LPGA Tour and Japan LPGA: TOTO JAPAN CLASSIC

Location: Shiga, Japan.
Course: Seta GC.
Yardage: 6,616 yards.
Par: 72.
Prize Money: $2 million, with a winner’s share of $300,000.

Broadcasting Schedule:

Wednesday-Thursday from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Golf Channel,
Friday from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Golf Channel,
Saturday from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Golf Channel.

Defending Champion: Mone Inami.
Current CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda.

Last Week’s Outcome: Ruoning Yin took home victory at the Maybank Championship.

Additional Notes: This tournament marks the final event of the LPGA’s “Asia Swing” before the tour moves on to Hawaii, wrapping up its season with two weeks in Florida. Ruoning Yin has secured wins at two out of three Asian events held in Shanghai and Malaysia, although she will not compete in this week’s tournament. Established in 1973, the Toto Japan Classic began as a 54-hole competition and expanded to 72 holes for the first time in 2021. Jeeno Thitikul has finished as a runner-up in the Maybank Championship in the past two years.

The tournament is co-sanctioned by the Japan LPGA, featuring 35 members from that tour, including twin sisters Chisato and Akie Iwai, both of whom have three career wins in Japan. This week, Ruoning Yin becomes the fourth player in the LPGA to claim at least three victories in the current season, joining esteemed players Nelly Korda, Hannah Green, and Lydia Ko. Celine Boutier, on the other hand, has struggled to secure a top-10 finish in each of her four title defenses this year.

Upcoming Event: Lotte Championship.

PGA Tour Highlights

Recent Winner: Nico Echavarria won the Zozo Championship last week.
Next Event: World Wide Technology Championship.
Current FedEx Cup Champion: Scottie Scheffler.

European Tour Updates

Last Week’s Champion: Byeong Hun An clinched victory at the Genesis Championship.
Upcoming Tournament: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Current Leader in Race to Dubai: Rory McIlroy.

PGA Tour Champions

Latest Winner: Padraig Harrington triumphed at the Simmons Bank Championship last week.
Next Week’s Competition: Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Charles Schwab Cup Leader: Ernie Els.

Other Tours’ Highlights

Asian Tour: BNI Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta GC in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Television coverage is scheduled for Thursday to Friday from 2 to 6 a.m. (Golf Channel), Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30 a.m. (NBC Sports app) and 2:30 to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel), concluding with Sunday from 12 to 1 a.m. (NBC Sports app) and 1 to 2 a.m. (Golf Channel). Defending champion: Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Challenge Tour: Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final at Alcanada GC in Mallorca, Spain. Coverage includes Thursday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel), with a final day broadcast from 5:30 to 10:30 a.m. (Golf Channel). Last year’s winner: Marco Penge.

Ladies European Tour: Aramco Team Series-Riyadh, located at Riyadh GC in Saudi Arabia. Last year’s champion: Alison Lee.

PGA Tour of Australasia: Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee GC (Kurrai) in Australia. Defending champion: Phoenix Campbell.

Sunshine Tour: Blue Label Challenge at Gary Player CC (Sun City and Lost City) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Previous winner: Luca Filippi.

Korea LPGA: S-Oil Championship at Elysian Jeju CC in Jeju Island, South Korea. Last year’s defending champion: Yujin Sung.