Curious addition at LPGA's first major has deeper meaning

The temporary plunge pool on the 18th hole at Memorial Park LPGA

Rendering of the 18th hole at Memorial Park after planned redesign LPGA

“When a tradition matters, you find a way to honor it — and bring fans closer to it, too,” the LPGA said in a statement to GOLF. “The winner’s jump has become one of the most fun and distinctive traditions at The Chevron Championship, and what makes it especially meaningful is that it was created organically by the players themselves.

“It is a nod to the championship’s history, a bridge to the future and part of creating a more engaging fan experience by giving spectators a place to connect with and experience this tradition up close. And, as always, it is entirely up to the winning player whether she wants to take the plunge.”

Stacy Lewis made the jump into Poppie’s Pond after winning the 2011 Chevron at Mission Hills. Lewis said that plunge, not how she played at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course, is what most sticks with her about her first major win.

“There has been a lot of debate about the pond and the jump,” Lewis said Tuesday at Memorial Park. “I’ve told a lot of people that I don’t remember getting the trophy. A lot of things I don’t remember about that ceremony. But I remember the jump and what that felt like and how cold that water was in California.”

As the LPGA and women’s golf seek to grow in popularity, the importance of building traditions is crucial. Women’s golf hasn’t been good at that. The number of majors has gone from three to four to five. The LPGA Championship became the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Things get lost.

But Lewis and other past champions are adamant that the leap into the pond should continue. She knows the temporary pool isn’t an ideal solution but years down the road this spell won’t be remembered — only the jump will.

“What did it take, almost 20 years to develop the pond jump?” Lewis said. “Traditions don’t just happen overnight. I just think it’s so important that we keep it and that it’s — is it a little bit different this year? Yes. Does it look great? I mean, it’s up for debate, right? But somebody is still going to jump in there, and it’s still going to be — when we look back on 10 years, we’re going to put all these jumps together, and they’re all going to look the same. So I just think we’ve got to get through this year, but it has to continue.”

Lewis thought the temporary pond would “be bigger,” but is pleased with the LPGA and Chevron’s decision to keep the tradition in play. Lewis, who is 41 and retiring after this week, also believes the course will benefit from the addition coming in 2027.

“They did a really good job of doing the best they could given the situation,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be a lot better when we come back next year, and frankly, the 18th green is going to be a lot better, too. It’s going to fit more with the golf course, and now, the last four finishing holes will all have water on them.”

Given the depth of the pool, there won’t be any cannonballs this year, and the number of team members who go in with the winner will be limited. It’s even possible that the victor could forgo wading into the temporary pool.

But the LPGA’s marquee star won’t even need to think about it.

Nelly Korda jumped into the pond at Carlton Woods in 2024. Should she be the last woman standing this week at Memorial Park, there’s no question, she’s going in.

“I think when it comes to what people think about it, you’re always going to be in a lose-lose situation,” Korda said Tuesday. “Once you kill a tradition, it’s killed forever. If you kind of look at it, maybe some people don’t like it that it’s at a different golf course, different venue. I still give props to Chevron and to the LPGA for wanting to keep that tradition alive.

“I know that there is a bigger plan for it to be a better jump into Poppie’s Pond. But at the end of the day, if I’m hoisting the trophy, like I’m going to jump in.”

And once the winner exits and puts on the tournament robe, the work will begin to ensure that tradition remains just that.

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