The American-based LGPA Tour was founded in 1950, but professional women's golf in Europe took a lot longer to get established.

In 1978 the Women's Professional Golf Association (WPGA) was formed as part of the Professional Golfers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and a tour was set up the following year.

However, in 1988 the Tour members decided to form an independent company called the Women Professional Golfers' European Tour Limited and set up their own headquarters at the Tytherington Club in Cheshire.

Ten years later the Tour changed its name to the European Ladies' Professional Golf Association Limited, before becoming Ladies European Tour Limited in July 2000. In 2008 the Tour relocated to the Buckinghamshire Golf Club.

The Ladies European Tour took a while to establish itself thanks to the strength of the LPGA Tour, which had existed for nearly 30 years when a European organisation was finally created.

As such, it took a very long time for the LET to gather any kind of momentum due it constantly lagging behind the LPGA in terms of both players and media coverage, even in its home continent.

However, a period of growth in the mid-21st century brought the LET up to a level which meant it could start to think about competing with its more illustrious American cousin.

Six new events were added in 2006 and 2007, and a record 26 official money events were scheduled for 2008, as well as a new team competition called the European Ladies' Golf Cup.

The Ladies European Tour also scheduled an event opposite one of the LPGA's majors, with the ABN AMRO Open held alongside the LPGA Championship.

Although the 2009 schedule has dropped to 23 events, a tournament opposing the LPGA Championship remains, this time the Ladies' Open of Portugal, which will take place in June.