Ladies European Tour
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 Ladies European Tour
SportGolf
Founded1978
CEOAlexandra Armas
CountriesBased in Europe.
Schedule includes events outside Europe, in Oceania, Asia, Africa, and the United States.
Most titlesEngland Laura Davies (45)
Related
competitions		European Tour
Official websitehttp://ladieseuropeantour.com

The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1978. It is based at Buckinghamshire Golf Club near London in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money, rather than on making profits for investors. The tour is run by a board of directors and a Players' Council. Most of the players on the tour are European, with members from more than 40 countries internationally. The tour operates tournaments across five continents.

History

The U.S.-based LPGA was founded in 1950, but women's professional golf was slower to get established in Europe. In 1978 the Women's Professional Golfers' Association (WPGA) was formed as part of Professional Golfers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland. A tour was established the following year with Carlsberg as the main sponsor, supporting 12 36-hole tournaments, with several other tournaments including the Women's British Open on the schedule.[1][2] For the first two seasons, the majority of tournaments were held over 36-holes; in 1981, that increased to 54-holes. Total prize money on the tour was planned to rise to £250,000 in 1981, from £80,000 in the inaugural season,[3] but several tournaments and pro-ams were lost after sponsors withdrew.[4]

Carlsberg ended their sponsorship after the 1981 season,[5] and despite initial optimism,[6] the tour experienced further problems during its fourth season in 1982 as several more events were cancelled. The circuit was left with just ten tournaments, from which few players could make a living, and the future of the WPGA was being questioned.[7]

In 1988 the tour members decided to form an independent company, the Women Professional Golfers' European Tour Limited. This new company moved away from the PGA's headquarters at The Belfry and set up its own headquarters at the Tytherington Club in Cheshire. In 1998 the Tour changed its name to European Ladies' Professional Golf Association Limited and again in July 2000 to Ladies European Tour Limited. In 2008 the tour relocated to offices at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club, which is just outside London.[8] In 2010, the LET Access Series (LETAS) was launched as the official development tour.

In January 2020, the Ladies European Tour entered into a joint venture arrangement with the LPGA Tour, with the stated aim of "increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe". The board of directors of Ladies European Golf Venture Limited, which assumed control of the tour, includes high level representatives from the LPGA Tour, European Tour, and The R&A. The 2020 season is the first edition of the Race to Costa Del Sol.

Tournaments

Unlike in men's golf, the European and American tours do not share a common set of majors, although the Women's British Open and The Evian Championship are currently recognised as majors by both organisations.

The Ladies European Tour organises the Solheim Cup when in Europe and in 2011, the Tour received a boost when the European side won for The Cup for the fourth time on home soil at Killeen Castle in Ireland. The success continued when Europe earned an historic first away victory at Colorado Golf Club, winning The Cup for the fifth time in 2013.

A record 26 official money events were scheduled for the 2008 season, which also saw the introduction of a new team competition called the European Ladies Golf Cup. Also, for the first time in several years, the LET scheduled an event opposite one of the LPGA's majors, with the ABN AMRO Open held opposite the LPGA Championship. The schedule dropped to 23 official money events in 2009, but increased to 25 for 2010. In both years, the Ladies Open of Portugal was scheduled opposite the LPGA Championship.

The 2016 schedule featured 21 events including the Olympic Golf Competition in Rio de Janeiro (the biennial Solheim Cup, held in odd-numbered years, is also an official LET event but will next be played in 2017 in Iowa).[9] The total of events has been in steep decline since 2016; the peak was 28 in 2008. The two richest events by far are the two European Majors: The Evian Championship (historically the Evian Masters) and the Women's British Open. In 2016, 10 other events (in Australia, China, Morocco, England, Scotland, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Japan and Dubai) had prize funds in excess of €450,000, with the remainder having prize funds of between €200,000 and €400,000. Total prize money from the 2016 events passed €14 million.

2023 schedule and results

Past tour schedules

Individual LET tournaments have purses fixed in a mixture of Australian dollars, British pounds, euro, New Zealand dollars and U.S. dollars, so year on year changes in the total prize fund reflect exchange rate fluctuations as well as prize fund movements in constant currencies.

