Purse Increases to $1.5 million in 2015
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., July 14, 2015 – The LPGA announced today that TOTO will serve as the title sponsor for the Tour’s oldest Asian event, the newly renamed TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC. An event on the LPGA schedule since 1973, the TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC is co-sanctioned with the Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association of Japan. The 37th edition of the tournament is set to be played November 6-8, 2015, at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan with the purse increasing to $1.5 million this year.
“Since 1973, the world’s best female golfers have cherished the opportunity to visit and play in Japan each fall and we are excited to continue that tradition with a great partner like TOTO,” LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said. “The Japanese fans and media have consistently welcomed the LPGA with open arms, and now with TOTO on board, this event will not only continue to elevate the rich traditions of this tournament but also the awareness of TOTO’s brand around the world.”
TOTO, the world’s largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings with over $5.1 billion in annual sales, has been supporting various sports events around the world in order to share the excitement and deepen the bond with all who love sports. This new sponsorship with the LPGA aligns perfectly with TOTO’s mission by bringing the best golfers on the planet to Japan. TOTO, Ltd. was founded in 1917 with 25,700 employees in 69 offices around the world, making it a great fit with the world’s global Tour as TOTO looks to expand their brand’s exposure to the world while also continuing to grow one of Japan’s most popular sports.
Last year’s event saw one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2014 LPGA season with Mi Hyang Lee outlasting Japan’s Kotono Kozuma and South Korea’s Ilhee Lee in a three-way, five-hole playoff for her first career LPGA win. As in previous years, the TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC will remain one of only three 54-hole events on the LPGA Tour with Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club set to play to 6,506 yards. The 78-player field will be competing for a total purse of $1.5 million, an increase of $200,000 from last year’s event.
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