LPGA’s dream becomes reality Founders Cup celebrates 10th anniversary after Whan’s wizardry reinvented Phoenix BY RON SIRAK
COURTESY LPGA
American star Nelly Korda flips a chip to the 18th green at Wildfire Golf Club during a past Founders Cup. Legends like Babe Zaharias (upper left) and Louise Suggs (lower right), shown here with comedian Bob Hope, helped to pave the way for the LPGA and, ultimately the Founders Cup. The LPGA celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, while the Founders Cup salutes its 10th anniversary.
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hen Mike Whan took over as LPGA commissioner in January 2010, the schedule was riddled with holes. At only 24 events, it was the thinnest itinerary since 1971. One of the most glaring omissions was Phoenix, the first time since 1979 that the Valley of the Sun was dark for the LPGA. Returning that golfpassionate market to the Tour was one of Whan’s top priorities.
With one bold move — some said crazy at the time — Whan added a new event for 2011, restored the Phoenix stop and, in the Founders Cup, created a celebration of the history of the oldest professional sports 18 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2020
organization for women. It was a winwin-win situation, although it would take time to establish that success. While hindsight always has 20/20 vision, looking back now, the Founders Cup was a brilliant idea. That 2020
is both the 70th anniversary of the founding of the LPGA by 13 bold women in 1950 and the 10th year of the Founders Cup makes this edition of the event doubly special. Phoenix was an LPGA stop for 30 years before missing the 2010 season, with tournaments existing under 10 names on six courses. The event started at Hillcrest Country Club in 1980 and went to the Arizona Biltmore Country Club in 1983. From 1987 through 2003 it was at Moon Valley Country Club all but one year before going to Superstition Mountain Golf Club in 2004-08 and ending at Papago Golf Club in 2009. www.azgolf.org
