Queen City Royalty: Inside the 2026 Kroger Queen City Championship

A New Chapter Begins at Maketewah

The Kroger Queen City Championship returns to Cincinnati May 14–17, but this isn’t just another stop on the schedule—it’s a statement.

For the first time, the tournament shifts to Maketewah Country Club, a classic Donald Ross design that has been meticulously modernized without losing its soul. This course doesn’t reward flash—it demands precision. Tight landing areas. Subtle elevation changes. Greens that punish indecision.

In short, it’s the kind of layout that exposes pretenders and crowns champions.

Cincinnati’s Forgotten Legacy—Now Reborn

This isn’t new territory for elite women’s golf—it’s a revival.

Long before the modern LPGA boom, Cincinnati played host to legends at Clovernook Country Club during the Buckeye Savings Invitational. Names like Mickey Wright and Kathy Whitworth didn’t just compete here—they helped define the sport.

Then the spotlight faded.

For decades, the Queen City sat on the sidelines while women’s golf surged elsewhere. That changed in 2022 when the LPGA returned—and Cincinnati didn’t just welcome it back, it embraced it.

Now, this tournament isn’t building from scratch—it’s reclaiming its place.

Champions Who Set the Standard

This event doesn’t produce flukes—it produces stars.

• 2022: Ally Ewing — Set the tone with a dominant inaugural win at -22
• 2023: Minjee Lee — Delivered under pressure in a playoff thriller
• 2024: Lydia Ko — Continued a Hall-of-Fame resurgence
• 2025: Charley Hull — The defending champion, fearless and aggressive

Every name on that list matters. Every win carried weight. And that trend isn’t changing in 2026.

The 2026 Field: Precision Over Power

All eyes are on Nelly Korda.

The World No. 1 enters Cincinnati with momentum, confidence, and multiple wins already this season. On paper, she’s the favorite—and deservedly so.

But here’s the reality:

Maketewah doesn’t care about resumes.

This course favors surgical ball-strikers, and that opens the door for players like Lydia Ko and Jeeno Thitikul—players who thrive on control, patience, and execution.

This won’t be a power contest.

It will be a thinking player’s tournament.

The Future Is Already Coming

While the present is stacked, the future is impossible to ignore.

Keep an eye on rising talents like Lottie Woad and Miyu Yamashita—players who are already knocking on the door of dominance.

This tournament isn’t just crowning champions.

It’s introducing the next generation.

More Than a Tournament—A Citywide Impact

This event hits deeper than the leaderboard.

Through Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, the tournament directly impacts food insecurity across the region. It’s not just branding—it’s measurable change.

Add in the Queen City Game Changers program, backed by Procter & Gamble, and you’ve got something even bigger: leadership development, mentorship, and real opportunities for women in the community.

This is what sports are supposed to do.

Why This Event Matters

If you’ve never attended a professional golf event, this is where you start.

You’re not sitting in the upper deck—you’re walking the course. You’re hearing the shots. You’re seeing elite precision up close.

And in a sports world increasingly priced out of reach, this event remains accessible, family-friendly, and rooted in community.

That matters.

The Grueling Truth: This Is a Proving Ground

The 2026 Queen City Championship isn’t just another tournament.

It’s a test.

A test of discipline. A test of patience. A test of who can execute when the course pushes back.

Cincinnati isn’t just hosting anymore.

It’s demanding greatness.

Final Word

With a world-class field, a historic new venue, and a mission that extends beyond the ropes, the Kroger Queen City Championship has evolved into one of the premier stops on the LPGA calendar.

The stage is set.

The course is ready.

Now it’s time to see who earns the crown.