Chevron Championship 2026: Amateurs, Stars, and $1M Purse Boost Shape Historic LPGA Major Start

The 2026 Chevron Championship, the first major of the LPGA Tour season, will feature a record $9 million purse when it begins April 23 at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas. The increase from $8 million in 2025 was announced by tournament officials ahead of the field’s arrival, marking the largest prize fund in the event’s 55-year history.

The winner will receive $1.35 million, up from $1.2 million last year, with the total charitable donations expected to reach $12 million over the tournament’s history. The Chevron Championship remains the LPGA Tour’s first major championship of the year and continues its 44th season as a major on the women’s professional golf calendar.

Eight amateurs have earned exemptions into the field through various qualifying pathways, including performances in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, and other international events. Their standing in the LPGA’s LEAP (LPGA Elite Amateur Points) system determines their priority for sponsor exemptions and future tournament access.

Among the professionals, world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand is seeking her first major championship victory. The 21-year-old, who rose to the top of the world rankings in late 2025, has acknowledged the challenge of contending in her first major as the ranked leader, noting the heightened expectations that come with the position.

Nelly Korda, the 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship champion and former world No. 1, arrives in Houston after skipping the LA Open the previous week to rest and recalibrate. The American, who won the Tournament of Champions in March 2026, has emphasized the importance of arriving at majors feeling refreshed, particularly after a demanding early-season schedule.

Four former LSU golfers — all former Tigers who competed in Baton Rouge — have secured spots in the field and are set to begin play on Thursday, April 23. Their presence highlights the continued impact of the LSU women’s golf program on the LPGA Tour, with multiple alumni regularly competing at the highest level.

The tournament will be played over 72 holes of stroke play at Memorial Park Golf Course, a par-72 layout measuring 6,811 yards. The course, located in Houston’s Memorial Park, has hosted the Chevron Championship since 2022 following the event’s relocation from The Woodlands.

As the season’s opening major, the Chevron Championship often sets the tone for the year’s competitive landscape on the LPGA Tour. With a strengthened purse, a deep field of professionals and amateurs, and several storylines entering the week — including Thitikul’s pursuit of a first major and Korda’s bid to add to her major resume — the 2026 edition is positioned to be a significant moment in women’s golf.