Keep an eye out for Sei Young Kim and Minjee Lee this week at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico City, Mexico. Their finishes in the next-to-last LPGA event of the season could impact next week’s CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.
Here’s how:
- Top 3: If players make the top three entering next week’s finale, they control their own destiny. Lydia Ko has locked down the No. 1 seed and Inbee Park the second. Stacy Lewis is third, but is not in the field in Mexico this week. Therefore, No. 4 Sei Young Kim, who secured the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honor last week, could jump to third but must win to do so.
- Top 9: The ever-important top nine players can earn the CME Globe title next week with a victory. As noted previously the top three positions don’t need any help while Nos. 4-9 must win and get assistance from below. The top eight players are secure, leaving Nos. 9-11 in jeopardy as Shanshan Feng (No. 9), Hyo Joo Kim (No. 10) and Ha Na Jang (No. 11) aren’t playing this week. Nos. 12-16 are playing in Mexico and looking to move up – Minjee Lee or Crisite Kerr could win or finish runner-up (if the players just behind don’t win) and the others must win to break into the top 9.
- Top 72: The top 72 and ties get into the field in Naples and that is a done deal as no players on the bubble are playing this week. Therefore, Min Lee feels lucky as she is ranked 72nd, just one point ahead of Mi Jung Hur in 73rd.
There will be a points reset 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 by doubling up.
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