LPGA Tour's Asia Swing Kicks Off in Shanghai

The Five-Tournament Schedule

After Shanghai, the BMW Ladies Championship runs October 16-19 at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea. The event carries a $2.30 million purse and 500 Race to CME Globe points. Australian Hannah Green defends her 2024 title.

The Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown follows October 23-26 at New Korea Country Club in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. This team competition differs from the tour's usual individual stroke play format. Thailand won in 2023. The $2.00 million purse won't come with Race to CME Globe points, but national pride will be on the line.

Malaysia hosts the penultimate event. The Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club's West Course runs October 30-November 2 with the swing's largest purse at $3.00 million and 500 points available. China's Ruoning Yin, who also won last year's Buick LPGA Shanghai, claimed the 2024 Maybank title and will defend.

The TOTO Japan Classic concludes the swing November 6-9 at Seta Golf Course in Otsu-shi, Shiga. The $2.10 million event awards 500 points. Japan's Rio Takeda won on home soil in 2024, energizing Japanese golf fans.

Yubol's Clean Card

Yubol posted eight birdies without a bogey in Thursday's opening round. She made four birdies on each nine, balanced scoring that left her atop a competitive leaderboard. Her career-best round is 61, so Thursday's 64 wasn't her absolute peak, but it was spotless.

The course conditions added difficulty. Extreme heat and humidity have damaged the greens at Qizhong. Players described them as bumpy, brown, and patchy. Yubol navigated these surfaces without error, which makes her round more impressive.

She holds a one-stroke advantage heading into Friday, but the players behind her have proven they can close gaps.

Thitikul's Turnaround

The day's most dramatic story belonged to Thitikul. The 22-year-old from Thailand opened with a bogey on the first hole, then double-bogeyed the second. She stood at 3-over par through two holes, a terrible start for anyone, let alone the world's top-ranked player.

"Used to happen a lot when I was amateur, junior. But I was shocked as well. I was shocked after the second hole," Thitikul said. "As I say, I still have 16 holes to play, 16 opportunities. I just told myself to be calm and then don't take anything personal. Definitely you're going to make a mistake anyway no matter what. And then, like I said every time, how you bounce back is more important. You going to learn anyway. Then you have something that sometimes feeling good as always."

She steadied with two pars, then birdied holes 5 through 8. Four straight birdies erased her early mistakes and moved her to 1-under. Another birdie came at the par-3 11th. Then three more in a row on 13, 14, and 15. She closed with birdies on 17 and 18.

Ten birdies total. No one made more in the first round. Her 65 left her tied for second, one shot back. It marked her seventh round of 65 or better this season.

Thitikul is playing the Buick LPGA Shanghai for the second time. She tied for fifth in her 2024 debut and has made no secret of wanting better this week.

Lee and the Second-Place Group

Minjee Lee joined Thitikul at 7-under. The Australian won her third major championship at the Women's PGA Championship in June. She credited her broomstick putter for helping her manage Qizhong's challenging greens.

"I feel like with how the greens are, the conditions, I managed pretty well to make, what, seven birdies, so it was nice day for me," Lee said.

Jenny Shin, Jenny Bae, and Ina Yoon also shot 65, creating a five-way tie for second. The bunched leaderboard means plenty of players remain in contention.

Defending Champion Struggles

Ruoning Yin opened with 71, leaving her nine shots behind Yubol. The Chinese player won this event last year and also claimed the Maybank Championship during a strong Asian swing. A 71 isn't disastrous, but she'll need significant improvement to defend her title. No player has successfully defended at the Buick LPGA Shanghai in recent years.

Other Contenders

Ashleigh Buhai, the 2022 Women's British Open champion, posted 68 to sit four under. The South African's experience in pressure situations keeps her relevant as the week progresses.

A Season Unlike Any Other

Through 25 official tournaments in 2025, the LPGA has produced 26 different winners. This statistic excludes the rain-shortened Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, which was deemed unofficial after being reduced to 18 holes.

Last week, Youmin Hwang became the latest first-time winner, the sixth player from South Korea to win on tour this year. No player has dominated the way past champions have. The depth of talent has created parity rarely seen in professional golf.

Thitikul won at Liberty National Golf Club in May for her fifth career title and first since capturing the CME Group Tour Championship in 2024. She's come close to winning again multiple times but hasn't broken through for a second victory this season.

She sees the bigger picture in the tour's competitiveness.

"I think it tells us about how the Tour has been going, and then how the field has been so tough right now," Thitikul said. "We tied the record, which is so amazing. I never seen. I don't know how the last record was in that year, but it's not previous year. I think it's the time of everyone showing off the performance-wise of the players trying to play as best as possible that they can do and then showing us it's not a small world anymore. It's a bigger world, where everywhere you are and any nationality you are, you can win on the LPGA Tour."

The Asia Swing, with its diverse field and challenging courses across multiple countries, provides the ideal stage for this global talent.

Course Conditions Add Complexity

Shanghai's extreme heat and humidity have visibly affected Qizhong Garden Golf Club. The greens look brown and patchy. They feel bumpy under the putter. Players have had to adjust their touch and accept that well-struck putts might bounce unpredictably.

Still, the scoring was strong on Thursday. Multiple players posted rounds in the mid-60s. The conditions are difficult but not impossible. Adaptation will be rewarded.

Friday's Forecast

The weather isn't expected to change. More heat and humidity means the greens won't improve much. Yubol will try to maintain her lead. Thitikul's comeback has positioned her well, and her world No. 1 ranking makes her the player to beat.

Lee's major championship pedigree gives her credibility. Shin, Bae, and Yoon will look to prove they belong in the title conversation.

Points and Prizes

Five hundred Race to CME Globe points are available this week. The top performers in the season-long Race to CME Globe earn spots at the CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner claims $4 million, the largest single prize in women's golf.

Every point matters now. Players on the bubble for Tour Championship qualification need strong performances during the Asia Swing. Those already secure want better seeding for the finale.

The four counting events across the swing offer 2,000 combined points. A strong five weeks could mean the difference between making the Tour Championship and missing it, or between arriving as a favorite versus a long shot.

Global Golf on Display

The Asia Swing showcases the LPGA Tour's international character. Tournaments in China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan provide players from these countries with opportunities to compete in front of home crowds and inspire young golfers.

Two Thai players sit atop the Shanghai leaderboard, even though they're competing in China. The International Crown in South Korea will emphasize national pride. The TOTO Japan Classic gives Japanese players like defending champion Takeda a chance to shine at home.

This global representation defines the LPGA Tour. The ability to attract top talent worldwide and stage premier events across continents demonstrates the truly international nature of women's professional golf.

What's Ahead

Yubol's flawless 64 gives her the early lead, but Thitikul and others sit close behind. The next five weeks present multiple opportunities for victories, points, and positioning ahead of the season's final events.

For Thitikul, Shanghai represents a chance at that elusive second victory of 2025 and further validation of her world No. 1 status. For Yubol, it's a shot at her first LPGA Tour title. For Lee and the other contenders, it's another opportunity to add to impressive résumés as the season reaches its crucial final phase.

The Asia Swing has started. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high.