LPGA cancels Taiwan Swinging Skirts for 4th straight year

For the fourth year in a row, the LPGA Tour has canceled the Taiwan Swinging Skirts Championship. Officials reached a mutual decision to cancel the event, citing operational factors.

The Swinging Skirts Golf Foundation sponsored the event and it was scheduled to take place from October 26 to October 29. It was first dismissed in 2020 due to the global pandemic. Then it could not be held due to travel restrictions for the past three years and was again canceled for the fourth time.

On Thursday, March 23, the LPGA Tour issued the following statement:

“The LPGA Tour is thankful for Chairman Wang, the GAROC and the Swinging Skirts Foundation team for providing opportunities for LPGA Tour athletes since 2014 and their continued dedication for growing women’s golf in Chinese Taipei, as well as the countless fans and volunteers who have supported the event in its history.”

However, the week won't remain empty, as the statement went on to say:

“More information on the LPGA Tour schedule for the week of Oct. 22, 2023, will be shared in the near future."

However, it is yet to be announced which event will be organized in place of the LPGA Taiwan Swinging Skirts Championship.

The tournament is one of four LPGA Tour events slated to take place in Southeast Asia. The other three stops include South Korea, Japan, and China.

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LPGA Taiwan Swinging Skirts Championship winners so far

The LPGA Taiwan Championship started in 2011 as the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship. It usually takes place at Miramar Golf Country Club in Taiwan in October or November every year.

However, because of the COVID-19 restrictions, it was canceled for four straight years. The tournament has a limited field of 90 golfers playing in 72 holes.

It was called the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship before being renamed the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship in 2014. The tournament was once again renamed the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Tournament Championship in 2017.

It started with prize money of $2 million, which was increased to $2.2 million in 2017.

Yani Tseng won the first event held in 2011 by five strokes after defeating Azahara Munoz and Amy Yang.

Nelly Korda and Suzann Pettersen won the tournament twice. Korda defeated Caroline Masson and Minjee Kim in 2019 to win a check for $330K in prize money. She also won the tournament in 2018 by two strokes over Minjee Lee.

Lydia Ko won the championship in 2015 after defeating Ji Eun Hee and So Yeon Ryu. She finished in second place in 2017 when Ji Eun Hee defeated her by six strokes.

Here is a list of all the winners of the LPGA Taiwan Championship over the years:

2011: Yani Tseng

• Runners-up - Azahara Munoz and Amy Yang

2012: Suzann Pettersen

• Runner-up - Inbee Park

2013: Suzann Petterson

• Runner-up - Azahara Munoz

2014: Inbee Park

• Runner-up - Stacy Lewis

2015: Lydia Ko

• Runners-up - Eun Hae Ji and So Yeon Ryu

2016: Jang Ha-Na

• Runner-up - Shanshan Feng

2017: Ji Eun-hee

• Runner-up - Lydia Ko

2018: Nelly Korda

• Runner-up - Minjee Lee

2019: Nelly Korda

• Runners-ups - Caroline Masson and Minjee Lee