LPGA Adds Taiwan Event for 2011, Seeking New Domestic Events

Quietly, the LPGA Tour is adding a new foreign event to the '11 schedule. Asian Golf Daily reports the LPGA Tour will be going to Taiwan next October, riding the popularity of Yani Tseng and her three major championships.

Reportedly, the tournament will carry a $2 million purse and have approximately 90 players in the field.

David Higdon, the LPGA's communications head, told Golfweek, “We have been working on securing a Taiwan event all year, but certainly Yani’s impressive success this year has fueled interest even more and helped us secure an agreement.”

Naturally, the next question is: what is the status of the US-based portion of the schedule for '11?

We know the Farr is gone for one year while the US Senior Open comes through town. What becomes of the LPGA Championship? Will it stay in Rochester? 

A(n expected) dropped sponsorship from CVS in the fall California event needs to be addressed.

How about the Tour Championship? It has a home in Orlando for this year, but IMG has had a tough time in attracting any kind of title sponsor.

We asked the LPGA Tour for an update on the situation. They're keeping the details close to the vest on the domestic schedule, but David Higdon told us, "We’re working hard on retaining existing and securing new events both in the U.S. and abroad, as “TnT”—Tournaments and Titles—has been the main focus for [Commissioner Mike Whan]."

Not a tip of the hand one way or the other, but Mike Whan is not resting on his laurels while the 2011 LPGA domestic schedule hangs in the balance.