LPGA Tour Buick LPGA Shanghai 2026: Thitikul Aims to Defend Her Title in Sheshan

From October 15 to 18, 2026, the LPGA Tour will host the Buick LPGA Shanghai for the sixth time, for the first time at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai. The tournament will be played over four rounds of stroke play and features a total purse of $3.2 million, with the winner receiving $330,000. There is no cut, so all 81 competitors will play four rounds. Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul won in 2025 after a five-hole playoff against Minami Katsu.

Here you’ll find the tee times and leaderboard for the Buick LPGA Shanghai on the LPGA Tour.

Buick LPGA Shanghai at Sheshan International Golf Club

This year, the tournament is moving from the Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club to Sheshan. The course has previously hosted the WGC-HSBC Champions 14 times. The Sheshan International Golf Club is a par-72 course with a total length of approximately 6,158 meters. The difficulty is spread across four par-3s, four par-5s, and ten par-4s. The par-3s range from 162 meters (hole 4) to 176 meters (hole 12).

Favorites: Thitikul, Yin, Yamashita, Zhang, Boutier, and Lee

Jeeno Thitikul is ranked No. 2 in the world and has already won four LPGA tournaments this season, including the LOTTE Championship, the Honda LPGA Thailand, the Mizuho Americas Open, and the Standard Portland Classic. She also has six top-10 finishes. She has finished in the top ten in eight of her last ten starts and is coming to Asia in excellent form.

Ruoning Yin is ranked sixth in the world and most recently won the FM Championship. In Shanghai in 2024, she won with a score of 263 (-25). She will tee off alongside Thitikul in the opening round, and the two are close friends.

Miyu Yamashita is ranked fifth in the world and has already won the Meijer LPGA Classic and the CPKC Women’s Open in 2026. Last year, she tied for fourth place in her Shanghai debut. Rose Zhang arrives in Shanghai on the heels of two consecutive top-10 finishes. She tied for eighth at the Standard Portland Classic and tied for fourth at the FM Championship. This is her third appearance in Shanghai.

Celine Boutier won the ShopRite LPGA in 2026 and recorded two other top-10 finishes. She tied for 31st at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in late September.

Minjee Lee has 11 LPGA victories and is currently ranked 16th in the world. Last year, she finished third in Shanghai. However, she is struggling with her form at the moment: she last made the cut on the Tour in June at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Other players from the top 25 include Sei Young Kim (No. 9), Gaby Lopez (No. 15), and Jin Hee Im (No. 25).

Defending champion Thitikul and the most recent winners

The list of champions in Shanghai is short due to the tournament’s brief history. Thitikul (2025) is followed by Ruoning Yin (2024) and Angel Yin (2023). Danielle Kang won in 2018 and 2019 in a row. Thitikul could thus become the second player to defend her title in Shanghai. Her victory in 2025 wasn’t decided until the fifth playoff hole, underscoring the drama of last year’s final day.

Field, Prize Money, and Sporting Significance

The field includes 81 players, including 15 from the China Golf Association, which has a particularly strong showing in Shanghai. Four players received invitations: Amateurs Ziyan Meng (world No. 186) and Ningyao Xu (No. 265) are making their LPGA Tour debuts, while Linn Grant (Rolex Rankings No. 73) and Danielle Kang, both tournament winners, round out the field. Grant won the Dana Open in 2023 and the ANNIKA Driver by Gainbridge in 2025. Kang has six LPGA victories and two major titles to her credit.

With a purse of $3.2 million, the tournament is one of the most attractive events of the fall season on the Tour. The participation of ten players from the top 25 in the world rankings makes for fierce competition.

Storylines and Outlook

The key question is whether Thitikul, as the defending champion, will continue her winning streak. Yin, her friend and playing partner, is also in good form. Yamashita and Zhang are coming off strong results, while Lee is looking for a fresh start after weeks of missing the cut. It will also be interesting to see how the two amateurs fare on the big stage. The four Par-5 holes, which offer the field the best scoring opportunities, are likely to be decisive.