2026 The ANNIKA at Pelican Preview: Who and How to Watch

2025 champion Linn Grant is in the field to defend her title after she defeated Jennifer Kupcho last year for her second LPGA win.

The host of The ANNIKA, Pelican Golf Club, is a par 70 playing 6,349 yards. The course was designed by Donald Ross and Beau Welling and opened in 1925. The purse for The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is $3.25 million, with the winner receiving $487,500.

Who to Watch at the 2026 The ANNIKA

Thirteen of the top 25 players in the Rolex Rankings are in the field this week, along with 15 LPGA rookies.

Three-time winner of The ANNIKA and current World No. 1, Nelly Korda, is is back in competition mode. She is only one point away from becoming a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, which she can reach this week with a win. Korda has also not played in an event since the Solheim Cup two months ago. She explained her decision to skip the tour’s Asian swing.

“I think it’s more of like the rejuvenation of being really motivated to come back out, and sometimes when you play a lot and you travel a lot, you kind of start to get a little stagnant. Not saying you’re not driven, but you just get a little tired, a little worn out, body gets a little drained,” said Korda.

“When you do take that time to kind of have a little bit of time for yourself to reenergize your batteries, you’re very motivated to come back and play against the best players in the world and test yourself,” she said.

World No. 8 Charley Hull is in the field looking for her second win of the season. Hull played in one event in Asia at the Maybank Championship where she finished T9. Hull plans on enjoying the two final weeks of the season, while also trying to compete.

“These are my favorite two weeks of the year. It’s nice. Got my family coming out next week,” said Hull.

“I think it’s just such a good golf course. I really like this golf course. I just enjoy it because it’s near the end of the season as well. Like, you want to do well, but at the same time it’s kind of chilled,” she said.

Rising stars are also gaining their first taste of the LPGA Tour this week. Annabelle Pancake-Webb, who just earned her LPGA card from the Epson Tour this season, is a sponsor invite. Scarlett Schremmer, a sophomore at the University of Miami who has taken the fall by storm with two wins, is another sponsor invite. Macy Pate of Wake Forest – another collegiate winner this season – will also be in the field.