With Craig Kessler at the wheel, the LPGA Tour has been implementing plenty of changes, from media rights deals to schedule changes. What they debuted at the Fortinet Founders Cup in partnership with The Players Impact was another example of the tour going above and beyond for their athletes.
The Players Impact provides current and former professional and Olympic athletes a platform to connect, learn and invest—not just in themselves, but also into the world of venture. The Players Impact spans 28 sports and includes athletes, founders and investors with the same mission: leverage the athletes’ growth mindset to help them maximize their social and financial capital during and beyond their playing careers.
Now, how does this tie into the LPGA Tour? As purses increase and more stars are forming thanks to the improving media coverage, women’s golf is seeing an explosion. These athletes are able to build some equity in themselves and their own brand, and now they have a chance to look externally for opportunities. That’s where The Players Impact steps in.
Tracy Deforge, the founder and CEO of The Players Impact, believes the Fortinet Founders Cup was the perfect place to showcase their partnership.
“The Founders Cup represents everything we believe in at TPI—legacy, excellence and the power of athletes to lead beyond their sport. It’s the right home for our mission because it honors those who built the game while creating space for today’s players to shape what comes next,” Deforge said. “This partnership is about giving LPGA athletes greater access to education, investment opportunities and a trusted community—so they can translate their success on the course into long-term impact off of it.”
During the Fortinet Founders Cup, The Players Impact could be seen the entire week, from being the title sponsor of the Pro-Am Pairings Dinner and the Celebrity Pro-Am to decorating the caddie bibs and scoreboards. As the Official Athlete Consultant throughout the week, the foundation was able to share their mission and financial expertise with those who can benefit from it the most: the athletes.
The Fortinet Founders Cup representative, Tommy Austin, said, “TPI and the Fortinet Founders Cup have parallel missions in uplifting female athletes on and off the course. With golf being the medium, we are proud to work with Tracy and her team to create more opportunities for all athletes and entrepreneurs.”
Ricky Lewis, a former MLS player, had the opportunity to attend the tournament and play in the Celebrity Pro-Am alongside other members of The Players Impact, including Leslie Osborne, Steve Bono, Sam Walsh and Ty Montgomery. Lewis said, “As a former athlete and now an investor, what stands out to me about The Players Impact is how intentional they are about bringing athletes together across sports around something that really matters—financial empowerment. Being at an LPGA Tour event reinforces that this isn’t just about one sport, it’s about building a mindset and a community that helps athletes win long after their playing careers are over.”
With the Fortinet Founders Cup commemorating the 13 Founding Members of the LPGA Tour, it was a no-brainer for the LPGA to honor their athletes’ past with a nod to their future.
The Players Impact will next be seen onsite at an LPGA Tour event at the FM Championship at the end of August at TPC Boston.
