Record-breaking LET schedule boasts 27 events with €19m prize pot

The Ladies European Tour has announced a record-breaking 2021 schedule featuring 27 events in 19 different countries, with players competing for a combined prize fund of more than €19 million.

Emily Kristine Pedersen won the 2020 Race to Costa del Sol after topping the season-long LET Order of Merit. Picture: Tristan Jones

That figure represents an increase of €2 million on the proposed pre-Covid-19 announcement for the 2020 season and €6 million on 2019.

The 2010 schedule features back-to-back events in Scotland - the Ladies Scottish Open at a venue to be confirmed on 12-15 August then the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie on 19-22 August.

Nine new events include a trio of Aramco Team Series events in New York, London, Singapore and King Abdullah Economic City, near Jeddah, , as well as the previously announced €1 million Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika.

The Creekhouse Ladies Open and the Big Green Egg Dutch Ladies Open are other additions, with the latter being played at the home course of Solheim Cup star Anne van Dam.

The inaugural Skaftö Open completes a trio of Swedish tournaments while the Gant Ladies Open marks the LET’s return to Finland for the first time in 10 years.

The season gets underway at the rescheduled Investec South African Women’s Open from 13-16 May and runs through to the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana on 25-28 November.

Alexandra Armas, the LET CEO, said: “We are extremely excited to announce our record-breaking schedule for 2021 and thrilled to offer some good news to our membership after a difficult season last year.

“The LET is dedicated to supporting our members and growing the game of golf to new and existing markets and we are proud to confirm the return of not only all postponed events but the addition of several new and innovative tournaments, which shows just how much interest and momentum there is behind women’s sport.

“I would like to thank our sponsors, partners and all the federations that have shown their belief, vision and perseverance and we look forward to delivering an action-packed calendar for our international membership.”

As exclusively revealed by The Scotsman yesterday, the Ladies Scottish Open has lost Aberdeen Standard Investments as its title sponsor after a 12-year run.

However, the event’s remaining partners, including the Scottish Government and VisitScotland, are determined to see the event retain its position as one of the top tournaments on both the LET and LPGA schedule.

The 2021 calendar has been given the thumbs up by Catriona Matthew, who will be captaining Europe’s Solheim Cup defence at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio, in September.

“I committed myself to playing on the LET in Europe last year and, unfortunately, I was not able to play as much as I would have liked, so I am pleased to see such a healthy schedule for me to get back out there,” said the North Berwick woman.

“I have six captain’s picks for the first time this year and I am looking forward to playing with some of Europe’s best as I look to assemble my team ahead of defending our trophy in September.”

The ‘Race to Costa del Sol’, won last year by Dane Emily Kristine Pedersen, will offer a bonus pool of €250,000 between the top three finishers on the official rankings. The player who tops the rankings will receive an additional €125,000.

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