Chevron Championship beginner's guide: Field, format and all you need to know ahead of first women’s major of 2026

What makes The Chevron Championship so special? How can players qualify? Where is the tournament being held? And who is likely to impress? We get you up to speed ahead of the opening women’s major of the season, live on Sky Sports.

What is The Chevron Championship?

Out of the five women's majors, The Chevron Championship is the third-oldest tournament behind the US Women's Open and the Women's PGA Championship, but it only gained major status in 1983.

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The 2026 tournament is the 56th edition of the event and will see 132 golfers compete for the Dinah Shore Trophy, named after the American singer and actress, who was an avid golfer and helped found the event in 1972.

The tournament was initially played as a 54-hole event, but since its inception, it has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the women's golf calendar, boasting one of the largest prize purses in the game.

Where is The Chevron Championship being played?

The Chevron Championship was first held at Mission Hills Country Club in California, before moving to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas in 2023.

For 2026, The Chevron Championship moves an hour down the road to Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, a par-72 course which regularly hosts the PGA Tour's Houston Open.

The tournament has many unique traditions, but one of the best was introduced by three-time champion Amy Alcott back in 1988, when the American jumped into the lake next to the 18th green at Mission Hills Country Club to celebrate her victory. Since then, it has become a tradition for every champion to leap into a pond next to the green.

In fact, this year's hosts at Memorial Park are taking the tradition so seriously that grounds staff are installing a temporary pool near the green on the 18th hole for this year's winner to jump into.

Who can play at The Chevron Championship?

Unlike the AIG Women's Open, where any amateur player who has a handicap of 0.4 or lower can qualify for the event, only the best of the best can play at The Chevron Championship, with this year's field brimming with world-class golfers.

Past champions, former major winners and LPGA Tournament winners all receive invitations, along with the top-10 players from the previous year's championship.

Meanwhile, players from other tours are also invited to attend, including the top two players on the Ladies European Tour, LPGA of Japan and the LPGA of Korea, who are not already exempt.

The 2026 event will also feature eight of the world's best amateur players.

Who is playing in The Chevron Championship?

Defending champion Mao Saigo is hoping to clinch back-to-back titles this year in Texas, after she outlasted four other players in a play-off to claim victory at the 2025 Chevron Championship.

Multiple British stars are also in the field this week. Charley Hull is out to win her first major and will be keen to finish high on the leaderboard after missing the cut last year.

Lottie Woad's rapid rise to the top of women's golf has been remarkable, and the 22-year-old will also no doubt be eyeing up a first major victory in Houston.

Who is likely to impress?

In-form Australian Hannah Green is one of the favourites to claim victory in the first women's major of the season. Green has won four of her last five starts in 2026, picking up wins at the HSBC Women's World Championship, the Women's Australian Open, the Australian WPGA Championship and at last week's JM Eagle LA Championship in California.

South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim is another in-form player, having secured back-to-back victories at the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship earlier in March.

Nelly Korda, a past Chevron Champion, is also enjoying a flying start to the 2026 season. In her four starts this year, Korda has won one event, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, and finished second in the remaining three.

"I've gone through it a couple of times where I stormed off the golf course finishing second, and then there are times where I'm proud of myself for finishing second and I've put myself into that position," said Korda. "I think it's about growing into the person you want to be, growing into the athlete that you want to be. But I wouldn't have figured that out if I didn't put myself into that position and gone through those emotions.

"I think it's okay to lash out sometimes and not act the proper way. Then you find out, okay, I don't want to act like that. I should be proud of myself. I put myself into that position many times. I worked so hard to put myself into that position. Eventually it's going to crack if I continue doing that."

Who has won The Chevron Championship before?

Former European Solheim Cup captain Annika Sörenstam is one of the event's most famous past champions, with the Swede joining Alcott and Betsy King as the only golfers to have won the major on three occasions, the most of any player ever.

Lexi Thompson is another past champion, winning the event back in 2014 - her only major title. Three years later, the American held the 54-hole lead by two shots at The Chevron Championship, but at the 12th green, she was involved in a rules controversy after she appeared to place her ball in the wrong position on the green. Thompson was handed a two-stroke penalty and would ultimately finish T2.

How much prize money will the champion receive?

The prize pot for The Chevron Championship has been raised by $100,000 (£73,866) this year, with a whopping $8m (£5.91m) set to be split between the top finishers.

It is a huge increase from the 2021 event, which offered an overall purse of $3.1m (£2.29m), making this one of the most lucrative events on the LPGA Tour.

Why is The Chevron Championship important?

Team Europe's 2026 Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist is another notable entrant to the event. While she'll be keen to claim her fourth major championship, the Swede will no doubt have one eye on how some of the European stars are faring this week, as she looks to finalise her picks for September's Solheim Cup.

Players hoping to gain a berth on either the European or American teams can enhance their chances of securing a captain's pick or qualifying automatically by finishing as far up the leaderboard as possible.

With the biennial event between Europe and America fast approaching, multiple players in the field will no doubt be keen to get their seasons off to a flying start.

How can I watch The Chevron Championship live on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports is the home of all five women's majors, with live coverage of all four days of The Chevron Championship taking place between 23-26 April.

Golf fans can tune in to Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Golf from 4pm on Thursday and Friday for early coverage of the first and second rounds.

The action continues through the weekend, with live coverage of the final two rounds commencing at 7pm on Saturday and Sunday on Sky Sports Golf.

Live action is available for all four tournament days along with a host of extra feeds and highlights on Sky Sports+.

Who will win The Chevron Championship? Watch the opening women's major of the 2026 season throughout the next week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round commences on Thursday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream The Chevron Championship with no contract.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Chevron Championship beginner's guide: Field, format and all you need to know ahead of first women’s major of 2026