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LET Access Series unveils 2024 tournament schedule

11.45am 24th January 2024 - Sponsorship & Events

The LET Access Series has announced its full schedule for the 2024 season which will see a minimum of 14 events played across six European countries between April and October.

Sweden will host four of the 14 events, while France is set to hold three, and England two, while there will also be the annual visits to the Czech Republic and Denmark during the year.

The season is due to get underway at the prestigious Golf de Terre Blanche, back for its 12 th  edition, before rounding out at the Calatayud Ladies Open at Gambito Golf Calatayud. 

At the end of the season, seven players on the LETAS Order of Merit will earn membership to the LET for 2025, while players finishing in eighth to 32nd positions will be exempt into the final stage of LET Q-School, an increase of 10 spots. The number of LET cards rewarded has increased from previous years and reflects the strength and depth of players on LETAS. 

So far, a total of three events have announced elevated purses for next year, including the Terre Blanche Ladies Open, the Santander Golf Tour and the Lavaux Ladies Open, an event we are  pleased to welcome back. 

A new event hosted at The Club at Mill Green , the Get Golfing Women’s Golf Open is offering one of the largest individual prize funds in the tour’s history of €80,000.

With a few tournaments still waiting to confirm their prize funds, including the Rose Ladies Open, the tour’s current total prize money of €600,000 is very likely to increase.

Last season Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen was crowned LETAS Order of Merit winner and Rookie of the Year after winning three times in her maiden season as a professional and securing status on the LET for 2024.

Five other players clinched LET cards for 2024 alongside Kibsgaard Nielsen including Swiss players, Elena Moosmann, and Chiara Tamburlini, as well as three English players, Emily Price, Hannah Screen and Gemma Clews. 

At the end of the season, seven players on the LETAS Order of Merit will earn membership to the LET for 2025, an increase from previous years while players finishing in eighth to 32nd positions will be exempt into the final stage of LET Q-School, an increase of 10 spots. 

Speaking about the announcement Alexandra Armas, LET CEO, said: “We are extremely proud to be able to announce the schedule for the 2024 LET Access Series. It looks set to be a fantastic year and it also shows the commitment there is to provide greater competitive opportunities to players which in turn gives them the potential to progress to the Ladies European Tour.

“The LET is dedicated to supporting our members and growing the game of golf to new and existing markets and we are excited to confirm the release of this schedule in what will be another great year.”

Ana Larraneta, LETAS Tour Director, added: “We’re delighted to announce the schedule for the 2024 LETAS season. To be able to continue to provide a full schedule with increasing prize funds year on year is amazing for LETAS members. I would like to thank the federations, our sponsors and partners who are committed to growing the women’s game, for their continued support and we’re excited for the year ahead.”

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Home | News | Tour | Nikon becomes Official Rangefinder of the LPGA & LET

Nikon becomes Official Rangefinder of the LPGA & LET

Nikon to provide COOLSHOT rangefinders to all active athletes across both the LPGA and LET

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Ladies European Tour (LET) proudly announce a new multi-year partnership with Nikon Inc., a leader in imaging products, optics, precision equipment and instruments.

Nikon's COOLSHOT Rangefinders will become the Official Rangefinders of both Tours, offering precision optical devices designed to deliver unparalleled accuracy in distance measurement. With cutting-edge technology and sleek design, Nikon Rangefinders promise superior performance in diverse scenarios, blending precision, innovation, and durability seamlessly to empower confident decision-making during play.

“To Nikon, this is more than a partnership – it’s a fantastic opportunity to support a diverse group of amazing and talented athletes, who can use our optics and rangefinders to take their already impressive game even further,” said Naoki Onozato, President and CEO, Nikon Inc.

“We can’t wait to see how these tours grow and thrive in the future, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Providing Nikon Rangefinders to LPGA and LET players

As part of the partnership, LPGA and LET players will receive Nikon Rangefinders for use during competition and practice, with the rangefinders featuring a special competition mode to comply with the Rules of Golf. Nikon's commitment underscores its dedication to equipping athletes with the tools necessary for success at the highest level.

“We are so thrilled to announce Nikon as our newest official partner, providing high quality equipment that supports the success of our athletes,” said LPGA Chief Sales and Partnerships Officer Nicole Metzger.

“This partnership directly benefits our athletes by providing them with top-of-the-line equipment that enhances their performance and confidence on the course. We are constantly looking to work with corporations like Nikon who share our dedication to growing and elevating the sport and empowering female athletes worldwide.”

