Excel Sports Management was excited when it launched the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City in 2023. And it was confident it could become one of the biggest stops on the LPGA Tour.
It just didn’t realize it could all happen so quickly.
Thanks to a going-above-and-beyond sponsor, a great location, a unique format (the pros and top juniors play together) and top prize money, the event has all but achieved “major” status.
And when the event tees off Thursday, it will do so with a five-year renewal that will keep the event in New Jersey already signed.
Tournament Director Caila Roberts couldn’t be happier.
“It’s pretty rare that you get the opportunity to really put a stake in the ground like this early on,” she told BINJE. “You usually look at 2- to 3-year renewals, especially when you’re starting out. So, we’re really excited that we’ve locked into New Jersey through 2030, which will allow us to make the event bigger and better.”
Roberts said it all starts with Mizuho.
In addition to financial support, Mizuho has taken other steps to make this a premier event.
For starters, it offers complimentary high-end hotel housing and transportation. That’s a bigger deal than you might expect. Understand, there is no home game in tour golf. Players continually have to figure out where they are going to stay.
“This is extremely helpful to the players,” Roberts said.
The effort, rare three years ago, is now becoming commonplace on the tour.
The Mizuho Americas Open also distinguishes itself with its efforts to grow the game.
For starters, the junior event — featuring the top up-and-coming players — is held simultaneously, giving those players an opportunity to play with the pros and in front of larger crowds than they’ve previously experienced.
Off the course, Mizuho sponsors a DriveHER Leadership Summit for high school girls.
Led by event host Michelle Wie, an LPGA Hall of Famer, approximately 75 girls went through various leadership training workshops on Tuesday.
The growth of the event comes at a time of great growth for women’s sports.
Roberts is thrilled that Northern New Jersey golf fans will have a chance to see the sport up close. And in two different areas.
Due to a scheduling issue, the event will move to Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell in both 2026 and 2027, before returning to Liberty National for 2028-30.
Mountain Ridge, which hosted an LPGA event in 2021, was a hit with players. Roberts is confident it will score well with fans, too.
“We’re excited that we’ll be in New Jersey for eight straight years,” she said.
The growth of the game is coming on the sponsorship side, too.
In addition to Mizuho, Hackensack Meridian Health, Workday and Delta have been with the event from the start. Roberts said more and more companies are seeing the value of being connected to women’s sports.
“Our sponsors, who have been with us from the beginning, saw the vision,” she said. “Each year, more companies are realizing the impact of women’s sports. Women’s sports is good for business.”
Mizuho sure feels that way.
Jerry Rizzieri, CEO of Mizuho Securities USA and head of Americas Corporate and Investment Bank, calls it a ‘one-of-a-kind’ tournament.
“We share this tournament — not only with the players — but also with our employees and clients,” he said. “We remain deeply committed to our investment in women’s sports as we aim to help advance the next generation of talent and level the playing field for women, both on and off the golf course.”
During the five-year partnership, the prize purse will continue to escalate, ensuring that the Mizuho Americas Open remains one of the largest non-Major championship purses on the LPGA Tour.
