Reignwood LPGA Classic
Dates: September 29 – October 2, 2016
Defending Champ: Mirim Lee
Storylines To Follow:
After a year hiatus, the Reignwood LPGA Classic returns to the schedule and kicks off the Tour’s swing through Asia. Mirim Lee was the last to win the event in China in 2014 and will have a chance to defend her title this year. Shanshan Feng is sure to be a huge draw for fans as she returns home as the bronze medalist from the Olympic games in Rio. Feng also won the Reignwood LPGA Classic in it’s inaugural playing in 2013.
Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship
Dates: October 6 – 9, 2016
Defending Champ: Lydia Ko
Storylines To Follow:
Last year in Taiwan, Lydia Ko made history in becoming the youngest player to reach 10 victories on the LPGA Tour with her win at the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship. Ko blew away the field, winning by nine-strokes to return to No.1 in the Rolex Rankings.
LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship
Dates: October 13 – 16, 2016
Defending Champ: Lexi Thompson
Storylines To Follow:
History was made last year in South Korea, where Amy Yang became the first player to record nine consecutive birdies on the back-nine on Sunday to shoot 62 and finish two-strokes behind winner Lexi Thompson, who captured her sixth career win at the LPGA KEB-Hana Bank Championship.
Blue Bay LPGA
Dates: October 20 – 23, 2016
Defending Champ: Sei Young Kim
Storylines To Follow:
If the Tournament is on an island with windy conditions, Sei Young Kim is the one to watch. The 2015 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year captured three wins in her rookie season, all of which came on islands, including the windy Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island in China. The event played as the hardest event of the 2015 season, with only four players finishing the week under par. Kim won at two-under par which was the highest winning score of the year. Stacy Lewis posted one of her six runner-up finishes of 2015 that week.
Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia
Dates: October 27 – 30, 2016
Defending Champ: Jessica Korda
Storylines To Follow:
Jessica Korda returned to the winner’s circle at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia after going without a win since 2014. She posted weekend rounds of 65 to win by four-strokes ahead of Lydia Ko, Shanshan Feng and Stacy Lewis.
TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC
Dates: November 3 – November 6, 2016
Defending Champ: Sun-Ju Ahn (non-member)
Storylines To Follow:
One of the longest running events on Tour, having started in the early 1970’s, the TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC returns to the schedule again this season. Non-member Sun-Ju Ahn captured the title in 2015, winning in a playoff with Angela Stanford and Ji-Hee Lee. This is a three-day Tournament which will get underway on Friday, November 4, 2016.
Lorena Ochoa Invitational
Dates: November 10 – 13, 2016
Defending Champ: Inbee Park
Storylines To Follow:
One of the most decorated players in LPGA Tour history, Lorena Ochoa, hosts the world’s best again this year in Mexico City for the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Last year, Inbee Park won the event to secure one of the last two points she needed to qualify for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. She went on to pick up the final point she needed the following week in Naples where she won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average of 2015. Look for players like Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, and Ariya Jutanugarn to tee it up this week in an effort to improve their position in the season-long races that wrap up the following week at CME.
Park has not currently committed to playing in any events for the remainder of 2016 as she continues to battle an ongoing left thumb injury.
CME Group Tour Championship
Dates: November 17 – 20, 2016
Defending Champ: Cristie Kerr
Storylines To Follow:
The season long Race to the CME Globe ends in Naples, where points will reset at the year’s final event, the CME Group Tour Championship. The Rolex Player of the Year, The Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, Vare Trophy, Race to the CME Globe and winner of the Tour Championship will all be named during the final event of the season. Click here to view the current standings.
Last year, Cristie Kerr captured the final event of the year for her second win of the season, with Lydia Ko taking home the Race to the CME Globe for the second consecutive year as well as Rolex Player of the Year honors. Inbee Park picked up the Vare Trophy and Sei Young Kim was named the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year.
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