Since the founding of the Fortinet Founders Cup, it has become one of the most beloved events on the LPGA Tour schedule. The tournament represents one of the unique opportunities to celebrate the Tour’s founding and its original 13 members who created the organization in 1950. Now in its 15th year, the Fortinet Founders Cup has grown to a full-field tournament that offers a $3 mil purse.

Here is a look at some of the notable groupings for the opening rounds at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park, California.

7:58 a.m., Thursday, 10th tee; 12:48 p.m., Friday, 1st tee - Jeeno Thitikul, Linn Grant, Lydia Ko

As the top-ranked player in the world, Thitikul headlines the field at the Fortinet Founders Cup where she’ll make her fourth start of the LPGA Tour season. Thitikul is already a winner this year in her native Thailand. She did not play the Founders Cup in 2025 but has two top 10s in the tournament in 2022 and 2023. The Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 will play alongside Grant, who is also teeing it up for the fourth time this season on the LPGA Tour. After a late win in 2025 at The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Grant recorded a tie for 10th at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore in February. Ko has enjoyed a strong start to the year with top-5 finishes at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and the Honda LPGA Thailand. Ko has five top 10s at the Founders Cup, even as it has moved to different venues throughout the years, including a solo runner-up finish in 2016.

9:15 a.m., Thursday, 10th tee; 2:05 p.m., Friday, 1st tee - In Gee Chun, Mimi Rhodes, Erica Shepherd

Chun, a three-time major champion, makes her first start of the season this week. Chun capped off her 2025 LPGA Tour season with a tie for 26th and after dealing with back pain throughout her career says she’s healthy and pain-free after making a swing change last season. Rhodes is making her second start since joining the LPGA Tour. The rookie posted a tie for 10th at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in her debut as a member of the Tour. Shepherd, also a rookie this season, will make her first start of the season. She recorded two top 10s, including a win at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout last season on the Epson Tour.

12:48 p.m., Thursday, 1st tee; 7:58 a.m., Friday, 10th tee - Nelly Korda, Yealimi Noh, Chizzy Iwai

Korda is back in action and making her first start since winning the weather-shortened Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Korda was tied for seventh the past two seasons at the Fortinet Founders Cup. She’s grouped with Noh, the defending champion of the Founders Cup, who earned her first career win with her victory last season. Noh is making her fourth start of the year with her best finish coming in a tie for 17th at the season-opener. Iwai is making just her second appearance at the Founders Cup, where she missed the cut last season. Iwai will be looking to build off a strong start to the season after recording a runner-up finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

12:59 p.m., Thursday, 10th tee; 8:09 a.m., Friday, 1st tee - Haeran Ryu, Lauren Coughlin, Sei Young Kim

Few players have had a more consistent start to the season than Ryu, who has three top 10s in her first three starts of the year. She hasn’t finished worse than a tie for 10th in 2026. Coughlin is making just her second start of the LPGA Tour season having posted a tie for 27th at the season-opener at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Kim, the 2016 winner of the Founders Cup, tied Annika Sorenstam’s 72-hole scoring record of 27-under par with her historic victory. Kim has enjoyed a steady start to the year with a tie for 21st at the HSBC Women' s World Championship and a tie for 10th at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

How to watch:

Thursday, March 19 - Sunday, March 22 - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET Live on Golf Channel

Featured Groups: 2026 Fortinet Founders Cup

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