Most LPGA Career Events and Money Earned Per Event

I was curious to see which LPGA player made the most per event.  Historically, the purses for women’s golf have been small.  But things are changing with the advent of the CME quest for one million dollars this year.

I tabulated career earnings along with the respective total events.  From that, I could calculate how much each player earned per event.  The money was not adjusted to today’s dollar and none of the earnings include sponsor's money or appearance fees.  My conclusions are skewed by that fact.

Here is the list of Top 50 based on rank in career earnings.  Juli Inkster is still active at 642 events at start of 2014 season.  She may be slowing down since she will be doing golf commentary for television this year.

Here is the Top 50 when sorted according to Career Events.  Marlene Hagge is credited with 930 events, but the women golfers at LPGA’s inception played many one round events.  Most events today consist of three or four rounds, and minimum of 36 holes must be completed in order for it to be an official event.  The LPGA has fewer tournaments per year compared with the Sandra Palmer and Betsy King years.

The Top 50 based on money earned per event.  The most efficient was Lorena Ochoa who earned $84,933 per event.  Yani Tseng was on a torrid money making pace with her early Major wins, but has stalled and is wrestling with golfing demons that are preventing her from reaching the winner's circle.

There were 817 total golfers in the list.  The Average Money/event is $4,851.  205 golfers averaged higher than that over their careers.  Today’s golfer has to do much traveling, since LPGA is now an international competition.  What are today’s cost for an entry fee, airfare, room and board for a week at Asia, England, or Australia?  If sponsorship is not available, then making cuts is the only way to survive.