The LPGA Tour and Fortinet, Inc. announced a multiyear deal where Fortinet, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, will be the title partner of the Founders Cup. The 2026 event will be played March 19-22 with a $3 million purse, up from $2 million in 2025.

“We’re fired up to welcome Fortinet as the title partner of the Founders Cup and grateful for their commitment to elevating this historic event,” said LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler. “The Founders Cup is about honoring the 13 women who built the LPGA from the ground up, and there’s no better stage for that than Sharon Heights — a world-class course that will challenge and showcase our players. Fortinet is founder-led, is headquartered in Northern California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is focused on excellence and putting its customers first, and is the perfect title partner for this event. Many of our athletes have deep ties to Northern California, and this partnership with Fortinet allows us to celebrate that connection while growing the game and inspiring future generations.”

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Founded in Silicon Valley in 2000, Fortinet has been the cybersecurity leader for 25 years, with the biggest overall cybersecurity patent portfolio in the industry, as well as the largest Artificial Intelligence (AI) patent portfolio. Fortinet has led the convergence of networking and security – innovating security organically and well-integrated – from the ground up, embedding and innovating protection into the very fabric of networking. From custom-built ASICs and its FortiOS operating system, to being the only vendor delivering the New-Generation SASE Firewall, to organically building a global cloud infrastructure, advanced AI, and industry-leading threat intelligence, Fortinet provides seamless performance and security at scale. These innovations are validated not only by Fortinet’s extensive patent portfolio and its large customer base of the most discerning customers, but also by recognition as a Leader across multiple Gartner Magic Quadrants, including SASE Platforms, SD-WAN, and Enterprise Wired and Wireless Infrastructure within the single FortiOS operation system. Forbes recognized Fortinet in the top 10 Most Trusted Companies in America list, recognizing Fortinet as the most trusted U.S. based cybersecurity company in the world and the only cyber company in the top 50. With more than 890,000 lifetime customers, Fortinet continues to be among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated cybersecurity companies in the world.

“Fortinet is honored to join the LPGA as title sponsor of the Fortinet Founders Cup, a tournament that celebrates the vision and perseverance of the LPGA’s 13 trailblazing founders,” said Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fortinet. “Our own journey began in Silicon Valley nearly 25 years ago with a commitment to innovation and putting our customers first, values that continue to drive us today. Together with the LPGA, we aim to further advance the game of golf, and inspire future generations and champion opportunities for women on and off the course.”

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The LPGA’s return to Northern California marks a longstanding tradition of women’s golf in the area. Previously, the Bay Area hosted the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, played at The Olympic Club, and the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open, played at CordeValle, as well as the 2023 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, played at TPC Harding Park. The last non-major, standard-eligibility LPGA Tour event to be held in Northern California was the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, played from 2018 through 2022 at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City.

Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club has been an active part of the Menlo Park community for more than 60 years. Originally designed in 1962 by renowned architect Jack Fleming (a protégé of Alister MacKenzie), the course was adjusted by several architects through the years prior to a major renovation conducted in 2023. The renovation was carried out by architect Todd Eckenrode and Origins Golf Design and features an improved layout and enhanced commitment to sustainability. Since reopening in 2024, the course has garnered multiple renovation-of-the-year awards. The design intentionally showcases the beauty of the region with natural meadows, seasonal creeks and fairways lined with native California oak and sycamore trees. “We are honored to welcome the best female golfers in the world to Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club,” said General Manager Aaron Grant. “Our golf course is truly very special, and we look forward to showcasing it on the world stage as well as bringing the LPGA to our local community that so greatly supports female athletics and golf.”

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Source: globenewswire

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