Stacy Lewis, show in last year’s Chevron Championship, is playing one last time in the event this week at Memorial Park.
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Growing up playing golf on Houston-area courses set the tone for Stacy Lewis. The path led to a standout career at The Woodlands High School and later at Arkansas.
From there, she embarked on a long professional career, winning two major championships and later being chosen to captain the American team in two Solheim Cups.
It has been a remarkable ride for Lewis, a longtime advocate for the LPGA Tour.
Article continues below this ad
What: Chevron Championship, first of five majors played on the LPGA Tour.
Where: Memorial Park Golf Course, 1001 East Memorial Loop Drive.
When: Thursday-Sunday.
Defending champion: Mao Saigo.
Purse: $8 million. Winner’s share: $1.2 million.
TV schedule: Golf Channel: Thursday-Friday; NBC: Saturday-Sunday.
Tickets: for information visit: www.thechevronchampionship.com
Among Lewis’ 13 tour victories is the 2011 Chevron Championship. Another highlight was throwing a ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field. On Saturday, Lewis will throw out the first pitch at Daikin Park before the Astros’ home game against the New York Yankees.
This week’s Chevron Championship runs Thursday through Sunday at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. The tournament brings together 132 of the top women golfers in the world for the LPGA’s first major of the year.
Lewis announced her retirement last fall. But the 41-year-old is back in her hometown to play one final event.
Article continues below this ad
“It means a lot to me,” said Lewis, a two-time Rolex Player of the Year. “I played all over the city. I didn’t play Memorial when I was a kid, but I played so much golf in this area that it just felt like the perfect place to come back one more time and call it good.
NEW COURSE: What LPGA stars think of Memorial Park
“But I will say the last several weeks of trying to get ready to play again just kind of affirmed my decision to retire. I’m looking forward to getting through this week and then going back to normal life.”
The timing is right for Lewis to step away from playing professional golf full time. She chose the 2026 Chevron Championship for personal reasons. Pregnant with her second child, Lewis will have her parents and many friends — not to mention fans — in attendance. Her husband, Gerrod Chadwell, who leads the Texas A&M women’s golf team, will be on her bag.
This week has become more of a celebration than originally expected, especially as she prepares for her second child. Lewis said she is looking forward to the next few years raising her children at home — and not cleaning bottles in hotel rooms. She also won’t miss the travel.
Article continues below this ad
Playing in Houston Golf Association events as a youth helped Lewis learn to compete in heat and wind.
“When the weather gets bad, I play better,” Lewis said. “I think that’s why I won in Scotland a couple times in my career and played well all over the world. My game was able to travel, just kind of growing up in this area.”
Lewis won the AIG Women’s British Open in 2013 and captured the Ladies Scottish Open in 2020.
Her contributions to the game have inspired many LPGA Tour players — on and off the course.
Article continues below this ad
“I hope they have seen what I’ve done behind the scenes to help the tour and the little things,” said Lewis, who played in four Solheim Cups and later captained the Americans twice. “I’ve tried to instill that in the players, especially those Solheim players — just trying to get them to see how they can help outside of just playing golf.
“I try to lead by example and do the right thing, trying to get other people to follow. I care a lot — probably too much at times. But I want to see this tour be successful, and I’ll stick around as much as they’ll let me.”
Nelly Korda is expected to contend at the Chevron Championship. The world No. 2 has represented the United States in four Solheim Cups, two under Lewis’ captaincy.
HOUSTON EXPLAINED: The Stacy Lewis story
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Stacy through the Solheim Cup and how amazing of a leader she is,” said Korda, the 2024 Chevron champion. “What I’ve been really impressed by is how much she cares about the tour and how invested she is.
Article continues below this ad
“She’s had such an amazing career — as a player, a mother, a Solheim Cup captain. I know she’s not stopping there, so it’s been an honor to play under her, and I can’t wait to see what else she does.”
Emotions are expected to run high for Lewis as she wraps up a career that includes 118 top-10 finishes. She hopes to make the cut and play the weekend.
“I hope it’s on Sunday,” Lewis said. “That’s my goal — for it to be Sunday and not Friday. But I don’t know. I’m just excited. It’s not sad. There were times I thought about retiring before, and it was sad. But I’m more excited about it now.
“As you go along in your career, it becomes about the people — seeing all the caddies, the players, the staff. It becomes more about the people as you get older, and that’s what I’m going to miss the most. I’m going to have a lot of my people here, so I’m excited.”