The Epson Tour has announced a partnership with the NEXT Golf Tour powered by Trackman to expand competitive opportunities for female golfers during the off-season, a period when professional events are typically limited. The collaboration aims to bring more visibility and momentum to the women’s game, offering players a tangible route to career progression even when traditional tournaments pause.
The initiative focuses on enabling women to compete, gain exposure, and advance their careers throughout the year. Through NEXT’s virtual golf competition platform, professional and elite amateur players will be able to take part in high-level events between November and February. Performances in these tournaments will carry real rewards, as the top performer will secure direct entry to compete on the Epson Tour in the summer season.
Craig Kessler, LPGA commissioner, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a major step for women’s golf. “Earning a spot to compete amongst some of the best in the world on the Epson Tour is an incredibly tough journey, and we are constantly looking for ways to give athletes more opportunities to compete and grow. To have Trackman host the NEXT Golf Tour for the players chasing that dream is incredible. With the accuracy of technology today, the fairways may be virtual, but the pressure, the competition, and the skill it takes to win are absolutely real,” said Kessler.
Klaus Eldrup-Jørgensen, CEO and co-founder of Trackman, added: “Golf has entered a new era where data, technology, and competition come together to create opportunities. By partnering with the Epson Tour through the NEXT Golf Tour, we are opening a new door for women in golf — one where geography, season or resources no longer define who gets to compete.”
At the centre of the partnership is a new global event, the NEXT × Epson Tour Q Open, which will take place from 20 November to 4 December. Hosted entirely on Trackman simulators, the tournament will feature a minimum purse of US$40,000 funded by Trackman. Player entry fees will be added to the prize fund, allowing it to grow as participation increases.
The Q Open is open to female professionals and elite amateurs worldwide, providing access to competitive play during the off-season. All participants will compete virtually on Liberty National Golf Club using Trackman’s advanced simulator technology.
Top performers from the event will qualify for the NEXT World Series, a larger indoor golf season featuring four tournaments with a combined prize pool of US$700,000, running from mid-December to early February.
The partnership also establishes a direct pathway from virtual performance to professional competition. The top female golfer from the NEXT World Series will receive an exemption into three consecutive Epson Tour tournaments, providing a direct link between winter performance and summer tour opportunities.
This new structure builds on the success of players who transitioned between the two platforms in 2025. China’s Mohan Du, who topped the NEXT Tour’s Order of Merit, went on to achieve her best season on the Epson Tour. She finished second at the Reliance Matrix Championship presented by Epson in May and secured two top-10 finishes by the end of the season.
“The highlight of my season was definitely the second place in Las Vegas and securing full status on the Epson Tour. But also my success on the NEXT Golf Tour gave me huge confidence – and the earnings made it easier to focus fully on competing. NEXT is such a great opportunity for the many talented women chasing the dream. The new partnership with the Epson Tour is amazing, and I cannot wait to compete again this season,” Du said.
Known as the “Road to the LPGA”, the Epson Tour continues to serve as the key stepping stone for women aspiring to reach the top level of professional golf. With the addition of the NEXT Golf Tour collaboration, aspiring players will now have more consistent, accessible, and meaningful competition throughout the year, turning virtual performance into real-world opportunity.
