LPGA to Revive Corning Tournament as The Classic for May 2027
Corning Inc.'s presenting sponsorship with a $5 million purse signals a push to reposition the event as a high-profile stop that showcases the company's community focus.
Overview
- The LPGA announced Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that The Classic will be played May 27–30, 2027 at Corning Country Club, returning the tour to Corning after an 18-year absence.
- Corning Inc. will serve as presenting sponsor and the tournament will carry a $5 million purse, placing it among the tour’s richest non-major events.
- IMG will promote and run the event, handling operations and commercial activation to raise the tournament’s national profile.
- Organizers renamed the tournament The Classic to create a distinctive brand and to encourage broader local corporate participation while tying the return to Corning’s 175th anniversary.
- The event revives a 31-year LPGA tradition that last ran in 2009 and aims to bring local economic activity and renewed community engagement to the Southern Tier of New York.