LPGA Tour Unveils New Sponsor And Event Format Along With Familiar Face As Tournament Host

The LPGA’s newest tournament partner is making a splashy debut in the world of U.S. sports sponsorship: with a world-class venue that’s hosted the Presidents Cup and multiple PGA TOUR playoff events, one of the sport’s best-known competitors, and a first-of-its-kind format in the nation’s biggest media market.

The Mizuho Americas Open will debut in summer of 2023 at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey, offering views of the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty in addition to a $2.75 million purse – one of the richest for a non-major championship on the LPGA schedule. Michelle Wie West, a Mizuho brand ambassador, will be the official host of the tournament, which will also allow 24 top junior golfers to compete alongside the pros in a concurrent AJGA event.

“When I announced that I was stepping away from competitive golf earlier this season, my goal was to continue to live by the LPGA mantra to ‘Act Like a Founder,’ and to leave the game in a better place than I found it,” said Wie West. “With the help of Mizuho Americas and the amazing partners that have joined together to bring this to Liberty National, we’ll be able to do just that and impact future generations of the game. I am so proud to host this groundbreaking event and partner with a company that sees the value in supporting women’s golf.”

Mizuho Americas is part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., a leading provider of financial services with approximately $2 trillion in total assets at the start of this year, and entered a multiyear agreement with the LPGA Tour and Liberty National. The inaugural tournament will be played May 29 to June 4, one of 32 on a 2023 LPGA schedule that will offer a record $93.5 million in prize money.

What’s particularly unique about the Liberty National event, which LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan calls a “game-changer,” is that it marks the first time that the game’s current and future stars will compete together inside the ropes. The field of 120 LPGA players will be joined by the 24 girls from the American Junior Golf Association Tour who are competing in their individual invitational tournament. The AJGA is a leading tour for juniors, offering a high-level competitive outlet for those seeking college golf scholarships.

“The opportunity to tee it up alongside the LPGA Tour stars of today at Liberty National Golf Club is an absolute treat for 24 junior golfers aspiring to compete at the highest level,” said AJGA Chief Business Officer Jason Etzen. “The integration of educational programming throughout the week will be invaluable for the next generation of young stars.”

For the first two rounds, the LPGA and AJGA players will go out in separate threesomes. For the final two weekend rounds, one junior will join two LPGA players in each group based on the standings, after the LPGA field is cut from 120 to 50.