Section 1: Introduction
The KPMG Women's PGA Championship is one of the five major championships in women's professional golf. Conducted by the PGA of America in partnership with the LPGA Tour and presented by title sponsor KPMG, the championship is contested at a different host course each year. The 2026 KPMG Women's PGA Championship is held June 25-28, 2026 at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota.
The championship is contested under the Rules of Golf (jointly maintained by the USGA and The R&A — see the sibling R&A Rules of Golf entry in this directory for the underlying playing rules) and under the PGA of America's Event-Specific Rules, Qualifying Criteria, and the on-course Notice to Players issued daily during the championship. This entry models the event-specific layer; for the universal Rules of Golf, consult the R&A entry. For the parallel USGA-conducted U.S. Women's Open championship-application framework, consult the USGA Championship Golf entry.
The current edition models the 2026 championship at Hazeltine. The KPMG Women's PGA has been operated in its current PGA-of-America-conducted form since 2015 (the prior LPGA Championship lineage is retained in the past-champions list); the Women's PGA Championship name traces back to 1955.
This entry summarizes the major event-specific mechanics for educational purposes. It does not reproduce rule text and is not a substitute for the canonical Qualifying Criteria document and on-course Notice to Players, which are authoritative in any dispute.
Section 2: Equipment
Conforming Equipment
All clubs and balls used must conform to the published Conforming Clubs and Conforming Golf Balls lists maintained by the USGA / R&A. The KPMG Women's PGA applies the same Equipment Standards as other professional women's majors:
- Conforming Drivers (driver heads on the published list)
- Conforming Golf Balls (per the published list; players are responsible for verifying ball model)
- Post-2010 groove specifications
- USGA / R&A Equipment Standards for spring effect, MOI, head size, club length, and other characteristic-time limits
One-Ball Rule
The KPMG Women's PGA enforces the One-Ball Rule during a stipulated round: the player must use a ball of the same brand and model. Breach is a stroke-play penalty of two strokes per hole at which the breach occurred, with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round.
14-Club Limit
The 14-club limit (Rule 4.1b) applies in full. Breach is a stroke-play penalty of two strokes per hole at which the breach occurred, maximum four strokes per round.
Distance-Measuring Devices and Electronic Devices
- Distance-measuring devices that measure distance only are permitted (consistent with major-championship norms)
- Devices that measure slope, wind, elevation, or other relevant conditions are NOT permitted during the stipulated round
- Mobile phone use is restricted to distance-only application use; messaging and calls during the stipulated round are prohibited
Section 3: Playing Area
Course Setup
The 2026 KPMG Women's PGA is contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota) — a Robert Trent Jones / Rees Jones design that has hosted multiple major championships including the Ryder Cup, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship. The course is set up by the PGA of America Championship Committee in consultation with the host club. Daily hole locations, tee positions, fairway widths, rough heights, and green speeds are published in the daily hole location sheet.
Out of Bounds
Out of bounds is defined by the course-side line of white stakes, fences, or other markings as specified in the Notice to Players. Where stakes and a fence are used together, the inside-edge-of-fence definition takes precedence.
Penalty Areas
- Penalty areas are defined by yellow or red stakes/lines per the host venue's setup
- Relief options under Rule 17 apply, with championship-specific drop zones noted on the daily card
Ground Under Repair (GUR)
GUR is defined by white lines, with championship-specific declarations including French drains, cart paths, signage, and tournament infrastructure as appropriate.
Temporary Immovable Obstructions (TIO)
Television cameras, scoreboards, ropes, signage, and other tournament infrastructure are TIOs and trigger the line-of-sight relief framework. Relief is taken without penalty per the standard TIO procedure detailed in the Notice to Players.
Section 4: Players & Officials
Field
The 2026 KPMG Women's PGA features a field of 132 players determined through the published Qualifying Criteria:
- Past winners of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (inclusive of all prior LPGA Championship winners)
- Professionals who have won an LPGA Major Championship in the previous five (5) years and during the current year
- Professionals who have won an individual Official LPGA Tournament in the previous two (2) calendar years and during the current year
- Professionals who finished top-10 and ties at the previous year's KPMG Women's PGA Championship
- Professionals ranked top-40 on the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings at the designated cutoff dates
- LPGA Members ranked in order of position on the current-year Official Money List as of the commitment deadline
- Maximum of two (2) sponsor invites
- Up to twenty LPGA professionals via Tour Qualifier and Player of the Year-style exemptions per the Qualifying Criteria
Caddies
- One caddie per player during each stipulated round; no additional caddies permitted
- Caddies wear a tournament-supplied bib displaying the player's name and number
- Caddie conduct is subject to the championship-specific Notice to Players
- Serious caddie misconduct may result in the player being penalized under Rule 1.2b
Officials
- PGA of America Championship Committee on site for the championship
- Rules officials on each hole and in mobile carts during play
- LPGA Rules Officials provide pre-round ruling, on-course rulings, and post-round score verification, working alongside the PGA of America committee
- Television/video review is operative for designated situations per the championship video-review policy
Player Identification and Scorecard
Each player is responsible for their own scorecard accuracy. Scorecards are signed by the player and attested by the marker (typically the playing partner). Returning a scorecard with a hole score lower than actually made results in disqualification (Rule 3.3b).
