Teeing Off 2026: A Closer Look at the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour
The Callaway Race To Qualifying Top Five featured at the 2025 Heritage Classic Tour Championship
With the 2026 season on the horizon, the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT) enters its seventh year, beginning April 8–11 at the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Championship. Ahead of the opener, here are a few key details to know about the Tour.
History of the ANNIKA WAPT
The Women’s All Pro Tour launched its inaugural season in 2019, while announcing a partnership with LPGA’s Epson Tour to provide players with exemptions into Epson Tour events. As the Tour expanded, the partnership evolved in 2021 with the introduction of the Race To Qualifying program - a season-long points race that rewards the top five players with exemptions directly into the Qualifying Stage (formally known as Stage II) of LPGA Qualifying School.
In July of 2023, Annika Sörenstam and the Women’s All Pro Tour announced a five year partnership, in which the Women’s All Pro Tour would become the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour. And then, in 2024, Callaway Golf joined the tour as the title sponsor of the Callaway Race 2 Qualifying program.
What is the Format of the ANNIKA WAPT?
The ANNIKA WAPT conducts 54-hole and 72-hole stroke play events with a maximum field set at 132 players, including two host exemptions. The 13 event 2026 schedule will span across 11 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Following the first two rounds of each event, a cut is made to the top 37% of the field and ties. Players then compete for purses ranging from $55,000 - $70,000 with the winner taking home $10,000. The top two finishers of every tournament will then earn an exemption into an Epson Tour event.
Beyond tournament competition, each week features Pro-Ams, junior clinics, networking events, and community engagements, providing players valuable exposure and experience both on and off the course, further preparing its athletes for life on the LPGA.
Athlete Advance Programs
The Callaway Race To Qualifying program is an exciting and highly competitive season-long points race that begins at the first regular season event and concludes at the Heritage Classic Tour Championship in September. Throughout the season, players earn points based on their performance in each tournament. The top five players who accumulate the most points throughout the season earn advancement to LPGA Qualifying, bypassing the pre-qualifying stage of LPGA Q-School. In order for players to be eligible for the program and receive points, they must be members of the ANNIKA WAPT.
The Callaway Career Assistance program is designed to help kick-start the careers of the top five players on the Callaway Race To Qualifying points list. If these players choose to attend LPGA Qualifying, they will receive financial assistance as follows, courtesy of Callaway Golf:
$10,000
$5,000
$3,000
$2,500
$2,000
The Callaway Career Achievement Bonus rewards ANNIKA WAPT players who excel in their performances and use Callaway Golf Products. Each week, Callaway Golf offers the following bonuses for members who win an ANNIKA WAPT event while using Callaway Golf products:
$1,000 - Winning an ANNIKA WAPT event using a Callaway Driver
$500 - Winning an ANNIKA WAPT event using a Callaway Putter
$2,000 - Winning an ANNIKA WAPT event using both a Callaway Driver and a Putter
The ANNIKA 20 Program, presented by Southern Company
The goal of the ANNIKA 20 is to recognize the achievements of the top 20 athletes at the conclusion of each season, based on the Callaway Race To Qualifying points standings. Each of these players will receive financial assistance for LPGA Qualifying School, to eliminate barriers as they pursue their aspirations of competing on the LPGA Tour.
Notable ANNIKA WAPT Players
Since the tour’s inception, the ANNIKA WAPT has graduated a number of strong players to the LPGA including: Yealimi Noh, Matilda Castren, Gabby Then, Sofia Garcia, Alexa Pano, Hailee Cooper and major champion, Grace Kim. The ANNIKA WAPT has also produced Epson Tour winners including Sarah White, Gabby Then, Grace Kim, Fernanda Lira, Emma Broze, Savannah Vilaubi and Riley Smyth.
What is the Mission of the Tour?
At its core, the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour prepares athletes for more than just the next tournament. It serves as a proving ground for the next generation of LPGA players, offering opportunity, structure, and mentorship while implementing the standards of excellence to succeed both inside the ropes and beyond them.
To learn more about the ANNIKA WAPT, events, players, or how to get involved, visit our website: www.wapt.golf/
Marissa McCardell
ANNIKA WAPT Media & Communications
marissa@kgsportsco.com
