New commissioner Kessler says LPGA on rise with bigger '26 purses

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NAPLES, Fla. -- LPGA Tour commissioner Craig Kessler introduced a "flywheel" and spoke of his "Venn diagram" on Wednesday in releasing a 2026 schedule and plotting a road map for how the tour can seize on the surge in women's sports.

The LPGA schedule has 31 official tournaments with a record prize fund of just over $128.5 million. Fourteen tournaments raised their purses, anywhere from $100,000 to $2 million.

The LPGA also has co-sanctioned a Ladies European Tour event funded by Golf Saudi. The Aramco Series at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas replaces the Match Play, and the purse goes from $2 million to $4 million. Kessler did not rule out more tournaments from the Aramco…