May 25, 2026, Shanghai-The Buick LPGA Shanghai press conference was held today in Songjiang, Shanghai, formally announcing that the tournament will relaunch at Sheshan Golf Club, from October 15–18, 2026. The event has been comprehensively upgraded for this edition, with the total purse elevated to USD 3.2 million, establishing a new prize-money benchmark for professional women’s golf in Asia.

Attendees at the launch included: Mr. Wei Qingfeng, Secretary‑General, China Golf Association; Ms. Ye Wendi, Deputy District Mayor, Shanghai Songjiang District People’s Government; Mr. He Jinfeng, Party Secretary and Director General, Shanghai Songjiang District Administration of Sports; Mr. T.K. Pen, Honorary Vice President, China Golf Association; Chairman of China LPGA Tour; Mr. Liu Zhen, Deputy Director, Buick Marketing & Sales Department, SAIC‑GM; Mr. Liu Wei, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager, Shanghai Songjiang New City Construction Development Group Co., Ltd.; Ms. Crystal Zhang, Vice President, Sheshan Golf Club; Mr. Chris Madsen, Managing Director, LPGA Asia‑Pacific Region; Ms. Li Hong, Director, Women’s Professional Tour, China Golf Association, CEO, China LPGA Tour; and Ms. Winnie Heng, Senior Vice President, Head of IMG Golf APAC. They jointly witnessed the entry of this premier global women’s golf flagship event into a new phase of development.

Organized by the China Golf Association, the Shanghai Administration of Sports and the People’s Government of Songjiang District, the Buick LPGA Shanghai is hosted operationally by the Songjiang District Administration of Sports, Shanghai Songjiang New City Investment & Construction Group Co., Ltd., and IMG Sports Development (Shanghai) Limited, with co-organization by Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club Co., Ltd.

The tournament is presented by Buick, SAIC General Motors, and is jointly sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the China Ladies Professional Golf Association (CLPGA). Dozens of LPGA and major championship winners, rising young stars and Olympians will converge at Sheshan to compete for the Buick Goddess trophy, delivering a world-class spectacle to golf fans worldwide.

Leveraging the Tournament as a Platform to Root and Empower Golf Development in Shanghai

Against the backdrop of vigorous growth in China’s golf industry, the Buick LPGA Shanghai, as the country’s highest-prize international women’s golf tournament, has long invested in the domestic market. Through a consistently high-standard and professional tournament model, it has established an international-caliber competitive platform that continuously supports the development of golf in China.

Mr. Wei Qingfeng, Secretary‑General of the China Golf Association, commented: “For years, the Buick LPGA Shanghai has adhered to an international vision and high organizational standards, providing a stable and professional platform for Sino-foreign golf exchange. As a global flagship for women’s professional golf, it not only affords Chinese players invaluable opportunities to gain experience and refine their skills at home, but also contributes to professional system building, stimulates surrounding cultural and tourism consumption, and releases regional economic benefits. From the new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan and with a view to the national objective of building a strong sporting nation, the China Golf Association will continue to support the high-quality staging of the event and work with partners to advance golf in China to new heights.”

Owing to its professional international organization, broad global reach, and highly engaging competition, the Buick LPGA Shanghai has earned consecutive “Shanghai Event” brand certifications and achieved a major upgrade in 2025 to “Hallmark Event” status, which has further enriched the city’s international sporting event portfolio and underscored the tournament’s comprehensive value in terms of international influence, organizational standards, and city image promotion.

Songjiang, often called “Shanghai’s Root,” has a cultural lineage extending over six millennia. Hosting the event in Songjiang will effectively integrate diverse regional industries and enrich international high-end sports offerings, injecting fresh impetus into local industrial upgrading and consumption quality.

Ms. Ye Wendi, Deputy District Mayor of Shanghai Songjiang District People’s Government, commented: “With longstanding accumulation, Songjiang has been deeply engaged in golf for many years, possessing mature course resources, comprehensive supporting systems and rich experience in staging international tournaments. The arrival of the Buick LPGA Shanghai in Songjiang is an important achievement in our district’s integrated development of culture, commerce, tourism, sports, exhibitions and agriculture; it is also recognition of Songjiang’s urban quality, service capacity and industrial assets.”

