DAYTONA BEACH: LPGA Tour officials announced a 25-event, 12-nation schedule for 2011 Thursday that begins next month in Thailand and Singapore and features a US opener in March with no prize money. Two events were lost from last year's elite women's golf schedule, although one of them is set for a 2012 return, and LPGA commissioner Michael Whan was happy with a lineup that offers total purses worth 44.37 million dollars. “We're pleased that golf's global tour was able to withstand the economic downturn by securing 23 of its existing 24 events from 2010,” Whan said. New events include the Imperial Springs LPGA in Guangzhou, China, next August, October's LPGA Taiwan Championship and the LPGA Founders Cup, a 54-hole US event in March at Phoenix where winnings go to the LPGA Foundation charity. – Agence France
