGA” qualifying tour, formerly known as the Symetra Tour.
Embarking on its 42nd season of competition, the newly-named Epson Tour will award LPGA membership to the top-10 players on the Race for the Card money list at the end of each season.
The new partnership is centered around supporting players on their journey through professional golf. The level for minimum purses has been raised to $200,000 while player-entry fees will be lowered by 10% per tournament (as much as $1,000 per player for the year). Not only that, the yearly Epson Tour Ambassador Program that officially launches in 2022 will grant $10,000 to each of the 2021 Epson Tour graduates to help aid their move to the LPGA.
The full 2022 schedule will be announced in February but will begin March 4-6 in Winter Haven, Florida, with the 2022 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic at the Country Club of Winter Haven.
“It’s really incredible to see the impact that Epson is making right from the start of their partnership with the LPGA. They aren’t just putting their name on the Epson Tour, but truly walking the walk and backing women’s futures,” said Fatima Fernandez Cano, an Epson Tour graduate in 2020 and 2021 and the first representative of the Epson Tour Ambassador Program. “I can’t thank Epson enough for believing in me. When I came to America from Spain to play college golf at Troy, these types of moments were a dream. Now it’s reality and I’m in a better position because of Epson.”
“We don’t only want to put our name on the Epson Tour; we want to find a way to invest in players chasing their dream of the LPGA Tour and support them once that dream becomes a reality, through the Epson Tour Ambassador Program,” said Kendra Jones, Vice President Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Epson America, Inc. “We hope other companies will join us as we empower women through the DEI Partnership in cooperation with the LPGA.”
With the DEI Partnership, Epson and the LPGA are challenging at least four other companies to join them to help cut player-entry fees in half from $500- to $250. Organizations who partner up will receive pro-am teams and signage at tournaments.
In the last decade, the Epson Tour has grown from 15 tournaments and $1.6 million in prize money to 20-plus tournaments and more than $4 million to be awarded in 2022. Over the last seven years, the tour has graduated 65 players from 21 countries. Former Epson Tour graduates include current world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Inbee Park, Lorena Ochoa and Hannah Green.
“We are delighted to welcome Epson to the LPGA Tour family. This ground-breaking partnership will provide expanded opportunities for the future stars of the game from around the globe to test their talent and take one step closer to realizing their dreams,” said commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “We are grateful that Epson shares our commitment to supporting young female athletes as they grow and develop and to playing an active role in the growth and equity in women’s sports. The ‘Road to the LPGA’ has never been better.”
[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]