Michigan's summer golf schedule for 2027 has taken yet another hit. The Dow Championship in Midland is moving to the fall portion of the LPGA's schedule in 2027, tournament officials announced Thursday. The 2027 tournament will be played Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. The Dow Championship, the LPGA's only regular-season team event, has been played in June or July every year since it debuted in 2019, except for 2020, when there was no tournament because of COIVD. A spokesperson for the tournament told The News that the decision was the LPGA's due to "schedule shifts that occur each year." Dow and officials for the tournament, known for its team-picked walkup songs and the party atmosphere on the rare par-3 finishing hole, are using the schedule shift to promote Michigan's scenic fall-golf season.
“The Dow Championship team looks forward to hosting world-class golfers and fans back to Midland Country Club — the perfect setting to enjoy the autumn season in Michigan,” Carlos Padilla II, executive director of the tournament, said in a statement Thursday. "We are grateful for the incredible support of our volunteers, sponsors and community partners who make this event possible. We are excited to bring everyone together again for another memorable week.” It remains to be seen how the move will affects fan attendance. The weather can be an issue that time of year in Michigan, and a move to the fall puts the tournament up against the NFL and college football. The Dow Championship is under contract through 2029. Americans Gina Kim and Yana Wilson won the 2026 tournament in June. The summer 2027 major pro-golf tour schedule in Michigan is starting to look very light, with the PGA Tour's Rocket Classic having ended its eight-year run in Detroit earlier this month. The PGA Tour Champions' Ally Challenge doesn't yet have a contract beyond its tournament later this month, and LIV Golf isn't likely coming back to Michigan amid that circuit's financial woes. LIV Golf was supposed to host its season-ending team championship in Plymouth Township later this month (Aug. 27-30, the same weekend as the Ally), but that tournament is all but scrapped even though there's been no official announcement yet from LIV Golf. The Meijer LPGA Classic, Michigan's other LPGA tournament and one of the most popular regular-season tournaments on the Tour, is expected to again be played in its traditional slot, on Father's Day weekend, in 2027. “The Dow Championship has become one of the most anticipated weeks in the Great Lakes Bay Region, and Dow is proud to have helped build it. This is a signature event in women's professional sport — one that delivers real value for our community, our partners and our customers," Karen S. Carter, Dow chief executive officer, said in a statement Thursday. "We look forward to welcoming the world's best players back to Midland." The Dow Championship has raised more than $3.5 million for local charities since debuting. The full LPGA schedule for 2027 will be released in the coming weeks. tpaul@detroitnews.com @tonypaul1984 This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan's golf schedule dealt yet another blow for summer 2027