Allowed to be used in competitions

Rangefinders were first allowed in LPGA Tour competition at the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, with athletes now permitted to use rangefinder technology at most LPGA Tour and LET events. The Epson Tour and LET Access Series have permitted usage of rangefinders in competition since 2020.

“We are excited to welcome Nikon to the LET family as the Official Rangefinder to the Tour for the next two years,” said Fiona Harold, Commercial Director of the LET.

“It’s key for us that we align with partners who support our objectives, and this is a great example of that. Nikon’s investment means our players will benefit from using the best equipment to enable them to excel on the golf course. Their commitment to partnering with both the LET and the LPGA shows the value they place on supporting elite female golfers competing across the globe. We are really looking forward to working with them.”

For more information and to explore the products offered by the Nikon, visit NikonUSA.com.

Manon De Roey wins Investec SA Women's Open

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Rose Ladies Series 2024 Review

By Emma Ballard

Ladies vs Women – does it really matter?

"she's really growing the women's game exponentially", the mothers and daughters open golf competition: 2024 winners, julia regis & sarah stirk join england golf board of directors, skyscanner announced as global partner of 2024 and 2026 solheim cup, let access series adds another tournament.

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Retired airman sentenced for illegally selling TV access codes, DOJ says

COLUMBIA, S.C. ( WIS /Gray News) - A retired Florida airman was sentenced to federal prison after being convicted of providing illegal access to digital streaming services, according to the Department of Justice.

The department says Franklin Valverde Jr., 40, of Melbourne, Florida made hundreds of thousands of dollars by illegally selling access codes that allowed users to view the entire video libraries of Dish Network and Sling TV.

These video libraries included all copyrighted content of both Dish Network and Sling TV, including pay-per-view sporting events, movies and television shows.

Valverde was formerly stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina when he began the scheme, DOJ added. He would typically charge users $10 a month for the codes.

The DOJ said Valverde’s conviction is believed to be the first in the nation under the 2021 Protecting Lawful Streaming Act (PLSA).

The act was Introduced as a provision of the COVID-19 Stimulus Bill, and is intended to punish piracy services that profit from illegally streaming copyrighted material.

Valverde pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervision upon release.

He was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution as well as a $250,000 fine.

Copyright 2024 WIS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Many airlines have 'stopover' programs that let travelers tour a city between connecting flights, and some will even pay for a hotel — here's how to book them

• Many people intentionally book flights with long connections so they can explore the layover city.
• Airlines capitalize on this trend with "stopover" programs, some even offering free hotels and food.
• These stopovers benefit travelers, airlines, and the carrier's home country by boosting tourism.

A special segment of adventurous travelers will purposely book itineraries with long connections in layover cities just to leave the airport and explore for a few hours or days between flights.

Airlines have jumped on this growing trend with built-in "stopover" programs, which can come with free or discounted hotels, excursions, transportation, and food at the layover destination.

It's basically a vacation within a vacation.

Although it sounds too good to be true, stopovers benefit everyone involved. Travelers get more choices and don't have to be confined to an airport, airlines gain customers who may have otherwise chosen a nonstop option on a competitor, and the carrier's home country sees a boost in tourism.

Plus, the cheap or complimentary accommodations typically come at a small cost to airlines, thanks to partnerships with local hotels or tour companies.

Not all stopover programs are structured with an emphasis on tourism, though, as some were created simply to offer conveniences during long layovers. Still, they are a way to secure a free hotel and explore an extra city.

Here are 22 global airline stopover programs, each lasting anywhere from hours to months.

Many carriers allow stopovers to be added to a regular cash booking, but some are only available via award tickets . This means the flight was paid for using points/miles or a combination of points/miles and cash.

Air Canada has a stopover option built into its Aeroplan loyalty program. It allows customers booking award flights to add a stop on international journeys and explore practically any city the airline flies to outside the US and Canada.

The add-on costs 5,000 Aeroplan points each way and can only be booked if the stop is at least 24 hours, capping out at 45 days.

Air France/KLM

Air France and Dutch carrier KLM's Flying Blue loyalty program offers a stopover of 24 hours or more in a connecting city on either carrier or their airline partners.

The option is free to add to award tickets, and passengers can stay up to a year in the stopover city.

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines offers a free one-night hotel stay for transfer passengers with connection times lasting between six and 30 hours, though there are some time and route restrictions.

Breakfast and transportation are included for eligible travelers.

