Majors
LPGA Tour announces new host site, date for Chevron Championship
Harry How
When Jennifer Kupcho jumped into Poppies Pond after winning the Chevron Championship in April, it marked the last time an LPGA winner would make that leap at Mission Hills. It was an emotional moment for many, as the major championship had been held in the California desert since its inception in 1971. But with the new sponsor, Chevron, comes a new location.
On Tuesday, the LPGA Tour announced that the Chevron Championship will be held at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods starting in 2023. The course is located in The Woodlands, Texas, about half an hour from Houston, where Chevron has more than 8,000 employees.
Notably, the date has also changed. The first women’s major of the year traditionally was played the weekend before the Masters. But next year’s event will be April 20-23 separating it from the men’s first major of the year and keeping it from overlapping the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
“In moving the championship to Houston, it was critical that we find a venue worthy of this historic championship and we could not be more excited about our partnership with Carlton Woods,” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said. “[Chevron’s] dedication to the women’s game and to empowering our players to reach their peak potential is evident in the resources they are putting behind this championship.”
Chevron signed a six-year deal with the LPGA Tour as title sponsor of the major and increased the purse from $3.1 million to $5 million. The new host-site opened in 2021 and is ranked No. 11 on Golf Digest’s Best Courses in Texas.