YearRanking
tournaments		Countries[lower-alpha 1]Total purse[lower-alpha 2]
2022 34 22 €5,375,000+
$24,700,000
2021 23 15 €4,630,000+
$15,100,000
2020 24 18 €17,834,000
2019 20 13
2018 15 9 €11,486,888
2017 16 11
2016 21 15 €14,063,149
2015 20 14 €12,638,013
20142318€11,502,840
20132217€10,870,618
20122419€11,806,680
20112520€11,032,500
20102521€11,048,525
20092116€9,940,358
20082821€11,647,814
20072418€10,563,950
20062016€9,674,536
20051814€7,875,255
20041510€7,298,245
20031410€7,442,162
20021410€7,626,724
2001 15 12 £4,509,905
2000 16 11 £3,765,000
1999 15 10 £3,197.999
1998 11 9 £2,374,000
1997 15 10 £2,880,000
1996 18 13 £2,589,790
1995 18 £2,300,060
1994 15 £1,852,550
1993 11 £1,435,336
1992 14 £1,663,716
1991 16 £1,605,875
1990 20 £1,900,325
1989 21 £1,600,000
1988 27 £1,565,622
1987 19 £930,000
1986 20 £750,000
1985 20 £580,000
1984 21 £347,470
1983 16 £170,050
1982 10 6 £121,450
1981 13 5 £125,830
1980 21 5 £110,494
1979 18 5 £80,000

Source:[10]

Order of Merit and seasonal award winners

The Order of Merit is awarded to the leading money winner on the tour, though for some years in the past a points system was used. The Player's Player of the Year award is voted by the members of the Tour for the member they believe has contributed the most to the season on the Tour. The Rookie of the Year (known as the Bill Johnson Trophy from 1999 to 2003 and now the Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year) is awarded to the leading first-year player on the Order of Merit rankings.

