Mizuho Americas Open impacting women's golf, both on and off the course

Mizuho Americas Open impacting women's golf, both on and off the course
When Mizuho Americas began exploring sports sponsorship opportunities several years ago, it quickly settled on golf, which CEO Jerry Rizzieri says was an 'obvious choice' given the sport's popularity among the company's clients.
Mizuho, however, didn't want to be just another financial institution slapping its name on a PGA Tour event. It wanted to make a difference. It wanted to create a legacy. That led Mizuho Americas to the LPGA, where Rizzieri felt that the company could 'set itself apart and really make an impact with its sponsorship.'
'Women's sports have seen incredible growth in terms of viewership and investment over the past few years, and investing in women's sports is good business,' Rizzieri said.
The LPGA's Mizuho Americas Open, which debuted in 2023, has been a home run for the company and the LPGA, thanks to the tournament's unique format and its focus on mentorship, which is on brand with Mizuho's corporate mission. It doesn't hurt that the tournament has enjoyed an iconic setting at Liberty National Golf Club, just across the Hudson River from New York City, and that Mizuho has pushed the envelope on non-major prize money and five-star accommodations for players.
'Mizuho Americas has really elevated the women's game so much more,' said LPGA star Rose Zhang. 'It had an elevated purse the inaugural year, and then on top of that, for them to continue having the relationship with the LPGA and support the women out here, their vision has really shown and it has really impacted the game and us as players.'
The Mizuho Americas Open pairs 120 LPGA professionals with 24 top-ranked junior girls, with the goal of mentoring the amateurs both on and off the course. During tournament week, Mizuho, in conjunction with Girls Inc., hosted its annual DrivHer Summit, which included a golf clinic, but also day-to-day business skills such as career planning and networking. Rizzieri says that part of tournament week is 'one of the most rewarding aspects of partnering with the LPGA.'
In only its third year, the tournament has had a huge impact on LPGA stars and top-ranked AJGA juniors. It's been such a success for Mizuho Americas and the tour that the company recently announced a five-year sponsorship renewal. The tournament will move to Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J., the next two years before returning to Liberty National for three years starting in 2028.
'Mizuho is passionate about mentorship and providing learning and growth opportunities in meaningful ways, both on and off the course,' Rizzieri said. 'The tournament is a phenomenal opportunity for the junior players to play side by side with their greatest mentors, encouraging the next generation of talent. Mizuho found this format extended the chance to celebrate excellence beyond just the professionals but to the professionals of the future in a hands-on and impactful way.'
During the recent Mizuho Americas Open, Michelle Wie West got a reminder of just how much of an impact the tournament is having on the lives of LPGA professionals and the young amateurs who aspire to play on tour.
Wie West, a Mizuho ambassador who serves as the tournament host, ran into first-year professional Yana Wilson and her father, Jim, who wanted her to know how much the tournament meant to the Wilson family.
'I saw (Yana) at the clubhouse and her dad was really sweet,' West told Golfweek. 'He was like, this tournament changed her path. That feels really amazing to hear, to have that effect on someone. That's what the beauty of this tournament is. I'm so excited for the LPGA players here, but it's the juniors who make it so special for me.'
In May Yana Wilson, 18, became the first player to compete in the tournament as an amateur – she won the junior division in 2023 – and as a professional. She had a prolific amateur career, winning more than 100 times by age 15, including the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in 2022. A week before the Mizuho Americas Open, Wilson notched her first professional victory on the Epson Tour in her hometown of Las Vegas. That victory was made all the more special because it fell on her mother Olga's birthday.
Wilson is, in short, exactly what Mizuho envisioned when it first decided to sponsor the tournament in 2023. It wanted to help young women realize their big dreams – whether those dreams led them to the LPGA or on other career paths.
'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,' Rizzieri said.

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