Haenam:Stars from the leading U.S. and domestic women's golf tours are set to compete in the LPGA Tour event in South Korea this week, with hometown favorite Kim Sei-young aiming to defend her title.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the LPGA Tour will continue its annual Asian swing at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, approximately 330 kilometers south of Seoul, for the BMW Ladies Championship. The 72-hole stroke-play tournament will take place from Thursday to Sunday, offering a total purse of US$2.35 million.
This marks the second consecutive year the tournament is held in Haenam. Kim Sei-young, from the nearby town of Yeongam, claimed victory in last year's tournament, ending a five-year LPGA title drought. Currently ranked No. 9 with 13 career LPGA wins, Kim has achieved seven top-10 finishes in 17 starts this season and is aiming for a second consecutive BMW title. No player has yet to win back-to-back BMW tournaments since its inception in 2019.
World No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran, leading all South Korean players in the rankings, is the highest-ranked player at this tournament. The 25-year-old has had an impressive year, securing two major titles and eight additional top-10 finishes. Kim Hyo-joo, world No. 6, will chase her 10th career win, which would make her the sixth South Korean player to reach double figures in LPGA titles.
Other notable South Korean players include Yoon Ina and Choi Hye-jin. Yoon, world No. 16, is in her second year on the LPGA Tour, seeking her first win. Choi recently secured a runner-up finish in Shanghai, boosting her world ranking to No. 23.
The tournament will also feature 15 players from the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour, including top performers Kim Min-sol and Seo Kyo-rim. Kim, a 20-year-old rookie, leads the tour in money earnings and Rookie of the Year points. Seo, who has won four KLPGA tournaments this year, ranks second on the money list.
Despite her recent withdrawal due to rib pain, Seo remains a strong contender. Meanwhile, Kim arrives in Haenam in excellent form, with multiple top-five finishes in recent tournaments. An all-Korean pre-tournament press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, featuring several South Korean stars.
A nonmember who secures an LPGA tournament win will gain eligibility for LPGA membership, with the option to accept the card immediately or defer it to the following year.