LPGA’S NEXT STOP: CHINESE TAIPEI

The 2018 fall Asia swing makes its third stop at the eighth playing of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship presented by CTBC at Ta Shee Golf & Country Club. 62 of the world’s top ranked female players on the LPGA Money List, joined by 10 players from the Taiwan LPGA and nine sponsor invitations make up the field of 81 players competing for a purse of $2.2 million USD in the no-cut event.

The event will be played at Ta Shee Golf & Country Club for the first time this year. 2017 champion Eun-Hee Ji is back to defend after charging to a six-stroke victory for her third career victory and first since the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open – Ji’s victory margin tied for the largest on Tour last season.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SWINGING SKIRTS LPGA TAIWAN CHAMPIONSHIP

This week marks the eighth playing of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship

The tournament is co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Taiwan LPGA (TLPGA)

The Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship is the third event in the LPGA’s fall Asia Swing, following events in the Republic of Korea and China – two events remain in the Asia Swing following this week, in Japan and once more in China

Previously, the event was played at Sunrise Golf & Country Club from 2011-13, and at Miramar Resort & Country Club from 2014-17

The field consists of 62 of the world’s top ranked players on the LPGA Money List, 10 from TLPGA and nine sponsor invites

Three past champions are in the field: Eun-Hee Ji (2017), Lydia Ko (2015) and Yani Tseng (2011)

TERESA LU READY FOR HOMETOWN LOVE

Rolex Rankings No. 46 Teresa Lu enters this week as the top-ranked player from Chinese Taipei in the field. Lu plays predominately on the LPGA of Japan Tour where she is a 16-time winner, but she has proven she can compete with the LPGA’s best in the past – Lu won the 2013 Mizuno Classic, a co-sanctioned event by the LPGA and the LPGA of Japan Tour.

“I'm very excited to play here in front of my hometown crowd and the media presence and the gallery is very exciting,” said Lu. “I won't call myself the No. 1 player from Taiwan, but I'm just happy to play here this week.”

Lu has also gained familiarity with top LPGA talent at the UL International Crown – the 31-year-old is a three-time member of Team Chinese Taipei in the biennial team match play event, with an overall record of 3-6-1.

SWINGING SKIRTS LPGA TAIWAN CHAMPIONSHIP IS LAP 29 IN RACE TO THE CME GLOBE

The Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship marks the 29th lap of the 2018 Race to the CME Globe. Ariya Jutanugarn continues to sit atop the standings with 4,002 points, followed by Minjee Lee with 2,785 points. Brooke Henderson sits in third with 2,616 points.

Throughout the season’s official events, LPGA Members will battle for position, with the top 12 players after the Blue Bay LPGA heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship with the opportunity to take home a $1 million bonus, the biggest prize in women’s golf.

All tournaments have the same point values except for the five major championships, which carry 25 percent more value. For all events with a cut, points are awarded to members who make the cut, while for events without a cut, points are awarded to members who finish in the top 40 and ties.

Points will be reset for the CME Group Tour Championship following the Blue Bay LPGA, with the top 72 LPGA Members, as well as any non-Member winners and alternates, seeded into the championship field. For the top five players, it’s easy – win the CME Group Tour Championship and take home $1 million. However, the top 12 in the points race all have a mathematical chance to take the title of Race to the CME Globe Champion and win the coveted check.

In 2017, Lexi Thompson became the first American winner of the Race to the CME Globe and the accompanying $1 million prize. She joined Lydia Ko (2014, 2015) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2016) as the only players to hoist the crystal trophy.

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Lu Ready For Hometown Love and More From Chinese Taipei

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