The field is set for the next major in women’s golf. The 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship — the third women’s major of the season — will be played June 25-28 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, and the official field list confirms a stacked lineup headlined by defending champion Minjee Lee and world No. 1 Nelly Korda.
What Happened
The PGA of America and LPGA confirmed the championship field, which features all of the top 100 players in the current Race to CME Globe standings. Defending champion Minjee Lee headlines a remarkable group of 12 past champions in the field, a roll call that doubles as a who’s who of the modern women’s game: Amy Yang (2024), Ruoning Yin (2023), In Gee Chun (2022), Nelly Korda (2021), Sei Young Kim (2020), Hannah Green (2019), Sung Hyun Park (2018), Danielle Kang (2017), Brooke Henderson (2016), Yani Tseng (2008 and 2011) and Anna Nordqvist (2009).
Two special exemptions add intrigue to the bottom of the field. Amari Avery, the 22-year-old Californian who currently leads the Epson Tour’s 2026 Race for the Card points list, earned a spot, as did Minnesota’s own Kate Smith-Stroh — a hometown story at Hazeltine. A Corebridge Financial Team of eight PGA of America and LPGA club professionals rounds out the field, having qualified through the 2025 LPGA Professionals Championship and the 2026 PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship.
Hazeltine, a regular host of men’s majors and Ryder Cups, will be staging the Women’s PGA Championship for the first time, giving the event a big-stage, championship-tested venue.
Why It Matters
The headline duel is obvious. Minjee Lee arrives as the player to beat on a course where she’ll defend her crown, while Nelly Korda comes in red-hot after winning the Chevron Championship by five shots to reclaim world No. 1 and capture her third major. With both the defending champion and the dominant world No. 1 in form, Hazeltine sets up as a genuine heavyweight clash.
Depth is the other story. A field anchored by the entire top 100 and 12 former champions means there is almost no soft landing spot on the leaderboard. Major championships are increasingly decided by who handles a demanding setup best, and a long, exacting venue like Hazeltine rewards precise iron play and patience over raw firepower. Expect par to feel like a good score when the wind gets up.
For the LPGA, a marquee field at a famous venue is exactly the kind of platform that grows the women’s game — and a hometown qualifier like Kate Smith-Stroh gives Minnesota fans a local rooting interest at a course they know well.
What This Means For You
Championship venues like Hazeltine punish the same mistakes that cost weekend golfers strokes — so the world’s best offer a free lesson. Three takeaways you can use the next time you tee it up:
Win with your irons, not your driver. On a tough major setup, approach play and distance control decide everything. Dialing in your stock distances and hitting more greens lowers scores faster than chasing a few extra yards off the tee.
Putt under pressure by practicing it. Majors are won and lost on the greens. Building a repeatable routine — and grooving short putts in practice — pays off when nerves hit. Our guide on how to use a practice putting green with four simple drills is a great starting point.
Trust your alignment. Many pushed and pulled shots start with poor aim, not a bad swing. A few minutes with alignment stick drills before a round will sharpen your aim and your start line — exactly the discipline that separates the field at a place like Hazeltine.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship runs June 25-28 at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.
- The field includes all top 100 players in the Race to CME Globe and 12 past champions, headlined by defending champ Minjee Lee.
- World No. 1 Nelly Korda — a 2021 winner and the in-form 2026 Chevron champion — is a clear favorite.
- Amari Avery and hometown qualifier Kate Smith-Stroh received special exemptions.
- It is the first Women’s PGA Championship staged at Hazeltine, a proven major and Ryder Cup venue.
Source: 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship field announcement, PGA of America / LPGA, June 16, 2026.
