LPGA looking at one million dollar playoff

The LPGA, the women's arm of professional golf, is looking to increase their visibility by offering a one million dollar playoff in post season play. This will happen at the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT.

Commissioner of the LPGA, Ty Votaw, said:

For the first time, a group of players competing for a season-long championship has, at the end of that rainbow, a real bucket of gold, $1 million first-place check.

Next year's (2006) season will be broken into two parts where players can earn points towards entry into the ADT Championship at Trump International. The one million dollar prize is worth twice as much as any other pay day in women's golf.

The idea came from the Nextel Cup in NASCAR where drivers compete for points throughout the season.

Ty Votaw said of the LPGA's efforts:

We looked to see how we could do something similar. What we were intrigued by ... was the amount of coverage, the amount of debate, the amount of back and forth, whether this was good or bad, and ultimately the results of increased television ratings, increased attendance ..

Not all the LPGA players are for the new playoff system. Juli Inkster said:

I'm not for it at all. Golf to me, it's who ends up on the fourth day is the winner. It's not NASCAR, it's golf.