LPGA Returns To Japan
The LPGA returns to Japan for the 43rd edition of the TOTO Japan Classic held at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Ibarkabi. It marks the first time the LPGA has played in the Tokyo area since 1991.
Throughout the years, several of the LPGA’s best have captured victories in Japan including; Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, Betsy King, Annika Sorenstam and a trio of former champs who are in the field this week, Mi Hyang Lee, Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis.
As in the past, members of the JLPGA have been invited to compete in this year’s event as 35 members, including defending champion Sun-Ju Ahn, will be teeing it up among the LPGA’s best. Click here to view a complete list of the field.
Who's In The Field
Past Champions (7):
Sun-Ju Ahn (2015), Mi Hyang Lee (2014), Teresa Lu (2013), Stacy Lewis (2012), Momoko Ueda (2011, 2007), Jiyai Shin (2010, 2008), Karrie Webb (2006)
Japanese LPGA Golfers (3):
Ai Miyazato, Mika Miyazato, Haru Nomura
End of Long Asia Swing for 6
The TOTO Japan Classic will mark the end of a six event in six week Asian stretch for six golfers who competed in the five previous Asia events and are in the field this week. The six golfers are:
- Moriya Jutanugarn
- Danielle Kang
- Christina Kim
- Pornanong Phatlum
- Beatriz Recari
- Jenny Shin
Of the six, Danielle Kang has had the most impressive play during the five tournament stretch with a pair of top-10 finishes, including a tie for seventh last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
2016 LPGA Leaders
Wins - 5 (Ariya Jutanugarn)
Top-10s - 15 (Brooke Henderson)
Top-10s % - 59% (Lydia Ko)
Money List - $2,451,642 (Lydia Ko)
Race to CME Globe - 4,416 (Ariya Jutanugarn)
Scoring Average - 69.552 (Lydia Ko)
Rolex Player of the Year - 260 (Ariya Jutanugarn)
Feng on Fire
Since the Olympics, no player on the LPGA Tour has been playing better than Bronze Medalist Shanshan Feng. Who has registered five top-4 finishes and a victory last week at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Below are Feng’s finishes in events since Rio:
| Tournament | Result |
|---|---|
| Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia | Win |
| KEB Hana Bank Championship | T3 |
| Fubon LPGA Taiwan | 2 |
| Reignwood LPGA Classic | T4 |
| The Evian Championship | 4 |
Race To CME Globe Enters the Home Stretch
The Race to CME Globe is entering its home stretch with just two events left to decide who will be competing for the $1 million dollar first prize at the CME Group Tour Championship.
The top 72 LPGA Members and those tied for 72nd on the Race to CME Globe Points Standings, ranked in the order of their position on the standings at the conclusion of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex will have earned their way into the field at CME.
Once the players have qualified for the event the points will reset. After the reset, the players in the top-3 positions on the Race to CME Globe Points Standings will be able to win the Race to CME Globe with a win at the Tour Championship. Additionally, the players in the top-9 positions will have a mathematical chance to win the race based on various scenarios.
The battle for the top-3 and top-9 is coming down the stretch as laid out below.
Race To CME Globe Battles
Top-4
- 1. Ariya Jutanugarn - 4,416
- 2. Lydia Ko - 4,365
- 3. Brooke Henderson - 3,186
- 4. Sei Young Kim - 2,753
8, 9, 10, 11
- 8. Anna Nordqvist - 2,440
- 9. Haru Nomura - 2,439
- 10. Amy Yang - 2,233
- 11. Shanshan Feng - 2,051
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