A five-week string of events affectionately known as the Asia swing gets underway this week with the Buick LPGA Shanghai. It’s the kickoff to the LPGA Tour’s second trip to the continent this year and marks the closing stretch of the season. The fifth edition of the Buick LPGA Shanghai welcomes 82 of the top players from across the globe to Qizhong Garden Golf Club, where they will compete in a 72-hole, no-cut tournament, for a total purse of $2.2 million. Here’s a deeper dive into what you need to know about the Tour’s return to the People’s Republic of China.

Ruoning Yin Defends

In her first start since the AIG Women’s Open, Ruoning Yin returns to action seeking to defend her title in her native China. Yin won in thrilling fashion last season in her home country, setting a new 72-hole scoring total of 263 with rounds of 70-66-63-64. Yin gave up just three bogeys throughout the course of the entire week, and during the final round, she birdied five of her last six holes to blitz the field and win by six strokes over Mao Saigo and Sei Young Kim. Yin made her last start at the year’s final major championship at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, where she missed her second consecutive cut, having also missed playing the weekend at The Amundi Evian Championship.

Jeeno Thitikul Returns

When Yin won the Buick LPGA Shanghai in 2024, her close friend, Jeeno Thitikul, was one of the first people to embrace the champion in celebration of her victory. Thitikul will return to Shanghai again this season, where she finished in a tie for fifth last year. The current Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 is making her first start since the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, where she suffered a disappointing loss after four-putting the 72nd hole to finish runner-up to Charley Hull. The second-place finish was the second in a row for Thitikul, who also came close to winning at the FM Championship. Thitikul did not play the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship or LOTTE Championship in Hawaii.

The Field

Thitikul headlines the field as the top-ranked player in the world. She’s joined by eight other athletes who are also in the top 25 of the Rolex Rankings, including Minjee Lee, Miyu Yamashita, Ruoning Yin, Angel Yin, Rio Takeda, Ariya Jutanugarn, Hye-Jin Choi and Sei Young Kim. Nine 2025 LPGA Tour rookies played well enough over the course of the season to earn a spot in the field in Shanghai, some of whom are Julia Lopez Ramirez, Jenny Bae, Ina Yoon and Saki Baba, just to name a few.

In addition to Ruoning Yin, past champions Angel Yin (2023) and Danielle Kang (2018, 2019) are also back in action in Shanghai. Kang is one of four players to receive a sponsor exemption, as did Muni He, Chih Yen Chang and amateur Yu Yuan Jinang.

The China Golf Association also has 15 members who will be in the field this week at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

Different Winners Streak

When Youmin Hwang won the LOTTE Championship, she became the 26th different winner this season and matched a record previously set on the LPGA Tour in 1995, 2018 and 2022. If there is no repeat winner this week at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, a new different champions record would be set on Tour at 27. There are 11 players who have already won this season on the LPGA Tour who are in the field this week in the People’s Republic of China, and who all have a chance to become the first two-time winner of the season. That slate of athletes includes Carlota Ciganda, Jin Hee Im, A Lim Kim, Jennifer Kupcho, Minjee Lee, Somi Lee, Rio Takeda, Jeeno Thitikul, Miranda Wang, Miyu Yamashita and Angel Yin.

How to Watch

Shanghai is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Time, but coverage will be available streaming live on NBC Digital, with televised coverage available later in the day. Here is the schedule for all four rounds of the Buick LPGA Shanghai. All times are ET.

Wednesday, October 8 - Live streaming of round one on NBC Digital beginning at 11 p.m.

Thursday, October 9 - Live streaming of round two on NBC Digital beginning at 11 p.m. and Encore coverage of round one from 7-11 p.m. on Golf Channel

Friday, October 10 - Live streaming of round three on NBC Digital beginning at 11 p.m. and Encore coverage of round two from 9-11 p.m. ET on Golf Channel

Saturday, October 11 - Live streaming of Round Four on NBC Digital beginning at 11 p.m. and Encore coverage of round three from 9-11 p.m. ET on Golf Channel

Sunday, October 12 – Encore TV coverage of round four from 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. on Golf Channel

Five Things to Know About the 2025 Buick LPGA Shanghai

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