Orlando: The 2026 LPGA Tour season is set to begin in Florida this week, featuring South Korean veteran Kim A-lim as she aims to defend her title from last year. The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions will welcome 39 LPGA winners from the past two seasons at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, starting Thursday. Competitors will vie for a substantial US$2.1 million purse on the par-72, 6,624-yard course.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim A-lim will be among six South Koreans in the field and will attempt to become the first player to secure back-to-back titles at this season-opening event since its inception in 2019. The 2025 season witnessed a record 29 different winners on the tour, including a trio of first-time champions from South Korea: Lee So-mi, Im Jin-hee, and Hwang You-min.
Notably, Lee So-mi and Im Jin-hee collaborated to clinch the Dow Championship in June, the sole team event on the tour. Meanwhile, Hwang You-min captured the Lotte Championship in October as a nonmember, a victory that secured her an LPGA Tour card for 2026.
Additionally, Ryu Hae-ran, the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year, will participate this week, having achieved victories in each of the past two years. Amy Yang, a 36-year-old veteran, will also compete after winning the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, marking her first career major title.
In contrast, recent South Korean winners Kim Hyo-joo and Kim Sei-young will not be participating in this week's event. The field will also feature world No. 1 from Thailand, Jeeno Thitikul, and the 2024 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand.
This season will include 31 tournaments, with one event taking place in South Korea-the BMW Ladies Championship, scheduled for October.