The road to the LPGA just got a lot more solid in the desert. A three-year deal secured by the City of Indian Wells and the Epson Tour ensures the season-ending championship stays at the resort until 2029. This move secures the event for six straight years after it first arrived in 2024. It is a massive win for the developmental tour and the players fighting for their cards.
A Bigger Stakes and A Bigger Check
This isn’t just a handshake agreement to keep the lights on. The deal comes with real money and real changes that raise the bar for everyone. The 80-player field will now compete for a $300,000 purse in a 72-hole, no-cut event. That is a huge jump for a tour that often struggles to pay its winners. The winner alone takes home $100,000, marking the first six-figure first-place prize in the tournament’s history.
Yahoo Sports reports that prior to announcing this extension, the LPGA increased the Epson Tour card count from 10 to 15. That change alone turned this week into the most critical stop on the calendar. Now, with the course renovation done and the contract signed, the pressure is even higher. Following 2025 play on the Celebrity Course during renovations, the championship moves back to the renovated Players Course from Oct. 1-4.
More Than Just A Golf Tournament
Indian Wells is treating this event like a major, not a minor stop. The new agreement includes several additions starting in 2027 that make life easier for the players. During tournament week, every field participant gets a free hotel room at a local resort. The final two rounds and the LPGA card ceremony will be livestreamed for the whole world to see. They are even introducing a Champions Dinner to honor each tournament winner from throughout the season.
The facility itself has been upgraded to match the new ambition. Original architect John Fought led the course renovation work finished in December 2025. The ninth hole was moved closer to the clubhouse to improve access for food and drink. Robin Graf, general manager of Indian Wells Golf Resort, stated the resort feels beyond honored to continue hosting the Epson Tour Championship through 2029 as well as showcasing its exceptionally talented players as they vie to compete on the LPGA Tour. That is the kind of commitment the game needs right now.
The redesigned finishing holes now create a more connected closing stretch that will test nerves under the lights. With the 17th and 18th holes relocated, the end of the round will feel more dramatic.