The Shanghai Golf Association has long been committed to promoting golf’s local popularization and advancing public participation, thereby broadening the sport’s influence. Lin Kaiwen, President of the Shanghai Golf Association, remarked: “The continued hosting and upgrading of the Buick LPGA Shanghai not only enhances Shanghai’s golf event system but also enriches the city’s golf development landscape, contributing fresh momentum to urban sports consumption and the high-quality development of local golf.”

A New Chapter at Sheshan-Upgraded to Set an Asian Benchmark

As the important season-opening event for the LPGA Asia Fall Swing, the Buick LPGA Shanghai has become a core benchmark in Asia’s women’s golf calendar. This edition’s comprehensive upgrade will further elevate its flagship status and strategic position on the LPGA global schedule, continuing to support the high-quality development of women’s golf internationally. Mr. Chris Madsen, Managing Director of the LPGA Asia‑Pacific Region, said: “China is a key market in the LPGA’s global strategy, and the outstanding performances of Chinese players on the LPGA stage continue to inspire a new generation to take up golf. We are honored to partner with Buick to stage such a benchmark international women’s event in China, consistently delivering world-class competition while deepening the development of golf culture in China and injecting vitality into women’s golf worldwide.”

The Buick LPGA Shanghai features world-class competition, and through this premier international tournament platform, the CLPGA continues to help Chinese golfers gain experience on the biggest stages and further sharpen their competitive abilities. Commenting on the significance of the event, T.K Pen, China Golf Association Honorary Vice President, Chairman of China LPGA Tour, said:

“Women’s sports around the world are currently experiencing rapid growth, and women’s golf in particular holds tremendous potential for development. The Buick LPGA Shanghai gives Chinese players the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s top golfers, while also allowing more international players, media, and fans to witness the growth and potential of golf in China. That in itself carries tremendous significance.”

This year the tournament will be staged at Sheshan Golf Club for the first time. The venue has repeatedly been honored as one of China’s top courses and has successfully hosted world-class championships; its facilities, competitive conditions and support services meet international premier-event standards.

As a committee member and hosting venue, Ms. Crystal Zhang, Vice President of Sheshan Golf Club, said at the press conference: “From Sheshan’s inception we aspired to create a world-class tournament venue. After hosting fourteen international premier events, we have accumulated mature operational experience. We now assume an enhanced role-not only as host course but also as a member of the tournament committee. This dual responsibility compels us to marshal greater quality resources, deeply engage in event planning, and fully support the elevation of the Buick LPGA Shanghai’s brand influence.”

As a co-founder of the Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament, Ms. Winnie Heng, Senior Vice President, Head of IMG Golf APAC, remarked: “We are honored that, with the strong support of the China Golf Association, Shanghai municipal and district governments and associated institutions, IMG and long-term partner Buick once again gather at the familiar and welcoming Sheshan Golf Club to witness the Buick LPGA Shanghai’s relaunch. With the total purse reaching USD 3.2 million-the highest in Asian women’s professional golf-we look forward to Chinese players performing strongly at home, bringing pride and inspiring all the home fans.”

Buick’s Long-Term Commitment to Golf and Joint Development with Chinese Golf

As one of the earliest premium international brands to enter China, Buick has been deeply involved with Chinese golf since 2005, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the sport’s development. Over 21 years, Buick has built an integrated golf ecosystem spanning professional events, player sponsorships and youth development, supporting players including Feng Shanshan, Lin Xiyu, Liu Yu and Yin Ruoning on the international stage, while fostering emerging talent and promoting golf culture to support sustainable growth.

Mr. Liu Zhen, Deputy Director of Buick Marketing & Sales Department, SAIC‑GM, stated: “Golf tests strategy, patience and mindset; its ethos of competing with oneself and continually striving for improvement aligns closely with Buick’s brand core of ‘pursuing progress and entering a new realm.’ This year’s comprehensive upgrade to a USD 3.2 million purse, a new record for women’s professional golf in Asia, marks an important milestone in the tournament’s evolution and reflects Buick’s continued, steadfast commitment to golf development in China.”

At a New Starting Point-A World-Class Showcase

The new look Buick LPGA Shanghai will present an unparalleled sporting spectacle for global golf enthusiasts-featuring a world-class player field, premier organizational standard and a venue with profound heritage. This October, attention will turn to Sheshan Golf Club as the tournament relaunches in full.

Buick LPGA Shanghai relocates to Sheshan Golf Club and announces Record $3.2 Million Purse, Leading Women’s Golf in Asia

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