LPGA of Japan Tour

Last updated
LPGA of Japan Tour
Current season, competition or edition:
Golf current event.svg 2025 LPGA of Japan Tour
Sport Golf
Founded1968
CEO Hiromi Kobayashi
CountryFlag of Japan.svg  Japan
Most titles Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi (69)
Official website LPGA.or.jp

The LPGA of Japan Tour is a professional golf tour for women organised by the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association. The tour was founded in 1968. [1] It is the second richest women's golf tour in the world. The U.S.-based LPGA Tour is the most important women's tour, but the prize money gap has closed markedly since the American tour's total prize fund peaked at just over $60 million in 2008. While the Japan Tour is the second-most lucrative women's tour, two other non-U.S. tours, the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA of Korea Tour, rival the Japan Tour in level of competition. The LPGA of Japan Tour has attracted international players. As of 2022, 120 international golfers from more than 10 countries including Taiwan, Philippines, Korea, China, France, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil and Thailand have come to compete on the tour. [2]

Contents

The tour has four major events, the Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup, the Japan Women’s Open, the World Ladies Championship and the final event, the Japan LPGA Tour Championship. [3]

In 2014, Minami Katsu became the youngest tournament winner in the history of the LPGA of Japan when she won the Vantelin Ladies Open at age 15. [4] In 2022, Miyū Yamashita became the youngest tour winner, at 21 years, 103 days. [5]

Schedule

The 2025 schedule includes 37 events played in Japan.

Leading money winners

YearPlayerEarnings (¥)
2024 Flag of Japan.svg Rio Takeda 265,730,016
2023 Flag of Japan.svg Miyū Yamashita 213,554,215
2022 Flag of Japan.svg Miyū Yamashita 235,020,967
2020–21 Flag of Japan.svg Mone Inami 255,192,049
2019 Flag of Japan.svg Ai Suzuki 160,189,665
2018 Flag of South Korea.svg Ahn Sun-ju 180,784,885
2017 Flag of Japan.svg Ai Suzuki 140,122,631
2016 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Bo-mee 175,869,764
2015 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Bo-mee 230,497,057
2014 Flag of South Korea.svg Ahn Sun-ju 153,075,741
2013 Flag of Japan.svg Rikako Morita 126,675,049
2012 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Mi-jeong 131,827,582
2011 Flag of South Korea.svg Ahn Sun-ju 127,926,893
2010 Flag of South Korea.svg Ahn Sun-ju 145,073,799
2009 Flag of Japan.svg Sakura Yokomine 175,016,384
2008 Flag of Japan.svg Miho Koga 120,854,137
2007 Flag of Japan.svg Momoko Ueda 166,112,232
2006 Flag of Japan.svg Shiho Oyama 166,290,957
2005 Flag of Japan.svg Yuri Fudoh 122,460,908
2004 Flag of Japan.svg Yuri Fudoh 142,774,000
2003 Flag of Japan.svg Yuri Fudoh 149,325,679
2002 Flag of Japan.svg Yuri Fudoh 95,690,917
2001 Flag of Japan.svg Yuri Fudoh 89,248,793
2000 Flag of Japan.svg Yuri Fudoh 120,443,924
1999 Flag of Japan.svg Fumiko Muraguchi 66,891,682
1998 Flag of Japan.svg Michiko Hattori 81,570,823
1997 Flag of Japan.svg Akiko Fukushima 99,594,094
1996 Flag of Japan.svg Akiko Fukushima 70,596,190
1995 Flag of Japan.svg Ikuyo Shiotani 75,006,561
1994 Flag of Japan.svg Mayumi Hirase 69,817,958
1993 Flag of Japan.svg Mayumi Hirase 81,474,399
1992 Flag of Japan.svg Ikuyo Shiotani 57,799,649
1991 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 70,403,481
1990 Flag of Japan.svg Hiromi Takamura 62,576,087
1989 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 90,075,587
1988 Flag of Japan.svg Nayoko Yoshikawa 61,462,665
1987 Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuko Ohsako 56,763,481
1986 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 62,435,225
1985 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 65,634,788
1984 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 52,897,845
1983 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 45,764,313
1982 Flag of the Republic of China.svg Ai-Yu Tu 39,029,644
1981 Flag of Japan.svg Ayako Okamoto 32,333,465
1980 Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuko Ohsako 23,594,744
1979 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 18,399,345
1978 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 11,664,650
1977 Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuko Ohsako 14,481,500
1976 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 14,667,000
1975 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 8,428,233
1974 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 15,545,700
1973 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 12,627,000
1972 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 4,150,000
1971 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 2,290,000
1970 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 1,215,000
1969 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 500,000
1968 Flag of Japan.svg Hisako Higuchi 350,000

See also

References

  1. "Most Career Wins on the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) Tour" . Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  2. "Japan LPGA Tour aims to expand global reach by attracting more international players". Golf Matters. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  3. Kaur, Malkeet (2022-09-08). "Japan LPGA Championship Konica Minolta Cup set to thrill". ParGolf. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  4. "Katsu, 15, is youngest Japan LPGA winner". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  5. "Golf: Miyuu Yamashita becomes youngest "queen" on Japan LPGA Tour". Kyodo News+. November 13, 2022. Retrieved 2025-06-06.