Lydia Ko will be playing for a record purse on next year's LPGA golf tour.
The LPGA has announced an increase of prize money of $6 million to $95 million for the 2017 season.
Lydia Ko, NZ Open, 2016. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
There are four new tournaments on the 35-event schedule including the New Zealand Open in Auckland at the end of September.
Four of the Tour's five major championships in 2017 will have higher purses, including a $7 million purse at the US Women's Open conducted by the USGA that will be the largest purse in LPGA history.
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said "I'm excited about the opportunities our 2017 tournament schedule provides to our players with increased purses, tremendous television exposure and our biggest events elevating to new heights."
"While we receive credit for being a global tour, we're just as proud that we've added more events in North America since 2011 then we have abroad. It's an exciting time for our organization and we cannot wait to start another great season in January."
Following the season's final major at The Evian Championship in France, the LPGA will take a week off before traveling to the home of World number one and Olympic Silver Medalist Lydia Ko.
The New Zealand Women's Open from September 28-October 1 will be the first of seven consecutive tournaments in the Asia-Pacific region before the Tour returns to Florida for the season finale at the CME Group Tour Championship.
