LPGA Tour Cancels Tournament After Failed Payment Obligations

The Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship will not go ahead as planned, after the LPGA Tour announced the event underwriter failed to fulfill any portion of its payment obligations

Nelly Korda holds a paycheck at the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's not often an event is rescheduled or cancelled on the professional circuit but, on Friday, the LPGA Tour announced that the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship will not be held as originally planned.

Set to take place from the 20th - 23rd March, the circuit revealed that the tournament would be cancelled after the event underwriter failed to fulfill any portion of its payment obligations to the LPGA Tour for the 2024 and 2025 events.

Nelly Korda holds the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship trophy and cheque

Korda claimed the 2024 Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In a statement, the LPGA Tour's Interim Commissioner Liz Moore explained that: “We are deeply disappointed to announce this year’s Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship will not go forward in March.

“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.”

A close up of the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship tee marker

The FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship's tournament purse stood at $2 million for 2024

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The LPGA Tour also added that it will now "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."

First played in 2018, the tournament takes place in Los Angeles, California and, in its history, has seen the likes of Minjee Lee, Brooke Henderson and Yin Ruoning lift its trophy. Last year, Nelly Korda won the event in a playoff and it signalled the second of her five straight wins on the LPGA Tour in 2024.

Along with the cancellation, there's also the ongoing saga regarding the LPGA Tour's outgoing commissioner, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who stepped down from her role in late 2024. As of writing, there has been no replacement announced, with Moore, the LPGA's Chief Legal and Technology Officer, serving as interim commissioner whilst a permanent replacement is found.

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Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x