Kroger and Procter & Gamble, the two main sponsors of the LPGA’s Kroger Queen City Championship, have ended their partnership with the event after five years. In light of that, the LPGA has not yet committed to keeping the tournament in Cincinnati.
In a statement sent to The Enquirer, the LPGA said it was “grateful” for its partnership with Cincinnati-based Kroger and P&G, and for “the meaningful investment they made in our athletes, our fans and the Cincinnati community” through the Queen City Championship.
However, the women’s golf organization did not commit to keeping the tournament in Cincinnati when asked.
“As we look ahead, we’re excited about the direction of the 2027 LPGA schedule,” LPGA communications coordinator Matt Jesus said in their release. “We’re focused on meaningful improvements in routing, courses and purses, and we look forward to sharing more details later this fall.”
Kroger and P&G have sponsored the Queen City Championship since its inception in 2022, and in 2024 renewed their contracts with the competition through 2026.
Following the 2026 tournament, they have chosen not to pursue another extension, according to a joint statement provided by both organizations. The tournament’s official name is the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.
“After thoughtful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to focus our efforts in other areas that align with our long-term priorities,” an unnamed Kroger spokesperson said. “Both of our companies are proud of the tournament’s positive impact on our business and the region overall.”
The tournament took place this year at Cincinnati’s Maketewah Country Club and offered a total prize pool of $2 million, with $300,000 going to the winner. The pool is tied for the lowest of any U.S.-based LPGA tournament in 2026, alongside the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey and The Standard Portland Classic in Portland. This year’s champion was England’s Charley Hull.
In previous years, the tournament took place in Maineville’s TPC River’s Bend in 2024 and 2025, as well as Cincinnati’s Kenwood Country Club in 2022 and 2023. The competition was moved from September to May for 2026.
The majority of LPGA tour events are backed by sponsors included in the event’s official name. The Queen City Championship has 45 other corporate partners listed on its website, including Swiffer, Tampax and Bounty, among others.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Without Kroger and P&G, will the LPGA remain in Cincinnati?
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