2026 LPGA Tour LOTTE Championship: The Return of the Champions

The LPGA Tour LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei will take place October 1–4 at the Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach on Oʻahu. The 14th edition of the tournament will feature 120 players, including four from the top 10 of the world rankings and five former champions. At stake are $3 million in prize money and 500 points toward the Race to the CME Globe. Defending champion Youmin Hwang returns following her victory last year.

Here you’ll find the tee times and live scores for the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship.

LPGA Tour LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei: Course Analysis

The Hoakalei Country Club, designed by Ernie Els, is located on Oʻahu’s southwest coast. The tournament is played over four rounds on an 18-hole, Par-72 course; according to the hole data, the tournament layout measures approximately 5,971 meters. Water hazards and strategically placed Bunkers characterize the course. Trade winds can also alter playing conditions: they influence club selection and approach shots, making a flexible strategy essential.

The scorecard includes four par-3, ten par-4, and four par-5 holes. Based on the hole lengths, the par-3 holes total approximately 577 meters, the par-4 holes 3,494 meters, and the par-5 holes 1,900 meters. The shortest hole is No. 15, a par-3 measuring about 123 meters; No. 5 is the longest hole at about 494 meters and is a par-5. Depending on the wind, the par-5 holes can present opportunities for aggressive play.

The Favorites at the LPGA Tour LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei

Jeeno Thitikul arrives as the world No. 2. The Thai player has already won three tournaments in 2026: the Honda LPGA Thailand, the Mizuho Americas Open, and the Standard Portland Classic. Hyo Joo Kim, ranked fourth, comes to Hawaii with two wins this season, as does Miyu Yamashita, ranked fifth. Kim won the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship; Yamashita prevailed at the Meijer LPGA Classic and the CPKC Women’s Open.

Hannah Green is also among the favorites. Ranked 10th in the world, she won the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the JM Eagle LA Championship in 2026. Lydia Ko is ranked 13th and has a special history with this tournament: she won the LOTTE Championship in 2021. Yuna Nishimura arrives in Oʻahu fresh off her first LPGA Tour victory, which she claimed last week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. This brings the total to six players in the spotlight who stand out either for their world ranking, recent victories, or a special connection to the tournament.

Youmin Hwang: Defending Champion and Tournament History

Hwang won in 2025 with a score of 17 under Par, two strokes ahead of Hyo Joo Kim. Notably, she claimed the title that year as a player on a sponsor’s invitation. In 2026, she is among the Tour rookies looking to build on their Tour experience. A total of 21 of this season’s 28 LPGA rookies are in the field; in addition, six players who have already won a tournament this year are competing.

Among the five former champions in the field are Hwang, A Lim Kim, Grace Kim, Hyo Joo Kim, and Lydia Ko. The tournament’s history dates back to 2012; in 2020, the event was suspended due to the pandemic. Brooke Henderson is the only player so far to have won two titles, claiming back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019. Lydia Ko holds the tournament record: in 2021, she finished the event at 28 under Par with a total of 260 strokes.

Hawaii is also represented in the field. Allisen Corpuz from Kapolei, Brittany Fan from Pearl City, and Tagiralani Luafalealo from Honolulu will compete in front of a home crowd. Fan qualified on Monday; Luafalealo received a sponsor’s invitation.

Prize Money, Points, and Competitive Significance

The total prize money of $3 million and 500 points toward the Race to the CME Globe make the tournament a key event in the season’s final stretch. The points count toward the year-end standings and can shift the landscape on the road to the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. For Hwang, the focus is not only on her performance but also on defending her title; for the favorites, the event is an opportunity to build on their successes this season.

Wind, Form, and Home-Course Advantage as Key Storylines

The central question is whether Hwang can repeat her victory from last year or if one of the multiple winners this season will take the title. Thitikul, Hyo Joo Kim, Yamashita, and Green arrive with strong results; Ko combines her current world ranking with an outstanding tournament performance from the past. Added to this are Nishimura’s first LPGA title and the Hawaiian players competing in front of a home crowd. On the wind-prone course, in addition to precision and consistency, what will likely matter most is who can adapt their strategy to the changing conditions.