Epson Tour continues breaking barriers with their 2024 schedule with 20 tournaments and the move to a points-based "Race for the Card"
The Epson Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, continues to grow in 2024. The Tour is entering its 44th year and boasts record-breaking numbers, including $5 Million in total prize money (the largest in Tour history) and a $20,000 increase in average purse size per event in 2024. The Epson Tour is also introducing a structural change to the Race for the Card in 2024.
New to the upcoming season is the transition from a Money-based ranking to a Points-based ranking to determine which athletes will receive LPGA Tour Cards in 2025. Following a similar structure to the LPGA Tour, the season-long Race for the Card will see Epson Tour Members compete for Points in each Official Epson Tour Tournament, with a 30% increased Points value for the Epson Tour Championship.
"We’re proud of the progress we have made to the growth of the Epson Tour and can’t wait to watch these incredible athletes tee it up throughout the record-breaking 2024 season,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan.
“The transition to a points-based system in the Race for the Card reflects our commitment to identifying and elevating the next generation of LPGA stars. As the Tour continues to grow in prize money and depth of talent, we believe this change will add an exciting dimension to the competition and will give every Epson Tour athlete a balanced opportunity throughout the season to earn their place on the LPGA Tour.
$5 million total prize money
The 20-tournament schedule will take the Epson Tour to 12 states and offer $5 million in total prize money, for an average purse size of $250,000, exceeding last year’s average purse size of $227,273. The season will tee off March 8-10 with the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, Florida, at the Country Club of Winter Haven.
“We are excited to announce the 2024 Epson Tour Schedule, which is full of opportunity for our athletes to achieve their dream of playing on the LPGA Tour,” said the Epson Tour’s Chief Business and Operations Officer, Jody Brothers.
“I believe the new venues, combined with improved geographic flow and increased purses will better prepare and identify the Epson Tour athletes ready for the next level.”
“Our partnership with the LPGA has helped us provide positive inspiration to future leaders around the world,” said Yasunori Ogawa, global president of Epson.
“We are honored to support these world-class athletes for the third year, and hope they can continue to challenge themselves to realize their LPGA dreams in the 2024 Epson Tour.”
Largest purse in Epson Tour history
As announced in November, the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic rejoins the Epson Tour schedule for the 2024 season with an increased purse and new location. The new purse will be the largest in Epson Tour history at $400,000 with the winner taking home $60,000. The Carlisle Arizona Women’s Classic is also making the move to TPC Scottsdale’s Champions Course, where they will be the tournament host through 2026.
Two new tournaments have been added in 2024, building the Florida stretch at the beginning of the season and the Midwest stretch immediately before the halfway point. The Atlantic Beach Classic, hosted at Atlantic Beach Country Club east of Jacksonville, will be a 54-hole stroke play tournament with a $300,000 purse from March 21-23. Also boasting a $300,000 purse, at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Indiana, is the Otter Creek Championship from June 14-16.
Additionally, three events on the schedule will reach a milestone year in 2024, with the Twin Bridges Championship celebrating 40 years, the longest-running event on Tour. The Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes and the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic will also crown their 10th and 15th champion, respectively.
Season ending in California
In a year of change, the 2024 season will conclude in a new location than years past, with the Epson Tour Championship moving from Daytona Beach, Florida to Indian Wells, California. The Championship will remain a 72-hole stroke play format with a $250,000 purse and be played from October 3-6 on the Player Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort.
The Epson Tour prides itself on sending talented athletes to compete among the best on the LPGA Tour, and many who got their start on the official qualifying tour have found early success in their careers. In all, 480 LPGA Tour titles have been won by former Epson Tour players, including 13 major championships since 2013. Current alumnae on the LPGA Tour include Nelly Korda, Celine Boutier, Lilia Vu, Grace Kim, Hannah Green, Madelene Sagstrom and Ally Ewing.
“Epson's dedication and generous support has been inspiring," added Brothers. "Their commitment to the growth and success of women's golf has been instrumental in shaping and growing the Epson Tour and has improved our athletes' journeys."
Epson Tour by numbers
2013: 15 tournaments, $1.60 million in total purses; $108,000 average purse; $150,000 highest purse
2017: 22 tournaments, $2.95 million in total purses; $134,000 average purse; $210,000 highest purse
2024: 20 tournaments, $5 million in total purses; $250,000 average purse; $400,000 highest purse
Full 2024 Epson Tour schedule
| DATE | TOURNAMENT | COURSE | STATE | PURSE SIZE |
| March 8-10 | Florida’s Natural Charity Classic | Country Club of Winter Haven | Winter Haven, FL | $250,000 |
| March 15-17 | IOA Golf Classic presented by LPT Realty | Alaqua Country Club | Longwood, FL | $200,000 |
| March 21-23* | Atlantic Beach Classic | Atlantic Beach Country Club | Atlantic Beach, FL | $300,000 |
| April 26-28 | IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa | Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon | Beaumont, CA | $200,000 |
| May 2-May 4* | Casino Del Sol Golf Classic | Sewailo Golf Club | Tucson, AZ | $250,000 |
| May 9-12 | Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic | TPC Scottsdale - Champions Course | Scottsdale, AZ | $400,000 |
| May 16-18* | Copper Rock Championship | Copper Rock Golf Course | Hurricane, UT | $250,000 |
| June 7-9 | FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship | Battle Creek Country Club | Battle Creek, MI | $200,000 |
| June 14-16 | Otter Creek Championship | Otter Creek Golf Course | Columbus, IN | $300,000 |
| June 21-23 | Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber | Sweetgrass Golf Club | Harris, MI | $225,000 |
| June 28-30 | Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes | Buffalo Dunes Golf Course | Garden City, KS | $200,000 |
| July 12-14 | Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship | Great River Golf Club at Sacred Heart University | Milford, CT | $225,000 |
| July 19-21 | Twin Bridges Championship | Pinehaven Country Club | Guilderland, NY | $200,000 |
| August 9-11 | Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic | Wildhorse Golf Course | Pendleton, OR | $225,000 |
| August 15-17* | Black Desert Resort Championship | TBD | Salt Lake City, UT | $375,000 |
| August 30-September 1 | Four Winds Invitational | South Bend Country Club | South Bend, IN | $225,000 |
| September 6-8 | Guardian Championship | RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill Golf Club | Prattville, AL | $225,000 |
| September 13-15 | Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic | Ol’ Colony Golf Course | Tuscaloosa, AL | $200,000 |
| September 20-22 | Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout | Mystic Creek Golf Club | El Dorado, AR | $300,000 |
| October 3-6 | Epson Tour Championship | Indian Wells Golf Resort – Players Course | Indian Wells, CA | $250,000 |
*Saturday Finish
To find out more about the 2024 schedule please visit the Epson Tour website here.
