LPGA CANCELS Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship After SPONSOR FAILS to Pay

The LPGA is kicking off its 2025 season with one less event on the calendar, as the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship has been canceled due to financial issues. Originally slated for March 20-23 at Palos Verdes Golf Club, the event was scrapped after the tournament’s title sponsor, Fir Hills, failed to make good on its payment obligations for both the 2024 and 2025 editions.

This is a significant blow to the LPGA schedule, particularly for players who rely on early-season full-field events to earn their spotlights and keep momentum going.

LPGA Cancels Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship After Sponsor Fails to Pay Up

A Tournament with a Legacy
The tournament, which debuted in 2018 as the Hugel-JTBC LA Open, had become a staple of the LPGA schedule. Last year’s edition, hosted by World Golf Hall of Famer Seri Pak, was won by Nelly Korda. When Fir Hills, a Silicon Valley-based investment firm, took over title sponsorship in 2024, the tournament seemed poised for a bright future.

But things unraveled quickly. Fir Hills’ inability to meet its financial commitments left the LPGA with no choice but to pull the plug, a move described by interim commissioner Liz Moore as “deeply disappointing.”

Impact on Players
For many LPGA members, particularly those not eligible for the winners-only Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions or the limited-field events in Asia later this winter, this cancellation stings.

With the first major of the year, the Chevron Championship, not until late April, the early portion of the LPGA schedule is now even thinner. Players looking for opportunities to compete and earn money before the heart of the season are left with fewer chances to do so.

Future Uncertainty
While the LPGA hasn’t ruled out bringing the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship back to the schedule, that’s far from a guarantee. The statement from Moore struck a hopeful tone, thanking Palos Verdes Golf Club and tournament operator Outlyr for their partnership, while expressing a desire to honor Seri Pak’s legacy by eventually resurrecting the event.

But the underlying issue remains: securing reliable sponsorship is a persistent challenge for women’s professional golf. The Fir Hills situation underscores how fragile these partnerships can be, even for events with history and star power.

What’s Next for the LPGA?
The LPGA now turns its focus to the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions next week, followed by three events in Asia. But the cancellation of a full-field tournament in a prime U.S. market leaves a noticeable gap in the schedule and highlights the financial disparities between men’s and women’s professional golf.

As the LPGA works to stabilize its calendar, players and fans alike will hope that this is a one-off setback rather than the start of a troubling trend. For now, the focus shifts to making the most of the events that remain—and looking for ways to ensure that future tournaments aren’t derailed by the same issues.