DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and BMW Group Korea’sChairman Hyo Joon Kim announced on May 23 that BMW Group Korea will host a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournament beginning in 2019 in the Republic of Korea. The tournament purseis set for $2 million, with the winner’s portion to be $300,000.
The tournament will take place at LPGA International Busan, located in Gijang County in Busan Metropolitan City, and will first be held in October 2019. LPGA International Busan is the LPGA’s firstgolf facility outside the United States. The opening of this LPGA-accredited golf facility marks the first of many projects the Association plans to create in Busan, including an LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals Center and LPGA regional qualifying school.
Chairman Kim said, “BMW is a global brand and already sponsors many global events on the PGA TOUR and the European Tour. For the next three years, they will apply their know-how of the golfindustry to the women’s golf tournament in Korea and look forward to making many contributions to thegrowth of the Tour. We will work together in collaboration with Busan Metropolitan City and the LPGA tomake sure we create an outstanding event.”
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said, “We are so excited to partner with BMW, and to bring the LPGA to the wonderful city of Busan, Korea. This tournament has all the ingredients of a world class event—great Brand, great city, great golf course, and the best female golfers on the planet. This will be big!”
BMW currently sponsors the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship and BMW International Open, along with the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship. First started in 1955, the BMW PGA Championshipboasts 13 years of BMW sponsorship dating back to 2005. Additionally, the BMW International Open celebrates its 30th edition on the European Tour this season, having been sponsored by BMW since 1989.