LPGA makes rare decision to cancel tournament due to missed payments

The list of titles world No. 1 Nelly Korda has to defend in 2025 got cut by one Friday.

Due to what the LPGA described as financial neglect from a tournament underwriter, the league canceled the Fir Hills Ser Pak Championship, which was scheduled to be contested at Palos Verdes Golf Club from March 20-23. The tournament has a $2 million purse.

“Cancelling the event on its current date was unavoidable due to the event underwriter failing to fulfill any portion of its payment obligations to the LPGA Tour for the 2024 and 2025 events,” the LPGA said in a statement Friday. “The LPGA will work with our committed title partner, Fir Hills, and LPGA legend Seri Pak as well as all other stakeholders to explore available options for rescheduling the event once this matter is resolved with the underwriter.”

The Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship began in 2018 and is one of the LPGA Tour’s key stops ahead of the Chevron Championship, the first major of the season. Korda won last year’s title in a playoff.

“We are deeply disappointed to announce this year’s Fir Hills Seri Park Championship will not go forward in March,” said interim LPGA commissioner Liz Moore. “We apologize for the impact this has on our players, as well as on our fans, partners and volunteers. We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff and members at Palos Verdes Golf Club, Palos Verdes Estates, and tournament operator, Outlyr, for their exceptional partnership and hospitality. It is our intention to return to Palos Verdes in the future to host title sponsor, Fir Hills, once again alongside these great partners. We remain dedicated to bringing this event back to our schedule to honor the incredible legacy of Seri Pak, who has been a wonderful ambassador for the game and this event.”

The decision to cancel the event comes at an unstable time for the LPGA Tour. Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepped down earlier this month after an uneven tenure. With the event now off the spring schedule, there will be a two-week gap between when the tour returns from Asia, where it will have three limited-field events, and the Ford Championship on March 27-30.

The LPGA Tour’s season will begin next week at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournaments of Champions, where Lydia Ko is defending her title.