Largest on the LPGA Tour outside of majors and CME Group Tour Championship
LOS ANGELES — In 2023, the LPGA Tour’s stop at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles received a significant boost under new title and presenting sponsors JM Eagle and Plastpro.
Dedicated to growing women’s golf, they doubled the tournament purse from $1.5 to $3 million, becoming the first regular season LPGA Tour event outside of the major championships and CME Group Tour Championship to be contested with a $3 million purse.
Fellow LPGA Tour events took notice and have since followed suit. Eleven non-major tournaments now feature purses of $3 million or more in 2024, up from just five in 2023.
To continue the momentum this year, Walter and Shirley Wang – CEOs of JM Eagle and Plastpro – announced recently that the 2024 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro tournament purse will increase to $3.75 million, the largest prize fund on the LPGA Tour outside of the major championships and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
JM Eagle and Plastpro are once again elevating the standard of what can be done in women’s golf. With this purse increase to $3.75 million, LPGA Tour players will now be competing for more than$120 million in total prize money throughout the 2024 season.
“We are incredibly honored to be partnering with the LPGA Tour for the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro and to be able to present these world-class players with opportunities to achieve their dreams, ultimately igniting the dreams of the game’s future players,” said Walter and Shirley Wang.
“Our commitment to the LPGA, to the players and to the spectators is to continue to lead the way in shining an increased spotlight on women’s sports and promoting a more equitable landscape for female golfers, one tournament at a time.”
In addition to the increased tournament purse in 2024, the entire tournament field of 144 players competing in the upcoming JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro will receive complimentary lodging accommodations throughout tournament week, courtesy of Walter and Shirley Wang.
They will cover the lodging costs for all players competing in the championship with first-class hotel accommodations in Hollywood, along with complimentary VIP shuttle service to Wilshire Country Club throughout tournament week.
The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro will be in its second year in 2024, and overall, the sixth year the LPGA Tour has competed at Wilshire Country Club.
“In our ongoing pursuit to empower, inspire and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course, we are immensely grateful for Walter and Shirley Wang’s unwavering support and dedication to our shared mission,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “They continue to move the needle for not only LPGA athletes but also for girls and women everywhere.
“Their leadership demonstrates the value they place on the talent of our athletes, their belief in the LPGA to deliver results and their steadfast commitment to creating a world-class event for fans to enjoy in Los Angeles and around the globe. We could not be more grateful for this partnership with JM Eagle and Plastpro.”
Early commitments for the 2024 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro are headlined by the top four players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including new World No. 1 Nelly Korda, No. 2 and Los Angeles resident Lilia Vu, Celine Boutier (No. 3) and Ruoning Yin (No. 4).
Defending champion Hannah Green is set to return to defend her championship, joining past champions at Wilshire Country Club including Nasa Hataoka (2022), Minjee Lee (2019) and Moriya Jutanugarn (2018). Major champion and 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, Assistant Captains Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome and Angela Stanford are also early commitments, along with Los Angeles-area residents Andrea Lee, Alison Lee, Jenny Coleman, Lucy Li and Angel Yin.
“Wilshire Country Club is one of our favorite stops on the LPGA Tour, and we are so thankful to Walter and Shirley Wang for their passion and dedicated in elevating this great championship to be one of the must-attend events for both players and fans,” said two-time major champion and 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup Assistant Captain Brittany Lincicome. “I look forward to teeing it up in the heart of Hollywood in April.”
Tickets Now on Sale: Tournament officials also announced a variety of ticket packages are now on sale for the 2024 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro, including general admissions grounds passes and the Hollywood Club VIP hospitality option that offers a wide degree of entertainment and access.
Tickets are available for purchase exclusively at www.JMEagleLAChampionship.com/tickets.