2011 LPGA Tour schedule unveiled

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The LPGA Tour announced its 2011 schedule Thursday.

There are some differences between last year's schedule and this years.

First, when the LPGA Tour hits the domestic portion of the schedule after beginning in Asia, a new charity event will begin play on United States soil.

The RR Donnelly LPGA Founders Cup is the tournament slated for Phoenix in March without a prize purse, as players are competing for what commissioner Mike Whan called a "mock purse" in a national conference call Thursday.

Also, the season-ending LPGA Tour championship has been repackaged as the Titleholders.

The tournament is the lone Florida stop, despite the Sunshine State's penchant for attracting world-class professionals to its borders for a residence.

Another glaring tidbit from a first glance at the schedule is how three majors are sandwiched together in a four-tournament stretch.

Whan said they'll try spacing the majors out a bit more in 2012.

As it stands, however, those tournaments are wedged together, unless some shifting goes on before.

Whan also said a domestic tournament or two could be added to the current 25 official events listed.

Bradenton's Jessica Korda, who turns 18 at the end of February, said she hasn't had a chance to discuss the schedule with her parents yet.

The high school senior gained a special age waiver to play the LPGA Tour in 2011 following her success at Q-School.

There are just two tournaments - both in Asia - prior to Korda turning 18, so it's likely she won't begin her professional life until the LPGA Tour returns to America.