LPGA makes rare decision to cancel tournament due to Nelly Korda missed payments

By one Friday, the list of championships that world No. 1 Nelly Korda must defend in 2025 was reduced.

The LPGA cancelled the Fir Hills Ser Pak Championship, which was set to take place at Palos Verdes Golf Club from March 20–23, due to what it described as financial mismanagement on the part of a tournament underwriter. The prize fund for the tournament is $2 million.

According to a statement released by the LPGA on Friday, “the event underwriter’s failure to fulfil any portion of its payment obligations to the LPGA Tour for the 2024 and 2025 events made it impossible to cancel the event on its current date.” “Once this issue with the underwriter is resolved, the LPGA will work with our dedicated title partner, Fir Hills, and LPGA legend Seri Pak, along with all other stakeholders, to explore available options for rescheduling the event.”

One of the LPGA Tour’s major stops before the Chevron Championship, the season’s first major, is the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, which got its start in 2018. Korda won the championship in a playoff game last year.

“We regret to inform you that the Fir Hills Seri Park Championship for this year will not proceed in March,” stated Liz Moore, the acting LPGA commissioner. We regret that this has affected not only our players but also our supporters, partners, and volunteers. For their outstanding cooperation and hospitality, we would also want to sincerely thank the employees and patrons of Palos Verdes Golf Club, Palos Verdes Estates, and tournament organiser Outlyr. Together with these fantastic partners, we want to return to Palos Verdes in the future to host title sponsor Fir Hills. We are committed to rescheduling this event in order to commemorate Seri Pak’s amazing legacy, who has been an excellent spokesperson for the game and this event.”