The Ladies European Tour on Saturday announced the 2016 season schedule, reinforcing the tour’s global footprint.
Starting with the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open at Clearwater Golf Club in Harewood on 12-15 February, the golfing odyssey will culminate with the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on 7-10 December.
With the Olympic Games on the horizon, the ranking points available from tournaments will be highly sought after in 2016, as players from a multitude of different countries aim to qualify when golf returns to the programme after a 104-year absence, with the women’s tournament taking place at Reserva da Marapendi in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 15-18.
Ivan Khodabakhsh, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, said: “This is the confirmed schedule and we have more exciting tournaments soon to be announced but we want to provide these tournaments with dedicated press conferences and they will be announced in January.”
The 2016 schedule places a premium on quality events with improved purses and a significantly increased number of live television broadcast hours, with a consistent on-screen presence on five continents globally.
“These tournaments invest in live television,” Khodabakhsh continued. “We need to showcase to the world women’s golf, and this year we have I believe 11 or 12 tournaments, and next year we will have 16 tournaments live. That’s what will make the difference.”
The LET will also continue the work of its recently created Development Department, which will strengthen the organisation’s bonds with golf’s governing bodies and tournament promoters who share its vision to grow the game in all parts of the world.
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