FLORIDA - THE LPGA is cutting its tournaments from 34 to 31 in 2009 and slashing its official prize money by just over US$5 million (S$7.65 million), commissioner Carolyn Bivens announced on Wednesday.

Bivens said the prize money would drop to US$55 million dollars from 'a little more than' 60 million in 2007 and blamed the decrease on the worsening US and European economies.

'I wish this economic downturn had waited one more year', said Bivens as she announced the 2009 LPGA Tour schedule at the season-ending ADT Championship which begins on Thursday.

'Given the state of the global economy we view today's release of the 2009 schedule as a barometre of stability, appeal, and value for our players and our property'.

The average tournament prize money will also fall slightly from 1.77 million US dollars to 1.76 million US dollars.

'And who among us knows how the economy will really perform in 2009, much less in 2010', Bivens said.

'Like many businesses and individuals, the state of the global economy, and the economic crisis we're all facing has resulted in a slightly different tournament landscape for 2009'.

Bivens also announced the Tour would be returning to Thailand and Phoenix, Arizona in 2009.

Other highlights include the biennial Solheim Cup team match play event which will be held in August at Rich Harvest Farms in Chicago. The Americans will be looking to keep their untarnished home record intact.

The Canadian Women's Open will be bucking the economic trend by raising its purse 500,000 US dollars to 2.75 million US dollars in 2009.

Houston will host the two million dollar Tour Championship to conclude the season and in March, she said.

For the first time since 2007, the LPGA is also planning to host an event in Thailand.

'This was a deliberate move to create a more desirable geographic flow in 2009, where it will partner with the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore. That's only a two hour flight', Bivens said.

Bivens added that 2008 was significant because it marked the introduction of the Tour's steroid and performance-enhancing drug testing programme.

She refused to say how many players were tested in 2008 and whether the names of drug cheats would be made public.

'We won't comment on how many times we tested and how many women were tested', Bivens said.

'For many of our players over the age of 30 this was their first experience with drug testing. They are all committed to making it work'.

The LPGA switched drug testing companies earlier in the year, she said without going into details.

Of the LPGA Tour's 120 players, half are from outside the United States with South Korean's (45) making up the largest group of non-US players.

Bivens was blasted earlier this year when it was announced the LPGA planned to begin testing players next year for proficiency in English.

The edict drew the ire of Asian members of the LPGA which has since backed off on enforcing language rules with suspensions.

'Our intention is to develop a cross cultural programme', Bivens said on Wednesday. ;In addition to a language policy that will be inclusive and meet the diverse needs of all the members of the LPGA'.

She said the revamped English proficiency policy wouldn't be ready for another 12 to 18 months.

Bivens added she will be sad to lose Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam who is retiring at the end of 2008.

'We will miss her very much', she said. 'Annika will always remain one of the LPGA's and one of our game's greatest ambassadors'.

She said LPGA officials also met with the International Olympic Committee earlier this year to try and convince the IOC to allow golf into the 2016 Summer Games.

'It is an enormous opportunity', she said. 'The LPGA's diversity and popularity worldwide can play a critical role in leading us to another historic milestone for our sport'. -- AFP