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines' Panama stopover program allows customers to spend anywhere from 24 hours to seven days in the nation's capital, Panama City, on their outbound or return trip.

The option is free for the first stopover, but a second stopover can cost up to $250 plus taxes. Copa offers discounted hotels and tours that can be booked via its stopover website.

Emirates allows a stopover in Dubai with the option to add discounted tours or hotel bookings to the itinerary via its website.

The UAE carrier also has a " Dubai Connect " program that gives passengers with layovers between 6 and 26 hours, depending on the cabin, a complimentary hotel, transfers, meals, and any needed visa.

Dubai Connect only triggers if the customer takes the next available flight. Essentially, you can't intentionally book a longer layover to quality for the free stopover hotel.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines' transit program gives customers flying via Addis Ababa a free hotel, transit visa, and transfers during layovers lasting between eight and 24 hours.

The hotel on the airline's website is the Ethiopian Skylight In-Terminal Hotel, located inside the airport.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways offers a stopover in its Abu Dhabi hub, which comes with an undisclosed discount at select three-star hotels for up to two nights.

Two and four-night stays can be booked at more luxurious four and five-star hotels at a 40% discount. The minimum stay is 24 hours.

Although Etihad's website says it is temporarily unavailable, the airline used to allow eligible travelers to use a so-called Transit Connect Package that provided a free hotel near the airport for layovers lasting 10 to 24 hours. It is unclear when or if the program is returning.

Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways offers a stopover program in Fiji for those traveling to and from Australia, New Zealand, and other South Pacific nations.

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Hotels and activities like ziplining and beach resorts can be booked through the airline as part of the stopover package.

Finnair allows passengers to book 6, 12, or 24-hour layovers in Helsinki at no additional fare charge and outlines itinerary ideas and information on its website , like transportation, free walking tours, and restaurants.

Customers can book a hotel through the airline and earn Finnair Plus points.

Iberia customers can plan a stopover in Madrid to or from an international destination for one to six nights at no extra cost.

Discounts on hotels, excursions, and transfers in the Spanish capital are available through Iberia.

Icelandair offers a stopover option for one to seven days in its capital city of Reykjavik on transatlantic itineraries for no additional charge.

The airline offers itinerary help and assistance in booking excursions and tours. Hotels need to be booked separately.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines considers itself one of the "most stopover -friendly" carriers in the world.

The stopovers, which trigger at 24 hours, are not limited to JAL's hubs in Tokyo but can be enjoyed in places like Osaka and Kyoto using the airline's multi-city booking tool.

Latam Airlines

Latam Airlines offers stopovers for between one and three days on flights that connect in São Paulo, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Manaus, Curitiba, and Belem. Only international itineraries that connect in São Paulo.

Hotels and amenities can be booked via Latam, but the stopover booking is free.

Oman Air offers customizable stopover packages to give travelers time to explore the country's capital, Muscat, and beyond. An additional fare charge may be applicable, though the airline does not fly to the US.

Packages and a-la-carte options include discounted hotels for up to three nights, as well as organized tours, meals, and transfers.

Australian flag carrier Qantas offers its stopovers in a similar manner to JAL in that multi-city bookings can be manipulated to add extra days between flights in layover cities, like Bangkok, Osaka, or San Francisco.

This comes at no extra cost on eligible Qantas fares and can be used on its Oneworld partner airlines.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways' stopover program allows passengers with a minimum layover of 12 hours and up to 24 hours to choose from a list of deeply discounted four and five-star hotels. Certain flight itineraries allow for up to four nights.

Nightly hotel rates start at $14 per person for 1 night at four-star standard hotels, with premium five-star beach hotels starting at $30 per person for one night.

Royal Jordanian Airlines

Royal Jordanian Airlines' transit program gives economy and business-class travelers with at least eight and six-hour layovers, respectively, a free hotel room, meals, and transit, assuming certain fare conditions are met.

However, the connecting flight must be the earliest possible — meaning, similar to Emirates, passengers can't intentionally book a longer layover to be eligible for the complimentary perks.

Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines, or SWISS, has a multi-city stopover booking tool on its website that allows passengers to find itineraries with extra days in Switzerland.

The cost of hotels and other perks is on the customer, though.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines' stopover program is available via the multi-city tool, similar to other carriers, where travelers can add hotels, transfers, and activities. The stopover can last one to seven days.

