The LPGA Tour continues its west coast stretch this week at the 2026 Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. The tournament will be held on the Cattail Course at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the third rendition of the Ford Championship.
Last week’s winner, and defending champion at this event last year, Hyo Joo Kim, will look to defend her title. She defeated Lilia Vu in a playoff after a final round of 64 (-8) last year.
The Cattail Course at Whirlwind Golf Club is a par-72 course playing 6,675 yards. This is the second professional golf tournament to be played at Whirlwind Golf Club, the first being a Korn Ferry Tour event held from 2001 to 2005. The tournament’s purse has remained the same at $2.25 million.
Who to Watch at the 2026 Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass
Defending champion and winner at the Fortinet Founders Cup, Hyo Joo Kim, is in the field this week. Kim has climbed up to fourth in the world and currently leads the LPGA Tour in official money this season at $602,140. Kim was surprised when told of her rank in the world.
“I was actually shocked and had not found out yet. I don’t necessarily keep a check on it, so I was shocked that I jumped so high. But I think looking at that makes me happy,” she said.
Nelly and Jessica Korda are making their first start together since 2023. Jessica Korda played in the Grant Thornton Invitational in December of 2025. This is her first solo LPGA event since the Cognizant Founders Cup in April of 2023. Korda says it has been a challenge getting back to her swing after injuries and time off.
“I took a year, almost two years off of actually swinging a club consistently, so everything. Grip, which I’m still slightly struggling with. I have been pretty vocal on social media about how much I hate grip changes. Literally, we had to start with the absolute fundamentals and work with Jason Beale, trying to get my body moving the right way.
“I played injured for so long that I created some bad habits, so it was just going backwards to like watching Nelly’s hips rotate so nicely, and that’s exactly what I strive to do, but it’s a very slow process,” she said.
Number one-ranked junior golfer Asterisk Talley received a sponsor’s invite to the tournament this week. Talley has won both of the AJGA events she has entered this year and has 13 wins as an amateur. She has verbally committed to Stanford University for college golf.
Other top names competing in the tournament this week include Jeeno Thitikul, Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda.
How to Watch the 2026 Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass
You can watch the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass on Golf Channel Digital and Golf Channel Live. All times below are in ET.
Thursday, March 26: 6:00-7:00pm ET on Golf Channel Digital and 7:00-9:00pm ET on Golf Channel Live
Friday, March 27: 6:00-7:00pm ET on Golf Channel Digital and 7:00-9:00pm ET on Golf Channel Live
Saturday, March 28: 6:00-7:00pm ET on Golf Channel Digital and 7:00-9:00pm ET on Golf Channel Live
Sunday, March 29: 6:00-7:00pm ET on Golf Channel Digital and 7:00-9:00pm ET on Golf Channel Live
