As the LPGA Tour rolls into its closing stretch of the 2025 season, and with only eight regular season events remain on the schedule, playing opportunities like this week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G have become that much more valuable, as players aren’t just vying for a trophy but also valuable Race to the CME Globe points that can dictate their schedule in the months ahead. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty to play for at the 19th edition of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where 144 players will be competing over 54 holes for a $3 million purse at Pinnacle Country Club. Here’s a little bit more about what you need to know about the LPGA Tour’s annual return to Rogers, Ark.

Jasmine Defends

The shootout that is the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship forces players to go low early and often to be able to compete in the 54-hole sprint to the finish. In 2024, Jasmine Suwannapura was up to the challenge, as she recorded rounds of 63-72-61 finish in a tie with Lucy Li at 17-under at the end of regulation. The pair returned to the 18th hole, where they each made birdie on the first playoff hole to extend their duel. Suwannapura then edged out Li on the second playoff hole when she drained a 12-footer for eagle to secure her third career win on the LPGA Tour and first since the 2019 Dow Championship. Suwannapura returns to Arkansas off a tie for 52nd on Sunday at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G and will be searching for her first top-10 finish of the season in her title defense.

The Field

For the first time since 2022, Nelly Korda will tee it up at Pinnacle Country Club. Korda headlines the field in Arkansas with world No.1 and 2022 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship winner Jeeno Thitikul opting not to compete this week. Korda missed the cut in her last appearance in this event but returns to the tournament in good form, having tied for fifth in her last start at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G.

Also in the field is reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion Maja Stark, who was tied for fifth last week in Hamilton Township, Ohio, which was her best finish on the LPGA Tour since becoming a major champion. Stark tied for 24th last year in Arkansas.

Rookies Miyu Yamashita and Lottie Woad, who are already winners this season on the LPGA Tour, are both coming off top-five finishes last week at the Kroger Queen City Championship and will make their tournament debut this week at Pinnacle Country Club.

Past champions Haeran Ryu (2023), Nasa Hataoka (2021, 2018) and Stacy Lewis (2014, 2007) are also set to compete. In addition to her two victories, Hataoka also finished tied for seventh in Arkansas in 2024 and is returning to Pinnacle Country Club on form as she’s recorded back-to-back top 10s in her last two starts on the LPGA Tour.

Much to Play For

The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship is one of just two events remaining before the LPGA Tour’s fall swing through Asia gets underway, which includes four stops across the region with limited fields that are based on the season-long Race to the CME Globe points list. This week’s Tour stop is one of the handful of opportunities that remain for players to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship in November, which is limited to the top 60 in the point standings.

Major champion Lilia Vu will need to make up some ground in the coming weeks to secure her position in the field at the CME Group Tour Championship, as she currently sits at No. 64 in the standings. Epson Tour graduate Gabriela Ruffels is also hovering around the bubble at No. 66 following her tie for 22nd at the Kroger Queen City Championship.

Mary Liu made a critical jump in the Race to the CME Globe points standings with her top-five finish in Ohio, one that saw her jump up 23 spots to No. 74. Alexa Pano missed the cut at the Kroger Queen City Championship and currently sits at No. 97 in the point standings.

Major champion Amy Yang is currently at No. 99 in the Race to the CME Globe point standings and needs to make up some ground over the season’s closing stretch to extend her schedule. Germany’s Olivia Cowan made a major move with her tie for 12th at the Kroger Queen City Championship to jump 24 spots to No. 122 in the points race.

Awards Update

The Race to the CME Globe isn’t the only critical points race that will draw to a close in the coming weeks. Several of the LPGA Tour’s season-long awards are points-based, and there was quite a bit of movement in the standings after the Kroger Queen City Championship. Here’s an update on how things have changed and tightened up heading into this week’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Aon Risk Reward Challenge: Perrine Delacour tied Jeeno Thitikul at the top of the race with her strong performance throughout the week on the par-5 18th hole at TPC River’s Bend, which was designated as the Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Delacour was 3-under on the par five last week to sit alongside Thitikul in the season-long race at 0.9 strokes under par.

Vare Trophy: While Jeeno Thitikul continues to lead the Tour in scoring average at 69.16, the players chasing her for the season-long honor have changed position, with Nelly Korda leapfrogging Minjee Lee after her top-five performance at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Korda trails Thitikul with an average of 69.78.

Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year: Major champion Miyu Yamashita, who won the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in August, overtook Rio Takeda at the top of the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race with her solo fourth finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Yamashita leads Takeda with 1,085 points to Takeda’s 1,053. Takeda tied for 38th last week at TPC River’s Bend.

How to watch

The first round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship begins Friday with the 54-hole event continuing through the weekend. All three rounds of the tournament can be seen live on Golf Channel from 4 to 6 p.m. ET.

Five Things to Know About the 2025 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G

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