LPGA Star Stacy Lewis Confirms 2026 Chevron Championship Return While Four Months Pregnant

POLICY WIRE — Houston, USA — Professional golfer Stacy Lewis is set to make a remarkable return to the Chevron Championship in 2026, competing while four months pregnant with her second child.

The news came as a complete surprise to Lewis and her husband, Gerrod Chadwell, who had previously given up on expanding their family. Lewis discovered her pregnancy just as they were preparing to part with their daughter Chesnee’s baby items, a moment Chadwell described as miraculous after years of trying.

A Journey of Perseverance and Motherhood

Lewis, a celebrated two-time major champion, two-time Solheim Cup captain, and former world No. 1, had openly shared the emotional toll of their three-year struggle to conceive a second child. She reflected on the difficulty of witnessing others’ pregnancies while grappling with her own sadness.

Her planned retirement announcement at the LPGA’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last year was overshadowed by an unusual weather cancellation. This event ironically echoed a past experience in 2007, when Lewis, then an Arkansas senior, was declared the unofficial winner of the same tournament due to similar circumstances.

The Chevron Championship holds special significance for Lewis, who grew up in The Woodlands, Texas. This tournament, located near her childhood home, is poised to offer her a heartfelt opportunity to bid farewell to a major that profoundly influenced her career.

Her dedication extends beyond the course; in 2017, following Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in Houston, Lewis famously pledged her entire winnings from the Cambia Portland Classic to relief efforts. She subsequently broke a three-year streak of runner-up finishes with an emotional victory, with her sponsor, KPMG, matching her $195,000 prize.

Her husband, Gerrod Chadwell, who serves as the head women’s golf coach at Texas A&M, expressed his hope that Lewis would receive the recognition she deserves for her contributions to the sport during this event.

A Legacy of Major Victories and LPGA Advocacy

Lewis first participated in the event, then known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship, as an amateur in 2007. She tied for fifth, earning low amateur honors, and developed a deep affection for its traditions. Four years later, she secured her inaugural LPGA victory at the tournament, triumphing over world No. 1 Yani Tseng in the California desert.

“When I look back of everything I’ve done, it was probably the most important week. To get it done on that stage and to go up against the No. 1 in the world – you had to manage everything.”

After achieving 12 LPGA titles, including a second major at the British Open at St. Andrews, Lewis and Chadwell began discussing starting a family around Christmas 2017. She became pregnant at 33, just a couple of months later.

Upon sharing her happy news with KPMG, the company remarkably offered to pay out her entire contract for the year, irrespective of her tournament participation. This gesture, aimed at treating her like any other female employee, inspired Lewis to initiate critical discussions within the LPGA regarding paid maternity leave policies.

After giving birth to Chesnee in October 2018, Lewis made history by becoming the first mother on tour in nine years to clinch a victory, securing her 13th career title at the 2020 Scottish Open. No other mother has achieved an LPGA win since.

While her first pregnancy came easily, the second proved to be a challenging journey. After several years, the couple pursued IVF, only to receive the disheartening news of its failure on Father’s Day last year during a tournament in Michigan. Lewis admitted it took her approximately six months to accept the possibility of Chesnee remaining an only child.

Shaping the Future of Women’s Golf

Chadwell speculated that stepping away from the demands of touring and the pressures of Solheim Cup captaincies might have positively impacted their situation. He reflected on the unexpected nature of their current joy, stating, “It’s funny just how God has a plan.”

Lewis, always considering the broader implications for the sport, hopes the LPGA will adopt a policy similar to one introduced in tennis last year. This rule protects players’ rankings while they undergo fertility procedures, such as egg or embryo freezing. This upcoming appearance at the 2026 Chevron Championship will mark Lewis’s potential farewell to a major that has deep personal significance.

She emphasized the physical toll of procedures like egg retrievals, suggesting that clear policies could encourage younger players to proactively consider their reproductive health. For the gender reveal, seven-year-old Chesnee playfully hit an exploding pink golf ball at Texas A&M’s golf facility, a moment Chadwell orchestrated to remind his team of life’s importance beyond sports.

Chadwell plans to caddy for his wife at Memorial Park, just as he did in 2018 for her final event before Chesnee’s birth. During that Marathon Classic, Lewis shot an impressive 66 in the final round while five-and-a-half months pregnant, an achievement Chadwell still hails as one of the most remarkable things he has ever witnessed in her illustrious career.