LPGA makes cuts in credit crunch

Bivens made the announcement as she unveiled the 2009 schedule

The LPGA is dropping four tournaments and reducing its official prize money for 2009 because of the global economic downturn, it has been revealed.

Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens said the economic situation "has resulted in a slightly different tournament landscape for 2009".

"Who among us knows how the economy will really perform in 2009, much less in 2010," she said.

The European Tour has already dropped a tournament for similar reasons.

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The 2009 Tour will start in February with the SBS Open at Turtle Bay in Hawaii, and finish at the Tour Championship in Texas.

The four tournaments which will be dropped are the ADT Championship, the Fields Open, Ginn Tribute and Safeway International.