Ladies European Tour to & # 039; unite & # 039; with LPGA

Meghan MacLaren is the highest placed British player in this year's Order of Merit standings

Players hope the Ladies European Tour (LET) will benefit after they agree to & # 39; unite & # 39; with the LPGA.

The joint venture means that golfers can be quickly followed to more lucrative tournaments in the United States.

LET board chairman Marta Figueras-Dotti said that the partnership would create opportunities "we simply could not have pursued it".

Earlier it was announced that the LET Order of Merit will rename the race to Costa del Sol from 2020 onwards.

The new partnership aims to provide members with more play opportunities on the LPGA tour, which this season had a total prize fund of around £ 55 million, compared to £ 12 million during the European-based tour.

It will try to extend the LET schedule, which this year included 20 official events in 13 different countries.

Eight of them are in Europe, including two major championships – the Evian Championship and the AIG Women & # 39; s British Open.

LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said, "We have experienced incredible growth in women's golf in the US, and this is an extraordinary opportunity to speed up and expand the game also in Europe."

& # 39; People are starting to invest in us & # 39;

The Race to the Costa del Sol offers a bonus prize fund of 250,000 euros (£ 214,000) – the top player on the money list at the end of the year receives an additional £ 107,000, with £ 64,000 for second place and £ 43,000 for third place.

The Costa del Sol Open in Andalusia, which starts on Thursday, the prize money will also be doubled from next year.

The prize pool for the 2020 event will be 600,000 euros (£ 514,000).

Marianne Skarpnord of Norway leads the Order of Merit rankings this year, with England & # 39; s Meghan MacLaren the highest placed British pl ayer in fifth place.

The Carly Booth of Scotland is 10th and told BBC Sport that the move was "very positive for the Tour".

"It has been a difficult few years for us emotionally and financially, so it now seems to be going in a more positive way," said the 27-year-old.

"We have so much potential on this tour and people have to see how good we are. People are starting to invest in us, I feel positive about what is coming."

Sunday has Spain & # 39; s number three Jon Rahm won a $ 2 million (£ 1.56 million) bonus for winning the European Men's Tour & # 39; s race to Dubai.