L E T escapes Credit Crunch "bite" in 2009

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The 2009 Ladies European Tour (LET) schedule has been released by the tour’s Executive Director Alexandra Armas with 27 events in 22 different countries next year.
“In 2008 the Ladies European Tour enjoyed an unprecedented level of success and we are delighted to consolidate our growth despite the current global financial crisis,” said Armas.
The 2009 LET schedule features total prize money in excess of €12.1 million, which is the most in the tour’s 30-year history. The total purse has grown by 67 percent over five years, from €7.2 million in 2004.
Events with increased prize funds are the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup, the AIB Ladies Irish Open, RICOH Women’s British Open and Korean Ladies Masters. New tournaments are also being discussed.
Armas added: “The Ladies European Tour represents Europe’s most elite competitive golfers and offers the opportunity for major companies to market themselves in a variety of areas such as fashion, entertainment and lifestyle. It is a unique product which offers value for money and a great return on investment."

It's a different story for Japan LPGA Tour

The Japan LPGA have fallen victim to the global economic slump with the loss of three events on next year's JLPGA women's Tour.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Tour schedule features only 34 events with the omission of the Accordia Ladies, the Belluna Ladies and the Kagome Philanthropy LPGA Champions.
The cutting of the three tournaments will see total prize money for the Japan LPGA Women'sTour reduced by 110 million yen (£800,000) to 2.92 billion yen (£21.16 million)
It is the first time in six years the number of events and the amount of prize money available on the Tour has declined.