The inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup took place place in Phoenix, Arizona in March 2011. The tournament was created by the LPGA to honor the 13 women who founded the LPGA, recognize those currently supporting the sport, and celebrate the future stars of the LPGA. That tournament was not without controversy, as there was no purse, meaning that the players did not play for prize money, only to raise money for charities and create more positive exposure for the sport.
See photos from the inaugural 2011 tournament.
The tournament also distributed $500,000 to the designated charities of the top-10 finishers. Winner Karrie Webb designated that her first-place charitable winnings of $200,000 would be split between the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Foundation and the Japan Relief Effort.
The event was a success, proving that the Phoenix area can successfully support a professional women's golf tournament (we had one for many years -- the Safeway International). In 2012 the LPGA announced is returning to Phoenix, with some major enhancements. The Founders Cup will now also pay tribute to the people who had a major role in creating the LPGA. The current players will compete for a purse of $1.5 million, and $500,000 will be set aside for the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program.
When is the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup?
March 12 - 18, 2012. It is a four-day, 72-hole format. Tuesday is for practice rounds. Wednesday is the Pro-Am, and the actual competition begins on Thursday. Gates open at 7 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.Where will the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup take place?
Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 East Marriott Drive. That is in North Phoenix, very close to North Scottsdale. Here is a map with directions to Wildfire Golf Club. During the tournament, there may be special designated parking areas at the Reach 11 Sports Complex, a few miles away, with free shuttle service.How much are tickets to the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup and how do I get them?
Tickets for practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday are $10 each. Tickets for competition days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, are $20 each. You can purchase tickets in advance, no extra charge, online or at the gate.Are there any discounts available for the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup?
Children 17 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. Active military members and their immediate family are admitted free with a valid active military ID at main gate.Discounted tickets are available in advance through Scottsdale Healthcare. You can get $5 off a ticket for a ticket for Thursday through Sunday, or $10 off a weekly Grounds ticket. In addition, half the price of all discounted tickets sold through Scottsdale Healthcare will be donated by the LPGA to the Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation, a local not-for-profit organization.
