Summary
HOUSTON (AP) — The Chevron Championship, the LPGA's first major of the year, will move to Memorial Park, just four weeks after Houston's public course hosts the PGA Tour's Houston Open. Since its relocation in 2023, the tournament had been held at The Club at Carlton Woods, a suburban Jack Nicklaus-designed club about 40 miles north of Houston.
The decision to move the event to Memorial Park aims to bring it closer to Chevron's headquarters and downtown Houston. Laura Lane, Chevron's director of corporate affairs, commented, “For more than a century, Houston has been central to Chevron's history. Partnering with Memorial Park allows us to honor that legacy while furthering our commitment to women's golf and giving back to the community.”.
Memorial Park was redesigned by Tom Doak and returned to host the Houston Open in 2020, initially in the fall portion of the PGA Tour schedule and then moving to the spring in 2024. The Houston Open is scheduled for March 26-29, while the Chevron Championship will be played April 23-26. It remains unclear whether the LPGA will utilize any of the existing infrastructure from the PGA Tour event.
Key details
Chevron assumed the title sponsorship of this major in 2022. Since 1972—and having become a major in 1983—it had been held at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This was the only LPGA major that did not relocate and maintained the famous tradition of the winner jumping into Poppie's Pond, near the 18th hole.
Chevron attempted to revive the tradition of jumping into a murky lake to the left of the 18th hole at Carlton Woods, even though there is no water around the 18th hole at Memorial Park. LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler said in a statement, “The partnership with Chevron continues to set a standard for what it means to invest in women’s golf, not just as a championship, but as a platform to inspire and grow the game.”.
Moving the Chevron Championship to Memorial Park Golf Course reinforces that vision, bringing the event closer to the heart of Houston and connecting more fans and communities with our athletes, ensuring that this major continues to shine as one of the most significant stages in the sport.”.
