SEOUL and DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 3, 2025) – Hanwha, a global business conglomerate based in the Republic of Korea, and the LPGA Tour announced today that Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco, Calif., will host the sixth playing of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in 2027. The club has a rich pedigree of hosting championship golf and will provide a world-class venue for this elite competition.
The Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown is the world’s only women’s golf team event contested by national teams, with the seven country teams and one World Team celebrating the broad diversity and true global nature of the women’s game. Just over one week ago, the 2025 International Crown, held at New Korea Country Club outside Seoul, was won by Australia in a thrilling final battle over the United States.
“San Francisco is home to the Hanwha AI Center (HAC), which serves as the AI hub for Hanwha Life Insurance, Hanwha General Insurance and Hanwha Asset Management. It is also a city with special ties to us, as our joint financial brand, LIFEPLUS, has been sponsoring the San Francisco Giants — where player Jung Hoo Lee belongs — since 2024,” said Chan Hyuk Park, Head of Wellness Experience Division at Hanwha Life Insurance. “We are very pleased to host the next tournament at the historic Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco.”
“After such a successful Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in Korea, we are thrilled to bring the next playing of this exciting team event back to San Francisco and the spectacular Lake Merced Golf Club,” said Chris Madsen, managing director of LPGA APAC Region. “The International Crown is a brilliant demonstration of the global power of women’s golf, with athletes playing for both country and personal pride. We look forward to working with our partners at Hanwha in the continued growth of this special event.”
Lake Merced Golf Club is a historic gem, recently restored to its glory as envisioned by renowned golf course architect Alister MacKenzie. Founded in 1922, Lake Merced has a long history of hosting elite women’s golf. From 2014-2016, the course hosted the LPGA Tour’s Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, won by Lydia Ko (2014, 2015) and Haru Moon (2016). Then in 2018-19 and 2021, Lake Merced was the host venue for the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, won by Ko (2018), Sei Young Kim (2019) and Matilda Castren (2021).
"Lake Merced is excited to once again partner with the LPGA and host one of the year's premier events — the 2027 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown,” said Wilson Leung, president of Lake Merced Golf Club. “Our diverse membership has enjoyed hosting multiple LPGA events in the past, including the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship and the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. This time, we are eager for the players to experience Gil Hanse's recent restoration of the strategic Alister MacKenzie design from the early years of our club’s history. We are thrilled to welcome 32 of the top players from around the world to compete in this great tournament!”
The 2027 Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown will mark the competition’s return to the Bay Area following the 2023 competition held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. The Thailand Team of Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit and Jeeno Thitikul emerged victorious over the Australia Team of Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Steph Kyriacou and Sarah Kemp.
The International Crown was first staged in 2014 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland and was won by the Spanish Team (Carlota Ciganda, Belen Mozo, Azahara Munoz, Beatriz Recari). The 2016 edition was won by the host nation, with the U.S. Team (Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Gerina Mendoza, Lexi Thompson) emerging victorious at Merit Club in Illinois. The 2018 International Crown took place at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, Republic of Korea, where the Korean Team (In Gee Chun, In Kyung Kim, Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu) claimed victory. The 2020 playing was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information on the official dates, as well as tickets, hospitality packages and volunteer opportunities, will be available as the event approaches. Click here to be notified when tickets go on sale.
For more information on the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, visit crown.lpga.com.
About LIFEPLUS, the Joint Brand of Hanwha’s Financial Affiliates
LIFEPLUS is a collaborative brand created by Hanwha Financial Group, which includes Hanwha Life Insurance, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Investment & Securities, Hanwha Life Financial Services, Hanwha Asset Management, and Carrot General Insurance. It offers practical solutions that bridge culture and finance, assisting customers in navigating the wide range of choices they encounter, from everyday matters to significant life decisions.
About the LPGA
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. The LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course.
Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
About the LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 32 annual events across 12 countries for over 200 athletes, awarding total prize funds exceeding $129 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.
About Lake Merced Golf Club
Founded in 1922, Lake Merced Golf Club is a private club located in Daly City, just south of San Francisco. Originally designed by Willie Locke and later redesigned by renowned architect Alister MacKenzie, the course has undergone several transformations, including a re-routing following the construction of Interstate 280 and a recent restoration by Gil Hanse that honors MacKenzie’s original vision. Over the decades, Lake Merced has earned a reputation as a hidden gem amongst Northern California’s premier golf venues, hosting numerous elite amateur and professional tournaments, including several LPGA Tour events. Beyond its championship-caliber course, the club is known for its welcoming membership, strong sense of community, and deep commitment to preserving its rich history within the broader heritage of Bay Area golf.
Media Contact
Christina Lance, LPGA
christina.lance@lpga.com