Epson Tour 2026: Exciting New Events and Changes
As the curtain falls on the LPGA’s Final Qualifying School, attention shifts to the Epson Tour, which has recently unveiled its exciting schedule for the 2026 season. For many golfers seeking to carve their path toward professional success, this tour serves as a critical stepping stone. The Epson Tour will see 19 action-packed events unfold next year, showcasing emerging talents and seasoned pros alike.
The 2026 Epson Tour will consist of a total prize fund of $4.7 million, marking a slight decrease from the $5 million offered in the current season. While this year’s competition remains fierce, the upcoming schedule brings merely one fewer event than the previous year, enabling players to strive for the same prestigious accolades in professional women’s golf.
The season’s inaugural swing will remain rooted in Florida, renowned for its rich golf culture. The opening event, however, will take a new approach, debuting at the Atlantic Beach Country Club from March 5-7. This fresh starting point sets the tone for a vibrant season, invigorating fans and players with an exciting coastal backdrop.
Following the Atlantic Beach Classic, competitors will make their way to Longwood, Florida, for the IOA Golf Classic, followed by the eagerly anticipated Orlando Health Championship in Lakeland. The latter will introduce a fresh venue for the tour and features a promising prize purse of $250,000. These events highlight the tour’s commitment to both groundbreaking landscapes and generous competitions.
Living up to its reputation for offering diverse challenges, the Epson Tour has introduced two new tantalizing events for 2026. Among them is the Smoky Mountain Championship, hosted at Alcoa, Tennessee, from August 6-8. This marks a notable return to the area, as competitive events haven’t been held there since the Chattanooga Futures Classic in 1991. With the same attractive purse of $250,000 as the Orlando Health Championship, this tournament is expected to draw significant attention.
The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship and the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship also made headlines, with both events extending their contracts through 2028. The FireKeepers event remains a highlight on the Epson Tour calendar and will be played at The Medalist Golf Club in Battle Creek, Michigan. In contrast, the Hartford HealthCare Championship is set to move to the Golf Club of Avon. Both venues promise to deliver high-stakes competitions that fans have come to cherish.
In addition to new tournaments, the schedule will reintroduce familiar favorites. The legendary Four Winds Invitational will return to Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend, Indiana, reviving memories of its past, particularly the emotional win of tour veteran Kim Kaufman in 2020. Similarly, the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan, will also celebrate its 15th edition, marking a jubilant milestone for both the venue and the players.
However, the 2026 schedule isn’t without its changes. Notably, two events—the Otter Creek Championship held in Columbus, Indiana, and the Casella Golf Championship hosted in Guilderland, New York—have been dropped from next year’s lineup. While this might leave fans longing for familiar settings, it allows room for fresh competitions to emerge and invigorate the landscape of women’s professional golf.
Excitingly, the season will culminate at the highly-anticipated Epson Tour Championship taking place at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in California. This final event is particularly noteworthy as it provides an opportunity for 15 players to secure their LPGA cards. It offers competitors a chance to showcase their skills one last time in the hopes of advancing to the top tier of women’s golf.
The table below encapsulates key details from the 2026 Epson Tour schedule, including dates, venues, and prize purses, ensuring fans have all the necessary information at hand to follow their favorite players throughout the season:
| Date | Tournament | Course, Location | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 5-7 | Atlantic Beach Classic | Atlantic Beach Country Club – Atlantic Beach, FL | $250,000 |
| March 13-15 | IOA Golf Classic | Alaqua Country Club – Longwood, FL | $200,000 |
| March 20-22 | Orlando Health Championship | Grasslands Golf & Country Club – Lakeland, FL | $250,000 |
| April 24-26 | IOA Championship | Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, Beaumont, CA | $200,000 |
| April 30-May 3 | Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic | TPC Scottsdale – Champions Course, Scottsdale, AZ | $400,000 |
| May 7-10 | Reliance Matrix Championship | Spanish Trail Country Club – Las Vegas, NV | $250,000 |
| May 14-16 | Copper Rock Championship | Copper Rock Golf Course – Hurricane, UT | $250,000 |
| June 12-14 | FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship | The Medalist Golf Club – Battle Creek, MI | $200,000 |
| June 19-21 | Great Lakes Championship at the Highlands | The Heather at The Highlands – Harbor Springs, MI | $250,000 |
| June 26-28 | Island Resort Championship | Sweetgrass Golf Club – Harris, MI | $225,000 |
| July 10-12 | Four Winds Invitational | Blackthorn Golf Club – South Bend, IN | $225,000 |
| July 17-19 | Greater Toledo Classic | Highland Meadows Golf Club – Sylvania, OH | $250,000 |
| July 23-26 | Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship | Golf Club of Avon – Avon, CT | $250,000 |
| August 6-8 | Smoky Mountain Championship | Green Meadow Country Club – Alcoa, TN | $250,000 |
| August 21-23 | Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic | Wildhorse Golf Course – Pendleton, OR | $250,000 |
| August 28-30 | Dream First Bank Charity Classic | Buffalo Dunes Golf Course – Garden City, KS | $200,000 |
| September 11-13 | Guardian Championship | RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill – Prattville, AL | $250,000 |
| September 18-20 | Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout | Mystic Creek Golf Club – El Dorado, AR | $300,000 |
| October 1-4 | Epson Tour Championship | Indian Wells Golf Resort – Players Course | $250,000 |
With an exciting array of events on the horizon, the 2026 Epson Tour promises excitement, competition, and plenty of emerging talents poised to make their mark on the world stage. Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling season in the realm of women’s professional golf!
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Epson Tour releases 2026 schedule with 19 events.
