Did you know the biggest margin for the winner in the past decade at the Chevron Championship was 3 strokes? The neck-to-neck competition among the top LPGA golfers defines the level. Being the first major of the season, it does require tough competition. Even in 2024, when Nelly Korda was showcasing her dominant form with four consecutive wins before entering the course, the victory margin was just two strokes.
Now, with this year, the hopes are high for experiencing a true adrenaline-filled golfing experience, as no golfer in 2025 has shown dominance. Until now, each event has had a new winner, and surprisingly, from the top three in the OWGR, only Lydia Ko has won the HSBC Women’s World Championship. The fans will witness even a glimpse of tough competition in the first two days, when some heartbreak will happen. The reduced number of golfers entering the course on the weekend will mark the beginning of the final stage of the championship.
History and format of the Chevron Championship
A total of 132 golfers will enter the historic The Club at Carlton Woods in the Woodlands, Texas. The event organizers reserved the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Carlton Woods. The Golden Bear himself inaugurated the course in 2001. But the course hasn’t been constant since its inception. The change, of course, and the name occurred in 2022. From 1972 to 2022, the event took place in California. Even the championship had different names before it was finalized as the Chevron Championship in 2022.
The first edition of the event was named after Dinah Shore, television, film and recording star, and David Foster, Colgate-Palmolive chairman who founded the event. Notably, until 1982 the event was a regular LPGA Tour event, but in 1983 it got the Major Championship status and has maintained it ever since.
The season’s first major will follow the same standard stroke play format as other LPGA events, with 72 holes. Having a cut after 36 holes (two rounds), half the roster will place a step closer to the $7.9 million purse. After the 36 holes, the top 65 players and ties will qualify for the final two rounds. In 2024, the tournament had the cut at +2, while the experts even predicted +1 as the cut for the event. Similarly, for this year too, even or below par would help the golfer with a safe spot for making the cut.
But despite the top names participating, some golfers are in strong contention and are rooted in the golf community.
Top names at the Chevron Championship 2025
Similar to last year, Nelly Korda, despite having zero wins this year, is in the top contention for the event. The golfer will be aiming to defend her title, but her form would be a worry as she has only achieved top-10 finishes in the first two events. After that, the world no. 1 recorded T22 and T16 at the last JM Eagle LA Championship.
Other than Korda, Angel Yin is among the top names. The 26-year-old American professional lost to Lilia Vu in the playoff in 2024. After that, in 2024, she withdrew due to her ankle injury. But now, with her comeback, Yin has already shown strong signs of a comeback. She has already bagged a victory in the 2025 season at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Additionally, Lilia Vu, who also withdrew last year due to injury, is also in a strong zone after her win at the 2023 Chevron Championship.
Along with the three, Jeeno Thitikul, who won a record $6.1 million in 2024, Lydia Ko, the most recent addition to the LPGA Hall of Fame, and the rookie Ingrid Linblad, winner at the JM Eagle LA Championship, are also in contention.
With top names of the LPGA Tour competing at the prestigious event on the schedule, it is going to be a delight for the fans. But with the uncertainty of the winner, who will take the title and the whopping purse increase in 2025? Who is your pick for this season? Share with us in the comments below.
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