BOSTON, Mass – With playoff hopes for the Red Sox iffy and expectations for the 2024 New England Patriots season dismal, New England sports fans are in for a treat over Labor Day weekend when the LPGA returns to the Boston area for the first time in 20 years for the playing of the inaugural FM Championship at TPC Boston August 29 – September 1.
It seems like an eternity that the LPGA visited the Boston area since the “glory days” of the LPGA Tour featured ladies professional golf competing in front of record crowds from 1980 – 1990 at Ferncroft Golf Club (Danvers) in the annual Boston Five Classic. Then from 1991 -1997 the LPGA teed off at Blue Hill Country Club (Canton) for the Ping/Welch’s Championship.
The good old days of top women’s players included Pat Bradley, Nancy Lopez, Jan Stephenson, Dottie Pepper, Cindy Rarick, Jane Blalock, Laura Baugh, Meg Mallon, Julie Inkster, Patty Sheehan, Amy Alcott, Donna Caponi, Helen Alfredsson, Hollis Stacey, Liselotte Neumann, Sandra Palmer and many more. Today’s names are not nearly as recognizable nor as popular as those legendary players from the 80s and 90s.
The stark financial contrast to the purse in the first Boston Five Classic and the upcoming FM Championship is jaw dropping. The Boston Five Classic total purse was $22,500 in 1980 won by Dale Eggling shooting 12-under par. Today’s top lady professionals will be sharing a total purse of $3.8 million, one of the largest LPGA Tour purses.
FM (Factory Mutual) is a global commercial and mutual insurance company based in Johnson, Rhode Island. During its five-year partnership with the LPGA, the prize purse will continue to grow annually, eventually reaching $5 million in 2028. Also players competing in this event will all leave with a paycheck, even those who miss the cut will receive a stipend of $1,000. In addition, all players will be provided free room & board at the Four Points Hotel, which is a new trend emerging in the LPGA paid for by tournament sponsors.
These athlete enhancements come as FM introduced a slightly shortened tournament name to reflect the company’s July 17 rebrand from FM Global to FM. The new brand will be on display throughout the FM Championship, which will run during the tournament dates of from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 at TPC Boston. More announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
“We want to provide an amazing experience for the athletes, fans and New England community at the FM Championship,” said David Johnson, senior vice president, chief client experience officer at FM. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our new brand, our partnership with the LPGA and the return of women’s professional golf to New England than by investing in additional support for the incredible athletes of the LPGA Tour.”
The 2024 FM Championship will feature a field of 144 players competing for the largest prize fund on the LPGA Tour outside of the majors and tour championship. The event marks the LPGA Tour’s return to New England for the first time since the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open, held at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and won by Meg Mallon.
“We are incredibly appreciative of our partners at FM for their immediate and generous support of our athletes,” said Ricki Lasky, chief tour business and operations officer for the LPGA Tour. “Since joining the LPGA family last year, the team at FM has continually asked how they can elevate this inaugural event and make it one that our athletes simply will not want to miss. Our competition will certainly be a great week for athletes and fans alike, and it will be just the beginning of a long and productive relationship between our two organizations.”
Tickets are available for purchase at www.SeatGeek.com. Daily general admission tickets are $54, with weekly general admission passes available for $118. For an elevated viewing experience, U.S. Virgin Islands Champions Club packages, which include a parking pass, start at $385 for daily admission and $1,420 for weekly access. The U.S. Virgin Islands Champions Club at the 16th green will provide incredible views of the featured par-3 hole, along with access to shared food and beverage service, which includes light bites, afternoon snacks, water, soft drinks, beer and wine, as well as access to upgraded restroom facilities.
Additionally, a special Inside-the-Ropes experience is available for $1,500. This unique opportunity allows two guests to walk inside the ropes with a featured group during a competition round. The experience also includes access to the U.S. Virgin Islands Champions Club and general parking.
In partnership with SERVPRO, the LPGA is pleased to offer both current and former members of the U.S. Military and certain guests complimentary grounds tickets regardless of sell-out.
Past LPGA Championships Held In Massachusetts (Since 1950)
1950 Eastern Women’s Open (Woodland Golf Club, Newton)
1954 U.S. Women’s Open (Salem Country Club, Peabody)
1958 Triangle Round Robin (Tedesco Country Club, Marblehead)
1960 U.S. Women’s Open (Worcester Country Club, Worcester)
1962–1966 Lady Carling Eastern Open (Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton)
1967–1968 LPGA Championship (Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton)
1969 Patty Berg Classic (Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton)
1970–1974 LPGA Championship (Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton)
1980-1990 Boston Five Classic (Ferncroft Country Club, Middleton)
1984 U.S. Women’s Open (Salem Country Club, Peabody)
1991-1997 LPGA Bay State Classic & PING/Welch’s Championship (Blue Hill Country Club, Canton)
1995-1998 Friendly’s Classic (Crestview Country Club, Agawam)
1999 areaWEB.COM Challenge (Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton)
2004 U.S. Women’s Open (Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley)
https://www.fm.com/about-us/sponsorships/fm-championship
(PHOTO CREDIT: Pat Eastman)
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