The LPGA Founders Cup is a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour. It debuted in February 2011 at the Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. The tournament is designed as a tribute to the founders of the LPGA.
In 2011, using a unique format conducted for the first time in LPGA history, the players did not receive a cash payout. Instead, the tournament donated half of the $1 million tournament purse to charity and the other half to individual charities chosen by the top-10 finishers. All players who made the cut received a portion of the purse in the form of virtual earnings that were attributed to them for purposes of the LPGA official money list.
In 2012, the tournament expanded from three days to four days, and an actual cash purse was instituted.
Volvik took over sponsorships rights for the tournament in 2020, but the tournament was not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2025, the LPGA secured a new title sponsorship deal for the event with Fortinet. The tournament also moved to Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club in Menlo Park, California.
Tournament names 2011–2013: RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup 2014–2016: JTBC Founders Cup 2017–2019: Bank of Hope Founders Cup 2020: Volvik Founders Cup 2021–2024: Cognizant Founders Cup 2025: Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands 2026–present: Fortinet Founders Cup
Winners YearDateChampionCountryWinning scoreTo parMarginof victoryPurse ($)1Winner's share ($) Venue Results2026 Mar 22 Kim Hyo-joo (2) 63-70-66-73=272 −16 1 stroke 3,000,000 450,000 Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club 2025 Feb 9 Yealimi Noh 68-64-63-68=263 −21 4 strokes 2,000,000 300,000 Bradenton Country Club 2024 May 12 Rose Zhang 63-68-67-66=264 −24 2 strokes 3,000,000 450,000 Upper Montclair Country Club 2023 May 14 Ko Jin-young (3) 68-68-72-67=275 −13 Playoff 3,000,000 450,000 Upper Montclair Country Club 2022 May 15 Minjee Lee 67-63-69-70=269−19 2 strokes 3,000,000 450,000 Upper Montclair Country Club2021 Oct 10 Ko Jin-young (2) 63-68-69-66=266−18 4 strokes 3,000,000 450,000 Mountain Ridge Country Club 2020: Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic2019 Mar 24 Ko Jin-young 65-72-64-65=266−22 1 stroke 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2018 Mar 18 Inbee Park 68-71-63-67=269 −19 5 strokes 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2017 Mar 19 Anna Nordqvist 67-67-61-68=263 −25 2 strokes 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2016 Mar 20 Kim Sei-young 63-66-70-62=261 −27 5 strokes 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2015 Mar 22 Kim Hyo-joo 65-69-66-67=267 −21 3 strokes 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2014 Mar 23 Karrie Webb (2) 66-71-69-63=269 −19 1 stroke 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2013 Mar 17 Stacy Lewis 68-65-68-64=265 −23 3 strokes 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2012 Mar 18 Yani Tseng 65-70-67-68=270 −18 1 stroke 1,500,000 225,000 Wildfire Golf Club 2011 Mar 20 Karrie Webb71-67-66=204 −12 1 stroke 1,000,000 200,000 Wildfire Golf Club 1 In 2011, $500,000 of the purse went LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and $500,000 went to the top-10 finishers’ designated charities.All winnings were attributed to the players for purposes of the 2011 LPGA Official money list.
Tournament records YearPlayerScoreRound2017 Anna Nordqvist 61 (−11) 3rd
References
External links
Coverage on the LPGA Tour's official site Mountain Ridge Country Club – course website