What Is 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia is the premier women's professional golf tour in Australia and New Zealand, featuring a schedule of 12 official events with a total prize fund of AUD $2.4 million. The tour is sanctioned by Golf Australia and runs from February through November 2025, aligning with the Southern Hemisphere summer season.

Key Facts

The 2025 season features 12 official events across Australia and New Zealand
Total prize money for the tour is AUD $2.4 million
The tour is sanctioned by Golf Australia and New Zealand Golf
Season runs from February 6 to November 30, 2025
The ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open is the flagship event with $1.5 million purse

Overview

The 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia is the official professional golf circuit for women in Australia and New Zealand, operated by the Women's Professional Golfers Association (WPGA). It serves as the primary developmental and competitive platform for female golfers in the region, offering ranking points, prize money, and international exposure.

Now in its 48th season, the 2025 tour builds on a legacy of promoting elite women’s golf in the Southern Hemisphere. The season is structured to avoid clashes with major global tours while providing a strong foundation for players aiming to qualify for the LPGA Tour or LET.

12 official events are scheduled across six Australian states and two New Zealand regions, maximizing regional engagement and broadcast reach.
The AUD $2.4 million total prize fund represents a 12% increase from 2024, reflecting growing investment in women’s sports.
The ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open remains the tour’s marquee event, offering a $1.5 million purse and co-sanctioning with the Ladies European Tour.
Players earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points at all events, enhancing global competitiveness and visibility.
The tour runs from February 6 to November 30, 2025, strategically positioned to avoid overlap with the LPGA’s winter swing.

How It Works

The 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia operates on a merit-based system where players compete for prize money, rankings, and qualification opportunities. Each tournament follows standard 72-hole stroke play format, with cuts applied after 36 holes to maintain competitive intensity.

Player Eligibility: Full membership requires a professional status and a handicap of 0.4 or lower. International players can enter via sponsor invitations or qualifying tournaments.
Event Structure: Most tournaments span four days with 144-player fields; exceptions include the Australian Open, which hosts 160 competitors.
Prize Distribution: The winner typically receives 18% of the purse, with all players inside the top 60 earning prize money.
Rankings System: The WPGA Order of Merit ranks players based on season-long earnings, with the top 5 earning exemptions into select LPGA Q-Series events.
Co-Sanctioning Agreements: Three events in 2025 are co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour, increasing global visibility and OWGR points availability.
Development Pathway: The WPGA Pro-Am Series feeds into the main tour, allowing amateurs and emerging pros to earn status through performance.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparative analysis of the 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia against other major regional women’s tours:

Tour	Number of Events	Total Prize Fund	Flagship Event	OWGR Points
WPGA Tour of Australasia	12	AUD $2.4M	Women’s Australian Open	Yes
LPGA Tour (USA)	33	USD $80M	ANA Inspiration	Yes
Ladies European Tour	21	EUR $32M	BMW Ladies Championship	Yes
Japan LPGA Tour	38	JPY 6.1B	Japan Women’s Open	Yes
Korn Ferry Tour (Men’s)	25	USD $20M	Champions Classic	No

While the WPGA Tour of Australasia operates on a smaller scale than the LPGA or JLPGA, its strategic co-sanctioning and regional focus make it a critical stepping stone for Pacific Rim talent. The tour’s compact schedule allows for high player engagement and cost-effective operations, with a growing emphasis on media partnerships and digital streaming.

Why It Matters

The 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia plays a vital role in advancing gender equity in professional golf and nurturing regional talent. Its continued growth reflects broader trends in sports investment and media coverage for women’s athletics.

Grassroots Development: The tour partners with 42 junior academies across Australia and New Zealand to identify and train future professionals.
Media Exposure: All events are streamed live on 7plus and Spark Sport, reaching an estimated 1.2 million annual viewers.
Pathway to LPGA: Since 2010, 14 WPGA alumni have earned LPGA Tour cards, including 2023 major champion Hannah Green.
Economic Impact: Host cities report an average tourism boost of AUD $1.8 million per event from visitor spending and accommodations.
Sponsorship Growth: The tour added five new sponsors in 2025, including Nike Golf and ANZ Bank, signaling increased commercial confidence.
Gender Equity Benchmark: The tour’s prize fund now covers 88% of the men’s PGA Tour of Australasia average purse, up from 62% in 2015.

As women’s sports continue to gain momentum globally, the 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia stands as a model of sustainable growth, regional relevance, and athletic excellence.