YearOrder of MeritPlayer of the YearRookie of the YearLowest stroke average Ref.
2023Thailand Trichat Cheenglab1966.52 ptsSweden Johanna GustavssonThailand Trichat CheenglabFrance Céline Boutier69.58
2022Sweden Linn Grant3624.91 ptsSweden Linn GrantSweden Linn GrantSweden Maja Stark69.27
2021Thailand Atthaya Thitikul3591.96 ptsThailand Atthaya ThitikulThailand Atthaya ThitikulRepublic of Ireland Leona Maguire69.50
2020Denmark Emily Kristine Pedersen1249.35 ptsDenmark Emily Kristine PedersenAustralia Stephanie KyriacouDenmark Emily Kristine Pedersen70.40
2019Germany Esther Henseleit743.06 ptsNorway Marianne SkarpnordGermany Esther HenseleitSpain Carlota Ciganda69.08
2018England Georgia Hall667.73 ptsEngland Georgia HallSweden Julia EngströmSpain Carlota Ciganda69.31
2017England Georgia Hall€368,935England Georgia HallFrance Camille ChevalierSweden Anna Nordqvist68.18
2016United States Beth Allen€313,079United States Beth AllenIndia Aditi AshokChina Shanshan Feng68.80
2015China Shanshan Feng€399,213Denmark Nicole Broch LarsenDenmark Emily Kristine PedersenChina Shanshan Feng69.78
2014England Charley Hull€263,097England Charley HullWales Amy BouldenNorway Suzann Pettersen70.25 [11][12]
2013Norway Suzann Pettersen€518,448South Africa Lee-Anne PaceEngland Charley HullNorway Suzann Pettersen68.20 [13]
2012Spain Carlota Ciganda€251,290Spain Carlota Ciganda[14]Spain Carlota Ciganda[14]China Shanshan Feng69.00 [14][15]
2011Japan Ai Miyazato€363,080Sweden Caroline HedwallSweden Caroline HedwallNorway Suzann Pettersen69.36 [15]
2010South Africa Lee-Anne Pace€339,518South Africa Lee-Anne PaceSouth Korea I.K. KimNorway Suzann Pettersen69.75 [15]
2009Sweden Sophie Gustafson€281,315Scotland Catriona MatthewSweden Anna NordqvistScotland Catriona Matthew70.83 [15]
2008France Gwladys Nocera€391,840France Gwladys NoceraEngland Melissa ReidNorway Suzann Pettersen68.60 [15]
2007Sweden Sophie Gustafson€222,081Germany Bettina HauertSweden Louise StahleSweden Sophie Gustafson70.96 [15]
2006England Laura Davies€471,727France Gwladys NoceraAustralia Nikki GarrettSweden Annika Sörenstam68.33 [15]
2005Denmark Iben Tinning€204,672Denmark Iben TinningSpain Elisa SerramiàEngland Laura Davies70.35 [15][16]
2004England Laura Davies777.26 ptsFrance Stéphanie ArricauFinland Minea BlomqvistEngland Laura Davies70.31 [15]
2003Sweden Sophie Gustafson917.95 ptsSweden Sophie GustafsonAustralia Rebecca StevensonSweden Sophie Gustafson69.93 [15]
2002Spain Paula Martí6,589 ptsSweden Annika SörenstamEngland Kirsty S. TaylorSweden Sophie Gustafson70.59 [15]
2001Spain Raquel Carriedo10,661 ptsSpain Raquel CarriedoNorway Suzann PettersenScotland Catriona Matthew70.08 [15]
2000Sweden Sophie Gustafson8,777 ptsSweden Sophie GustafsonItaly Giulia SergasSweden Sophie Gustafson71.21 [15]
1999England Laura Davies£204,522England Laura DaviesEngland Elaine RatcliffeEngland Laura Davies70.50 [15][17]
1998Sweden Helen Alfredsson£125,975Sweden Sophie GustafsonUnited States Laura PhiloEngland Laura Davies71.96 [15][18]
1997England Alison Nicholas£94,590England Alison NicholasSweden Anna BergFrance Marie-Laure de Lorenzi72.20 [19]
1996England Laura Davies£110,880England Laura DaviesAustralia Anne-Marie KnightFrance Marie-Laure de Lorenzi71.39 [15][20]
1995Sweden Annika Sörenstam£130,324Sweden Annika SörenstamAustralia Karrie WebbSweden Annika Sörenstam69.75 [15][21]
1994Sweden Liselotte Neumann£102,750n/aUnited States Tracy HansonSweden Liselotte Neumann69.56 [22]
1993Australia Karen Lunn£81,266n/aSweden Annika SörenstamEngland Laura Davies71.63 [23]
1992England Laura Davies£66,333n/aFrance Sandrine MendiburuEngland Laura Davies70.35 [24]
1991Australia Corinne Dibnah£89,058n/aWales Helen WadsworthEngland Alison Nicholas71.71 [25]
1990England Trish Johnson£83,043n/aUnited States Pearl SinnEngland Trish Johnson70.64 [26]
1989France Marie-Laure de Lorenzi£77,534n/aSweden Helen AlfredssonFrance Marie-Laure de Lorenzi70.84 [27]
1988France Marie-Laure de Lorenzi£109,360n/aSouth Africa Laurette MaritzFrance Marie-Laure de Lorenzi72.30 [28]
1987Scotland Dale Reid£53,815n/aEngland Trish JohnsonScotland Dale Reid72.70 [29]
1986England Laura Davies£37,500n/aSpain Patricia GonzálezEngland Laura Davies72.09 [30]
1985England Laura Davies£21,735n/aEngland Laura Davies [31]
1984Scotland Dale Reid£28,239n/aEngland Kitrina DouglasScotland Dale Reid73.01 [15]
1983Scotland Muriel Thomson£9,225n/an/aEngland Beverly Huke74.98 [32]
1982England Jenny Lee Smith£12,551n/an/an/a [15]
1981England Jenny Lee Smith£13,518n/an/an/a [15]
1980Scotland Muriel Thomson£8,008n/an/an/a [15]
1979Scotland Catherine Panton£4,965n/an/an/a [15]

Notes

  1. ↑ Individual events counting towards the Order of Merit only. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Guernsey counted separately.
  2. ↑ Individual events counting towards the Order of Merit only. Excludes team events and qualifying school.

