The 2026 LPGA season got off to a rocky start, and new commissioner Craig Kessler said he regrets the way it unfolded.
on sunday, The LPGA shortened the Champions Tour early in the season in 54 holes due to freezing temperatures in Orlando. The decision and the communication that followed drew criticism. The LPGA first delayed the start of the final round at Lake Nona, then sent the celebrities competing in the pro-am off before eventually reducing the tournament to 54 holes. World No. 2 Nelly Korda won the tournament without hitting a single stroke on Sunday.
This decision left many fans and some players scratching their heads.
Memo from LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler
On Tuesday, Kessler sent a memo to the players apologizing for the way the decision was made and communicated at Lake Nona. That memo was obtained by GOLF and is below in full.
LPGA Athletes,
When I joined the LPGA last July, I said trust would be our highest priority – with all of you, partners, fans, staff and media. This weekend at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, that belief was put to the test.
I made the decision to limit the event to 54 holes, concerned that our athletes could be injured given the way record low overnight temperatures hardened the course. While the decision was difficult and contradicted previous statements we shared, I made a judgment call. With the benefit of hindsight, there were clearly other ways we should have handled the situation.
I understand that this decision, and others we made in real time, were confusing and disappointing for our fans. And our communication about the decision was not clear or timely enough. Your frustration is valid – I own it and I’m sorry. We are already taking steps to improve:
- Establishing clearer principles for game decisions in challenging situations, including strengthening weekly contingency planning
- Faster, clearer communication with better real-time information.
Our thanks to the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club staff who did a great job making sure the course was prepared and our partners at Hilton Grand Vacations who pulled out all the stops to celebrate great golf with their guests.
This is a special tournament with an incredible future ahead of it. We won’t be perfect, but we will be responsive, learn quickly, and continue to earn your trust.
Sincerely,
Craig Kessler, LPGA Commissioner
;)
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Confusion and criticism
On Sunday, as the LPGA prepared to shorten the start of the season, Annika Sorenstam was on the course playing like a celebrity.
Sorenstam, an LPGA legend, didn’t understand why the pros weren’t pushing her.
“I don’t know why they’re not playing,” Sorenstam said Golf weekBeth Ann Nichols is. “There are marks on the pitch. I mean, I hit some crisp shots today and the ball even stopped. I’m surprised. It’s hard, it’s cold, but it’s as fair as anything. I told JR we can keep going.”
Lydia Ko, a Lake Nona resident, was “devastated” that the tour wouldn’t end.
The fact that the LPGA deemed the course playable for famous amateurs but not for professionals only added to the confusion. An official told Nichols that the celebrities were playing in an “exhibition,” even though the pro-am had its own bag.
An LPGA official said at the time that the decision was made due to the lack of an “optimal competitive environment.” When typed by Golf Channel’s Amy Rogersthe official could not provide specifics on how the cold was affecting the course. With the LPGA on hiatus until Feb. 19 in Thailand, a Monday finish seemed like a worthy route to take with Korda, the tour’s biggest star, leading after a magnificent 64 Saturday.
A Korda win should have been a dream start to the LPGA season. But instead, a difficult decision and confusing communication turned it into a nightmare. One Kessler knows the LPGA will have to rebuild from.
