Haenam:Stars from the U.S. and domestic women's golf tours are gathering for the LPGA Tour event in South Korea this week, where a local favorite aims to defend her title. The LPGA Tour's annual Asian swing will take place in Haenam, approximately 330 kilometers south of Seoul, at the Pine Beach Golf Links for the BMW Ladies Championship. The tournament, featuring 72 holes of stroke-play, is scheduled from Thursday to Sunday, with a total prize purse of US$2.35 million.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks the second consecutive year the tournament will be held in Haenam. Kim Sei-young, from the nearby town of Yeongam, is the defending champion, having won last year's event, ending a five-year LPGA title drought. Kim, currently ranked No. 9 with 13 career LPGA wins, has had a successful 2026 season, securing seven top-10 finishes in 17 starts. She aims to secure her second consecutive BMW title on home soil, a feat no player has achieved since the tournament's inception in 2019.
World No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran, the highest-ranked South Korean player in the field, has had a standout year, clinching two major titles and eight other top-10 finishes. Kim Hyo-joo, ranked No. 5 globally, is also competing, with aims to secure her 10th career LPGA win, which would place her among the few South Korean players with double-digit LPGA titles.
Fifteen players from the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour will also participate, including top performers Kim Min-sol and Seo Kyo-rim. Rookie Kim leads the tour in earnings and Rookie of the Year points and is second in the Player of the Year standings, trailing Seo. In contrast, Seo has claimed four KLPGA victories this year compared to Kim's three. Kim is the highest-ranked KLPGA player globally at No. 13, followed by Seo at No. 32.
A nonmember who wins an LPGA tournament will gain eligibility for LPGA membership, with the option to accept the LPGA card immediately or defer it to the start of the following year.