With three tournaments remaining in the 2015 LPGA season, much of the spotlight has fallen on Lydia Ko and now Sei Young Kim. Here’s why:
Ko has wrapped up the first seed for the CME Group Tour Championship Nov. 19-22 in Naples, Fla. The 18-year-old from New Zealand leads second-place Inbee Park by 969 points. Since neither player is entered this week at the Toto Japan Classic, it is not possible for Park to catch Ko. A first-place finish earns 500 points; therefore, Ko will be the first seed. Even though the first seed is an accomplishment it’s only the starting point. Last year, Ko was the third seed entering the final tournament, won and also captured the inaugural CME Globe title, leapfrogging Stacy Lewis and Inbee Park.
Kim, 22, won last week at the Blue Bay LPGA, her third victory of the season. With the win, she inched closer to third-place Stacy Lewis, who finished tied for second in China. Lewis is currently third with 1,503 points, just 243 ahead of Kim. Both have one tournament left on their schedule before the CME Group Tour Championship. Lewis will look to add points this week during the TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC and Kim will need a strong showing at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. The reason the third seed is important is that the top three seeds can win the CME Group Tour Championship and capture the CME Globe title no matter what happens with the other two players.
Another benchmark that is important to watch this week and next is the race for the No. 9 seed. Seeds four through nine can win the final tournament, and with a little help from those above them, win the season-long competition. Currently, Shanshan Feng is in ninth place, just 120 points ahead of Hyo Joo Kim.
A final level to watch is the top 72 and ties in points. Those players get into the final tournament, along with winners of events who didn’t finish in the top 72 and non-members who won this season.
This week’s 54-hole event in Japan doesn’t have a cut, so points will be awarded to LPGA members who finish among the top 40 and ties. Next week’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational, with only a field of 38 players, also doesn’t have a cut and LPGA members who place in the top 20 and ties will receive points. There will be a reset following the event leading to Naples.
Awaiting the weekend before Thanksgiving is a $1-million payout for the season-long points leader. The winner of the CME Group Tour Championship could also pocket $500,000. Last year, Ko scored the richest payday in LPGA history.
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