One of the biggest LPGA Tour events benefitting the LPGA Foundation kicks off this week at the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, NJ, and this one-of-a-kind tournament stands out from all the rest on the LPGA Tour schedule with its strong focus on simultaneously honoring the LPGA’s past and showcasing the future of the game.

Let’s take a look at the 5 ways the Cognizant Founders Cup is one you cannot miss.

The Focus on the Past, Present, and the Future

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The Founders Cup was established in 2011 as a way to honor the women who helped establish the LPGA and who elevated women’s golf to the level where it is today. The tournament’s featured guests have included the surviving LPGA Founders and women’s golf pioneers, allowing today’s LPGA Tour players the chance to pay tribute to the women who came before them and to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of women and girls in the game.

Little Girls with Big Dreams

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Unlike other tournaments, a large portion of the purse is donated to LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, a non-profit 501-c3 junior golf program with sites in more than 500 communities across the country dedicated to teaching more than just the game of golf but also empowering them with confidence and leadership skills. In the 10 years since the start of the tournament, nearly $4 million have been donated to the organization, helping grow the game for years to come. Local Girls Golf members spend the tournament participating in junior activities and skills challenges, and witness plenty of #LittleGirlsBIGDreams coming to life as they watch some Girls Golf Alumnae take to the greens.

The Living History

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History is everywhere you look at the Founders Cup. From the Founders Walk featuring each of the original 13 LPGA Founders, the Pioneer Dinner celebrating the women who have and currently are making a difference in the game, and the Founders Perch where LPGA Founder Shirley Spork, golf pioneers Nancy Lopez, Sally Little, Mary Mills, and more watch the tournament and interact with the fans. Where else can you find so much living women’s golf history all in one place?

The Purse

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The purse for the 2021 Cognizant Founders Cup is the largest one yet at $3 million, which makes it one of the largest purses outside of an LPGA Major.

The Sponsor Who Gives Back

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Outside of the tournament itself, title sponsor, Cognizant, is hosting a series of events that engage the community through golf. The Monday before the tournament, they invited kids from the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization for a behind the scenes career day to explore potential job opportunities within the golf industry. And all day Saturday of the tournament, they will “Turn the Greek Pink” by handing out pink towels and wristbands and donating a portion of the day’s ticket sales to breast cancer awareness.