The LPGA Tour has hit another stumbling block. When Craig Kessler stepped in as commissioner, many believed he could guide women’s golf toward steady growth. Early signs were positive—one of the Tour’s biggest tournaments had just secured a new sponsor. But optimism quickly faded when news broke that another long-standing event had been dropped from the 2026 calendar.
At the 2025 FM Championship, Kessler unveiled next year’s schedule. Observers immediately noticed that one tournament was missing. Golfweek later confirmed that the T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek would not return in 2026. The event, introduced in 2021, had been the Tour’s only match-play competition.
Despite the setback, Kessler expressed optimism that ties with T-Mobile aren’t completely severed.
Beth Ann Nichols shed more light on the situation in her report, including a statement from Amy Azzi, T-Mobile’s VP of Sponsorships. Azzi emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to women’s golf:
“T-Mobile continues to be a strong supporter of women’s golf. Through our partnership with the PGA of America, we’ll keep driving innovation at major events like the KPMG Women’s Championship, using 5G-powered solutions to improve experiences for players, fans, and attendees. We’re also continuing our partnerships with top LPGA stars like Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson.”
So while the T-Mobile Match Play won’t return, there’s still hope that the brand’s connection with LPGA talent and major events could open the door to future collaborations. Kessler hinted that the now-vacant April slot might be filled by a “West Coast prospect” event.
T-Mobile’s footprint in golf remains significant. The telecom giant is an exclusive partner of both the PGA Championship and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where they provided uninterrupted live coverage in 2025 and rolled out the KPMG CHAMPCAST feature on the PGA app for enhanced viewing.
Their player partnerships are equally strong. Nelly Korda, who won the 2024 T-Mobile Match Play, and Brooke Henderson, who joined the brand in 2024, continue to represent T-Mobile off the course. Their endorsements ensure the LPGA retains a connection with the $284 billion company, even as negotiations for future sponsorships continue.
For now, fans can expect a gap in the LPGA’s 2026 schedule, but with Kessler at the helm, the hope is that new partnerships will help keep the Tour’s momentum alive.
