Genesis Championship tees off with $4m purse as Kim Si-woo, Lim Sung-jae enter field

The 2026 Genesis Championship, carrying a $4 million purse, got underway Thursday, with 126 world-class players — including Kim Si-woo, Lim Sung-jae and this year's The Open champion Ryan Fox — vying for the title.

Genesis is hosting the four-day tournament at Woojung Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, through Sunday.

Now in its 10th edition, the Genesis Championship was launched in 2017 to help Korean male golfers break into the international circuit. Since 2024, it has been elevated to a co-sanctioned event between the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour and the European DP World Tour. The $4 million purse is the largest of any KPGA Tour event.

The tournament is played over 72 holes of stroke play across four rounds. The field includes defending champion Lee Jeong-hwan, PGA Tour players Kim Si-woo and Lim Sung-jae, and New Zealand's Ryan Fox.

Fox claimed his first major title at the 154th The Open, held at Royal Birkdale in Britain in July, and is making his debut on the Korean golf circuit at this event.

The winner will receive $680,000 along with a Genesis GV80 Hybrid SUV. The champion will also earn 1,300 KPGA Tour Genesis Points and 835 DP World Tour Race to Dubai ranking points, as well as playing rights on both tours for the next two years.

The top-finishing KPGA Tour member will earn a spot in the 2027 Genesis Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

Hole-in-one prizes are also on offer. The first player to ace the 16th hole during the tournament will receive a GV70, while that player's caddie will receive a GV60.

Genesis is also providing 67 vehicles and three hydrogen electric buses to support tournament operations. Models including the GV80 Coupe, G90 and electrified GV70 will shuttle players around the venue, while Hyundai Motor's Universe hydrogen electric buses will handle broader transportation needs during the event. The initiative is part of the DP World Tour's sustainability campaign, Green Drive.

A dedicated rest area for players and caddies, the Players and Caddies Cafe, has been set up at the venue, offering beverages and snacks throughout the tournament.

Fan experiences are also on offer for general spectators. A Fan Village has been set up along key routes within the venue, featuring Genesis vehicles on display and showcasing the brand's electrification and high-performance technology development since its launch.

The Genesis brand booth will display the GV90 Neolun, an oversized electrified SUV. Golf accessories — including ball markers, beanies, bucket hats and driver headcovers — will be sold alongside merchandise marking the tournament's 10th anniversary. A lightweight golf stand bag set for release early next year will make its public debut at the event, with pre-orders accepted on site.

A new family-friendly zone has also been added. The kids zone features a junior golf area where children can receive basic instruction from a professional coach, as well as an autograph zone where young fans can get signatures from competing players. Young golfers will have the opportunity to receive a one-point lesson from a past Genesis Championship winner and attend an invitation dinner.

A food zone featuring restaurant brands from Seoul and Cheonan will also be in operation. Near the 18th green, a Genesis Suite for VIP customers and a Genesis Guest Lounge exclusively for vehicle owners have been set up. A Genesis Championship Lounge, open to guests of both spaces, has been created around the clubhouse.

A total of nine vehicles — including the GV80 Hybrid, GV90 Neolun and GV60 Magma — will be displayed throughout the venue. A separate Genesis Magma Racing Zone will showcase the GMR-001 hypercar, which competes in endurance racing, along with related merchandise. A GV80 Hybrid test-drive program will also be available for spectators who applied in advance.

Genesis launched the GV80 Hybrid — its first hybrid model — in South Korea on Oct. 6. The vehicle is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged hybrid system producing a combined maximum output of 352 horsepower, with a combined fuel efficiency of 12 kilometers per liter for the two-wheel-drive five-seat variant fitted with 19-inch wheels.

"Since the inaugural tournament in 2017, the Genesis Championship has established itself as an international stage where the world's top players compete, and this year marks its 10th anniversary," said Lee Si-hyeok, executive vice president and head of Genesis Business Division. "This year, we plan to offer a diverse range of viewing experiences and hands-on programs that golf fans, children and families can all enjoy together."