References

  1. ↑ Ryde, Peter (18 May 1978). "Quality will decide if new WPGA acorn grows into mighty oak". The Times. p. 12. Retrieved 24 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  2. ↑ Mair, Lewine (31 October 1978). "Women's professional tour becomes a reality". The Times. p. 8. Retrieved 24 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  3. ↑ Plumridge, Christopher (9 December 1980). "Women's circuit is booming". The Guardian. London, England. p. 21. Retrieved 24 September 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Hennessy, John (17 March 1981). "Bleak prspect of drop in prize money for women". The Times. p. 11. Retrieved 24 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  5. ↑ "Sponsors sought for Balgownie". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 16 February 1982. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ Jacobs, Raymond. "Faldo well on the way towards a 'safe' figure". Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ↑ Hennessy, John (17 August 1982). "A year when women have a slim chance of survival". The Times. p. 16. Retrieved 25 September 2020 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  8. ↑ "About the Ladies European Tour". Ladies European Tour. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  9. ↑ "The 2014 Ladies European Tour Schedule Announced" (Press release). Ladies European Tour. 7 December 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. ↑ LET Tour Guide 2013. Ladies European Tour. 2013. pp. 159–200. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Charley Hull wins Ladies European Tour's Order of Merit". Ladies European Tour. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Teenager Charley Hull wins Ladies European Tour Order of Merit". Press Association. The Guardian. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Pettersen wins ISPS HANDA Order of Merit". Ladies European Tour. 7 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 "Carlota Ciganda wins the LET's 2012 Rolex Rookie of the Year Award". Ladies European Tour. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 LET Tour Guide 2013. Ladies European Tour. 2013. p. 201. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Tinning Named LET Players Player". Golf Channel Newsroom. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Amarican Express Tour, Penningligan (Slutställning)" [Amarican Express Tour, Money leaders (final standings)]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1999. p. 68. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Amarican Express Tour, Penningligan (Slutställning)" [Amarican Express Tour, Money leaders (final standings)]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1998. p. 87. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Fakta från Amex Tour (slutställning) Europatourens fem bästa" [Facts from Amex Tour (final standings) European Tour top five]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1997. p. 89. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Facit 1996, Fakta från AmEx Tour, Penningligan (Slutställning)" [Season 1996, Facts from AmEx Tour, Money leaders (final standings)]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1996. p. 89. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Facit 1995, Fakta från American Express Tour (Slutställning)" [Season 1995, Facts from American Express Tour (final standings)]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1995. p. 73. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Facit 1994, Fakta från WPGET - slutställning" [Season 1994, Facts from WPGET - final standings]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 1. January 1995. p. 51. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Facit -93, Fakta från WPGET, Penningligan" [Season 1993, Facts from WPGET, Money leaders]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 1. January 1994. p. 47. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "Facit -92, WPG European Tour, , Penningligan" [Season 1992, WPG European Tour, Money leaders]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 1. January 1993. p. 74. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "Facit -92, Europa-touren, damer, Penningligan" [Season 1991, European Tour, Ladies, Money leaders]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 1. January 1992. p. 80. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  26. ↑ "Facit -90, Europa-touren, damer, Penningligan" [Season 1990, European Tour, Ladies, Money leaders]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1990. p. 91. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  27. ↑ "Facit -89, Europa-touren, damer, Penningligan" [Season 1989, European Tour, Ladies, Money leaders]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1989. p. 67. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  28. ↑ "Facit -88, Europa-touren, damer, WPG" [Season 1988, European Tour, Ladies, WPG]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1988. p. 67. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  29. ↑ "Facit -87, Europa-touren, damer, WPGA" [Season 1987, European Tour, Ladies, WPGA]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1987. p. 67. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  30. ↑ "Facit -86, Europa-touren, damer, WPGA" [Season 1986, European Tour, Ladies, WPGA]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1986. p. 81. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  31. ↑ "Facit -85, WPGA-touren" [Season 1985, WPGA Tour]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 12. December 1985. p. 48. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  32. ↑ "Kärstin sjua" [Kärstin seventh]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). No. 9. December 1983. p. 21. Retrieved 18 September 2023.

See also

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