Getty Images, Inc., and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) today jointly announced Getty Images will be the exclusive worldwide commercial imagery licensing partner of the LPGA. The agreement is the first time the LPGA has awarded exclusive photographic access to golf's greatest female athletes. Getty Images will also be able to significantly expand and diversify its current LPGA collection of more than 15,000 images.

This partnership allows Getty Images and the LPGA to offer the most comprehensive photographic coverage of the LPGA to date. Getty Images will manage the commercial licensing and sales of images from LPGA events via gettyimages.com, which will allow both entities to service marketing partners and other third-party outlets from around the globe. Also, as part of this agreement, Getty Images will develop an LPGA-branded Web site to provide fans the opportunity to go online to purchase prints of their favorite players.

“In recent years, we've seen a sharp increase in the demand for sports imagery, among both our advertising and editorial customers,” said Carmin Romanelli, vice president of sales at Getty Images. “Through our partnership with the LPGA, we're able to complement our offering with a collection of powerful, high-quality images that document the evolution of a classic female sport which is rapidly growing globally with the ongoing influx of talented athletes from around the world.”

Getty Images will also conduct numerous feature photo shoots and portrait sessions with LPGA players, as well as provide complete tournament coverage at every official LPGA event, including all majors and The Solheim Cup.

“A streamlined licensing structure, world-wide resources and a high caliber of photographic talent were our top priorities in selecting an image partner,” said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. “Getty Images brought these capabilities to the table, along with the largest customer base in the industry.”

Getty Images' LPGA tournament coverage kicks off with the Women's World Cup of Golf on Jan. 19-21 in South Africa. The company's complete LPGA collection can be viewed at www.gettyimages.com/sport.