Haenam:World No. 3 and two-time major champion Ryu Hae-ran is set to headline a field of over 80 players at the upcoming LPGA Tour event in South Korea. The tournament, known as the BMW Ladies Championship, will kick off on October 22 at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, located about 330 kilometers south of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ryu will be the highest-ranked player participating in the four-day event. She recently achieved back-to-back major victories at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June and the Amundi Evian Championship in July, propelling her to the top three in the global rankings. Additionally, Ryu secured a win at a Korea LPGA major tournament earlier in October.
Joining Ryu in the competition are defending champion Kim Sei-young, ranked ninth in the world, and world No. 5 Kim Hyo-joo, who boasts two LPGA wins this season. Kim Sei-young, from Yeongam, aims to defend her title after breaking a five-year LPGA title drought at the previous BMW tournament. Kim Hyo-joo has also been in impressive form, with two victories and four top-10 finishes in 16 starts this year.
Aside from these South Korean talents, the field includes English player Lottie Woad, ranked No. 7, as the only other top-10 player. The tournament will also see participation from 15 players from the KLPGA Tour, including Kim Min-sol and Seo Kyo-rim. Kim, a promising 20-year-old rookie, currently leads the Korean tour in earnings and Rookie of the Year points. Seo tops the Player of the Year points and is second in earnings, while Kim holds the highest KLPGA world ranking at No. 13.
For non-LPGA members, winning an LPGA tournament grants eligibility for LPGA membership, offering the option to accept the LPGA card immediately or defer it to the next season's start.