Three fewer events on 2009 LPGA Tour schedule

MIAMI (Reuters) - Next year's LPGA Tour will feature three events fewer than 2008, largely due to the global financial crisis.

Although the average tournament purse will remain roughly the same at $1.767 million, total prize money will drop from just over $60 million to almost $55 million, LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens told a news conference on Wednesday.

The schedule features 31 events in 10 countries, with several unofficial tournaments expected to be added in the post-season.

"Each year the schedule evolves with a natural ebb and flow of events but, like many businesses and individuals, the state of the global economy ... has resulted in a slightly different tournament landscape for 2009," said Bivens.

"Despite the economic challenges the LPGA is in strong financial condition, stronger than it has been."

The Tour will start in Hawaii with the February 12-14 SBS Open at Turtle Bay and end in Houston, Texas with the November 19-22 Stanford Financial Tour Championship.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Tony Jimenez)