The excitement for major tournaments is extreme, and this has been the case with the majority of majors at the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour, but it does not apply at the Chevron Championship. The event which has been on the schedule since 1972 has gone through many changes, be it name, dates or the venue.
However, for this season, this has fallen apart for the Chevron Championship. Earlier, the struggle of World No. 1, Nelly Korda, disheartened the fans as after the first round, she was placed at T118 position. However, later she redeemed herself with a great performance and made it through the weekend. But even with that happening, the interest of fans was seen at its lowest, which raised concern. The empty spectator stands and low viewership have raised concerns for the analysts, too.
Discussing the issue, No Laying Up Podcast shares a video on YouTube with the panel Big Randy, Chris Solomon, Jordan Perez, and Cody McBride. Talking about the tournament, Solomon started by pointing out all the good things that Chevron has done, the money aspect, the champions dinner, tons of seating, and more. For him, “It doesn’t seem like Chevron is doing anything wrong with this tournament other than hosting it at this venue, which is not good for fans.” The empty stand on the broadcast is proof of what has been a lacking factor in the major event.
Even Beth Ann Nichols, senior writer at Golfweek, shared a post on X with empty stands. She wrote, “Pretty quiet out there on the first tee as the last two groups went off.” Justin Ray also posted on X, writing, “Also looked like more signage in The Woodlands for the upcoming senior event than Chevron.”
Pretty quiet out there on the first tee as the last two groups went off. pic.twitter.com/9rnq5gB5WK
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) April 26, 2025
Looking at which, he continued, “It doesn’t feel like a big event, like it’s a major, it’s a minor. It’s a major in name only, which you can’t like.” Despite being one of the most prestigious tournaments in the history of the LPGA Tour, the attendance has just made it look like a regular Tour event. Even Solomon compared it to the Evian Championship, which is a signature event of the tour. As continued, the panel agreeingly nodded, being on the same page of frustration as Solomon was with the venue selection.
Well, the venue hasn’t always been The Woodlands, as earlier the event had a constant venue despite the name and schedule change.
Beyond the Pond: How Chevron’s venues shaped the tournament
Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California (1972–2022): The tournament was held here for over 50 years. In 1988, Amy Alcott initiated the tradition of the winner jumping into the pond adjacent to the 18th green, known as “Poppie’s Pond.” This tradition continued until the tournament’s relocation in 2023.
After the ANA Inspiration in 2022 changed to the Chevron Championship with a six-year sponsorship deal, it not only changed the name but also changed the venue. The event chose to increase the prize to $5 million from $2 million in 2022. Even in 2025, it has reached $8 million. These were the constant changes that were observed with the new sponsorships. However, after having the same venue for 5 decades, which was the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, the latest partnership led to a major change.
The venue change was never expected, and not that the venue is not affecting the reach of the tournament, it has become a worry for the fans and the entire golf community. Sharing frustration for it, Lauren Stephenson, an American professional, also shared on X. She wrote, “Beacuse the course is terrible for spectators.”
On the old course, the “Poppie’s Pond” jump became a beloved tradition, with stars like Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko embracing it. Then, in 1973, legend Mickey Wright won the Colgate-Dinah Shore rocking tennis shoes. It’s full of cool moments. So, when the tourney moved to Carlton Woods in Texas in 2023, the splashy ritual stayed, complete with gator netting and a custom dock.
Now that the majority of the golf world is speaking out against the tournament, will there be a venue change soon? What are your thoughts on the current venue of the Chevron Championship? Share with us in the comments below.
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