Section 5: Rules of Play
Format
- 72-hole stroke play over 4 rounds
- Cut at 36 holes — typically top 70 and ties advance to the weekend (subject to championship-specific Notice to Players)
- The player with the lowest 72-hole total wins the championship and the Wanamaker Trophy
Stipulated Round and Tee Times
- Each player has an assigned tee time for each round, published in the daily pairings and tee times
- Players must be ready to play at their assigned tee time; arriving late but within 5 minutes of the time is a two-stroke penalty; arriving more than 5 minutes late is disqualification under Rule 5.3a
Pace of Play Policy
The PGA of America pace-of-play policy operates similarly to the USGA and LPGA frameworks, with championship-specific implementation:
- Each group has a published timing par for each hole given the field-position context
- A group falling out of position is put on the clock by a rules official
- An individual player who exceeds the time limit on a stroke (40 seconds standard, +10 seconds for first to play) receives a bad time
- Bad-time escalation: warning → one-stroke penalty → two-stroke penalty (additional) → disqualification
Suspension of Play
- One-tone air horn: normal suspension; players may mark their ball position and proceed to shelter (or play on at their own discretion for a brief period in light-rain situations)
- Three-tone air horn: immediate suspension (typically lightning); players stop play immediately, mark the ball, and proceed to shelter
- Resumption is signaled by one short blast and a steady tone after the all-clear interval has elapsed
Practice Rounds and Practice Areas
- Practice rounds are typically permitted on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the championship (Thursday is round one)
- Practice on the host course on the day of a stipulated round (other than the player's stipulated round) is restricted per the Notice to Players
- Practice on the practice areas (driving range, putting green, short-game area, chipping green) is permitted throughout the championship
Local Rule Modifications
Specific Local Rules apply at the host venue and are listed in the daily Notice to Players. Common categories:
- Embedded ball relief in the general area
- Movable obstructions (tournament infrastructure)
- TIO line-of-sight relief from cameras, scoreboards, and stands
- Sprinkler heads and wires near the green
- Casual water and ground under repair specific to the venue
Section 6: Scoring
Stroke Play
- 72-hole total in fewest strokes wins
- The cut is applied after 36 holes (typically top 70 and ties; specific cut line published in the Notice to Players)
- The player with the lowest 72-hole total wins the championship
Playoff
The KPMG Women's PGA Championship uses a sudden-death playoff: if players are tied after 72 holes, they play extra holes on pre-designated playoff holes until a single player wins a hole outright. The playoff holes are listed in the Notice to Players.
Prize Money
The KPMG Women's PGA Championship is among the highest-purse events in women's professional golf. Specific 2026 purse and per-position breakdown are published in the Notice to Players and the LPGA tournament overview. The Wanamaker Trophy is awarded to the champion.
Scorecard Submission and Attestation
- The player verifies and signs the scorecard; the marker attests
- Submitting a signed card with a hole score lower than actual: disqualification
- Submitting a signed card with a hole score higher than actual: the higher score stands
- Failure to sign or attest: disqualification
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
One-Ball Rule Breach
Stroke play: 2 strokes per hole at which a breach occurred; maximum 4 strokes per round.
14-Club Limit Breach
Stroke play: 2 strokes per hole at which the breach occurred; maximum 4 strokes per round.
Pace of Play
- First bad time: warning
- Second bad time: one-stroke penalty
- Third bad time: two-stroke penalty (additional)
- Fourth bad time: disqualification
Equipment Standards Breach
A breach of the Equipment Standards (non-conforming driver, non-conforming ball) is disqualification under Rule 4.1a.
Player Conduct
The PGA of America Player Conduct Policy applies. Misconduct categories include:
- Disrespectful conduct toward officials, fellow players, caddies, spectators, or volunteers
- Profanity audible to others
- Throwing or damaging clubs in a manner that may be unsafe
- Conduct that brings the championship into disrepute
Sanctions range from warning to disqualification; serious misconduct may also trigger LPGA / PGA of America disciplinary review extending to ineligibility for future championships.
Scorecard Errors
- Returning a card with a hole score lower than actually made: disqualification (Rule 3.3b)
- Returning a card with a hole score higher than actually made: the higher score stands
- Failure to sign the card, or failure of the marker to attest: disqualification
Late Arrival
- Up to 5 minutes late at the tee: 2-stroke penalty (Rule 5.3a exception)
- More than 5 minutes late: disqualification (Rule 5.3a)
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Lightning and Severe Weather
The three-tone air horn signals immediate suspension of play, typically for lightning. Players must stop play immediately, mark the ball position, and proceed to designated shelter. Resumption of play is signaled after the all-clear interval. The championship follows the standard 30-30 lightning rule supplemented by professional lightning-detection services at the venue.
Heat and Hydration
June championship competition in Minnesota typically presents moderate heat risk, but the championship medical team monitors WBGT and air-quality conditions throughout. Water and electrolyte stations are positioned on the course; cooling shelters are available at strategic locations.
Course Safety
- Spectator management via rope lines and trained marshals; sight-line management protects players during ball flight
- "Fore!" is the universal warning call for an errant ball
- Players responsible for clearing the area before taking a swing if visibility of the line of flight is impaired
Medical Coverage
- On-site medical staff including physicians, EMTs, and athletic trainers
- Emergency action plans in effect at every championship venue
- Defibrillators (AEDs) positioned strategically around the course
- Independent medical observers may be present for high-profile rounds
Admission and Safety Policies
The championship's Spectator Guide publishes admission policies, prohibited items (firearms, drones, large bags, professional cameras during play hours), security screening, and conduct expectations for spectators. The Spectator Guide is published on the championship website ahead of the event.