Singapore also offers free transit tours to passengers with layover times between five and a half and 24 hours at Singapore's Changi Airport. It's first-come, first-serve and includes sightseeing around Singapore.

TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal allows customers to add a stopover in Lisbon or Porto between one and 10 days, offering discounts on hotels, food, and activities.

It also offers 25% off a domestic flight to a second Portuguese destination, like the Azores or Madeira islands, to take during the stopover.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines' stopover program gives economy travelers a one-night free hotel stay and business flyers a two-night free stay if the period between their connecting flights in Istanbul exceeds 20 hours.

Those traveling from the US in economy class can stay up to two nights in a four-star hotel, while those traveling in business can stay up to three nights in a five-star hotel.

Watch: Thousands of bags pile up at US airports after flight cancellations

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LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton shockingly granted Ryder Cup lifeline

Despite their affiliation with LIV Golf, both Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton can make the Ryder Cup team in 2025.

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Share All sharing options for: LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton shockingly granted Ryder Cup lifeline

Get ready to see Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup , despite their affiliation with LIV Golf .

Many believed that LIV golfers could not compete in the last Ryder Cup, held at Marco Simone Golf Club outside of Rome, Italy. No European LIV players, such as Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, and Ian Poulter, made the roster in Rome, leading many to think that Team Europe barred LIV golfers from its team.

When in fact, those players rescinded their DP World Tour memberships and, thus, their Ryder Cup prospects.

That ultimately led to Garcia attempting to pay off his fines of $867,000 , but it was too little, too late.

As for the case of Rahm and Hatton competing in 2025, newly minted DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings cleared up this “misconception” in an interview with Golf Digest and other outlets.

“If we look at the eligibility criteria for 2023, I think there has been a slight misconception,” Kinnings said.

“The reality is that, under the current system, if a player is European and is a member of the DP World Tour and abides by the rules in place, he is eligible.”

Both Rahm and Hatton fit this billing, considering that both players have maintained their DP World Tour membership and hail from Spain and England, respectively.

Yet, these two players have not obtained an official release from the DP World Tour that would allow them to compete in LIV Golf events. As such, both players are liable to sanctions from the DP World Tour, if they want to compete in the next Ryder Cup. That will likely include a financial penalty, which should not trouble Rahm and Hatton too greatly, considering the millions they received.

“If you don’t get a release, there are sanctions, so a player must accept those sanctions. And if he accepts the penalties, there is no reason why a player who has taken LIV membership and maintained his DP World Tour membership could not (a) qualify or (b) be available for Ryder Cup selection,” Kinnings explained.

“It requires a player to work within the rules, but the truth is that those rules have been looked at and tested. Everything is done in a fair, reasonable, and proportionate way. So, there is no reason why anything needs to change. It is wrong to think Jon Rahm has written himself out of the Ryder Cup. People instantly thought we would have to change the rules . But actually, we don’t. If Jon follows the procedures in place, there is no reason why he would not be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup.”

To date, Rahm has followed these procedures, according to Kinnings. He has formally requested a release before each LIV event he has played, including this week before LIV Golf’s Adelaide event, but the DP World Tour has denied each plea.

“[Rahm] will likely have to serve a suspension. And if he does that, he will be eligible to play in the next Ryder Cup. He doesn’t actually have to enter a subsequent DP World Tour event to serve that suspension. He would be suspended from an event, even if he hasn’t entered,” Kinnings added.

“To be eligible for the Ryder Cup, a player must play in a minimum of four DP World Tour events. Any player will still be able to do that, even if he serves any and all suspensions levied. There are enough weeks in the year to do that. That’s not a loophole. Those are the rules we have always had.”

Instead of serving his suspension after the LIV Golf season wraps up, Rahm, in theory, could partake in his suspension during off weeks on the Saudi-backed circuit. Since LIV Golf has a two-week break between the PGA Championship in mid-May and its Houston event in early June, part of Rahm’s suspension could be honored through the Soudal Open in Belgium and the European Open in Germany, for example.

Rahm could continue to employ this strategy throughout the Summer, opening up the door for him to compete in two of his favorite events on the DP World Tour later this Fall: the Andalucía Masters and the Open de España.

Regardless, the path for Rahm and Hatton—along with Adrian Meronk and Thomas Pieters—to make the 2025 Ryder Cup team has been laid out before them. Whether these players follow that course remains to be seen.

But rest assured that all European fans, including fellow players like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, want Rahm and Hatton on the team at Bethpage Black.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

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