The New Zealand Women's Golf Open has been confirmed as part of the LPGA Tour next year, moving to Auckland's Windross Farm golf course for the late September tournament.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand with the trophy following the Final Day of the ISPS Handa NZ Women's Open. Photo: PHOTOSPORT NZ
After years of trying, New Zealand Golf have successfully lobbied for the tournament to be co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Australian Women's Tour.
The $NZ1.8 million event will be held from September 28th to October 1st in 2017 at the newly re-designed Manukau Golf Club, about 30 minutes drive south of Auckland's CBD.
It will be the first time an LPGA or PGA TOUR event has taken place in New Zealand and will be shown live on television.
The Open has been traditionally held at Christchurch's Clearwater Golf Club in February/March and for the past seven years has been co-sanctioned between the second-tier Ladies European Tour and Australian Tour, with only delayed highlights play on television.
But now the tournament will host the world's biggest names, headlined by local talent and world number one Lydia Ko, and broadcast live around the world.
Sponsorship and broadcasting has always held the tournament back from being seen as a key event in the women's calendar, but sportswear company McKayson has jumped on board as the naming sponsor for 2017.
The prizemoney has increased from $360,000 to $1.8 million as a result of the new financial backing from sponsors and the Government's major events organisation.
Lydia Ko said she was excited to bring the LPGA to her home town.
She said she wants to see golf grow in New Zealand and more women playing the game, so this news is fantastic.
-RNZ
