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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The start of the 2007 LPGA Tour schedule is this week at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay in Hawaii, and with it come some changes to the LPGA playoff system that was introduced last season.

The playoff system, known as LPGA Playoffs 2007, again comprises a regular season that splits the LPGA schedule into two halves, with 15 players from each half qualifying for the season-ending ADT Championship using a performance-based points system throughout the year, plus two wild cards. The winner of the 2007 ADT Championship again will earn $1 million.

For 2007, the winners of every event with a purse of $2 million or more, called "Winner" events, will automatically qualify for the 32-player ADT Championship field. All other events will use the points system. In addition, the points system has been modified so that each point is equivalent to $1 earned.

Also, the format of the ADT Championship has been modified. Starting this year, the 32-player field will be cut to 16 after two rounds and those 16 players will start with a fresh scorecard for Saturday's round. The top eight scorers on Saturday will advance to Sunday's final round and once again will start with a fresh scorecard. The player with the low score on Sunday will claim the $1 million prize.

And this year, the rules have been changed so that a non-LPGA Tour member (such as Michelle Wie) has the opportunity to compete in the ADT Championship by winning one of the four majors. Also, if a non-member wins a non-major "Winner" event, she may apply for LPGA membership and secure her spot in the ADT Championship.

The first half concludes with the Wegmans LPGA in June, and the second half concludes with the final event prior to the ADT Championship, The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions. The wild cards will be the top two players from the LPGA money list not otherwise qualified after the Tournament of Champions.

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