2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai: Dates, Field, Prize Money, and How to Watch
Quick Answer
The 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai runs from 15 to 18 October 2026 at Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, China. The purse is $3.2 million, with $480,000 for the winner. The final field is not confirmed yet.
Defending champion: Jeeno Thitikul (Atthaya Thitikul) of Thailand won the 2025 event at 24 under par (65-70-66-63, 264 in total). She trailed Minami Katsu by four shots with five holes to play. She shot a final-round 63, then won a five-hole playoff and took the $330,000 first prize. It was her sixth LPGA win at that time.
Her 2026 form: She has won four LPGA events this season, including the Lotte Championship on 4 October at 21 under. That gives her 11 LPGA wins and more than $20 million in career earnings at age 23.
The key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai |
| Dates | 15 to 18 October 2026 |
| Venue | Sheshan Golf Club, Shanghai, China |
| Tour | LPGA Tour (also a China LPGA Tour event) |
| Purse | $3,200,000 |
| Winner's share | $480,000 |
| Defending champion | Jeeno Thitikul (Atthaya Thitikul), Thailand |
| Format | 72 holes, stroke play |
| TV in the USA | Golf Channel |
| Confirmed field | Information is not currently available. |
The event is the first stop of the LPGA's fall Asia swing. It has a record purse and a new venue.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answer
- Tournament Overview
- Buick LPGA Shanghai Schedule and Format
- Sheshan Golf Club and the Move From Qizhong Garden
- Shanghai and Songjiang: Host City Notes
- Buick LPGA Shanghai Prize Money and Purse
- Buick LPGA Shanghai Players and Field
- Defending Champion Jeeno Thitikul (Atthaya Thitikul)
- Main Contenders and Season Form
- Key Storylines
- Buick LPGA Shanghai History and Past Winners
- How to Watch the Buick LPGA Shanghai
- Tickets and Spectator Information
- Statistics at a Glance
- FAQ
- Related Articles
Introduction
The 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai takes place from 15 to 18 October at Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, China. This is the event's first year at Sheshan. It leaves Qizhong Garden Golf Club, its home since 2018, and carries the largest purse of any LPGA event in Asia, at $3.2 million.
Jeeno Thitikul, whose full name is Atthaya Thitikul, arrives as defending champion. She also arrives in form. She won the Lotte Championship in Hawaii on 4 October for her fourth LPGA title of 2026.
This guide covers the schedule, venue, prize money, likely contenders, past winners, and how to watch. Dates, purses,, and venues come from official LPGA and organizer sources. The field is not final yet, so no entry list appears here.
Information in this article is current as of 7 October 2026.
Tournament Overview
The Buick LPGA Shanghai joined the LPGA schedule in 2018. It is a four-round, 72-hole stroke play event. Buick has backed golf in China since 2005, and the brand sponsors the tournament.
Organizers say the event is run by the Songjiang District Administration of Sports, Shanghai Songjiang New City Investment & Construction Group, and IMG Sports Development (Shanghai). Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club Co., Ltd. co-organizes it. The champion receives the Buick Goddess trophy.
The 2026 edition is the sixth played. The tournament did not take place in 2020, 2021, or 2022 because of COVID-19 restrictions in China. It returned in 2023.
Buick LPGA Shanghai Schedule and Format
The tournament runs Thursday to Sunday, 15 to 18 October 2026.
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Thursday, 15 October |
| Round 2 | Friday, 16 October |
| Round 3 | Saturday, 17 October |
| Final round | Sunday, 18 October |
Exact tee times are not yet published. LPGA tee sheets usually appear a day or two before play, so check the official leaderboard page for Buick LPGA Shanghai tee times in tournament week.
Previous winning scores show the 72-hole format. Thitikul won in 2025 with rounds of 65, 70, 66, and 63 for 264 in total.
The cut rule and field size for 2026 are not confirmed. Information is not currently available.
Playoffs decide ties for first place. The 2025 playoff lasted five holes.
Sheshan Golf Club and the Move From Qizhong Garden
Sheshan Golf Club replaces Qizhong Garden Golf Club as host in 2026. The change followed problems in 2025. Extreme heat damaged the greens at Qizhong Garden, and the condition of the putting surfaces drew attention during the tournament. Organizers moved the event to Sheshan this year.
The LPGA's schedule listing and several 2026 announcements confirm Sheshan as the venue. One early schedule listing still named Qizhong Garden, so older pages may show the previous course. Use the Sheshan information.
Local coverage describes Sheshan as a course known for hosting elite international golf. Descriptions highlight tree-lined corridors, elevated greens, water hazards, and holes that use a former quarry setting. Treat those details as general course notes. Yardage and par for the tournament setup are not yet confirmed.
Why the venue matters for scoring:
- Elevated greens place a premium on approach shots.
- Water in play punishes loose drives and short irons alike.
- Winners at Qizhong Garden went very low. Yin Ruoning won at 25 under in 2024, and Thitikul won at 24 under in 2025. Sheshan has no record as an LPGA venue, so that scoring pattern may change.
Sheshan Golf Club also joins the tournament committee. Its vice president, Crystal Zhang, said the club wanted to be a world-class tournament venue from the start.
Shanghai and Songjiang: Host City Notes
Shanghai hosts the event for the sixth time. Qizhong Garden sits in the Minhang District. Sheshan lies in the Songjiang District, whose sports administration helps run the event.
The change of venue moves the tournament from Minhang to Songjiang and gives that district a major sports event.
Shanghai also has personal meaning for one contender. Yin Ruoning's father's hometown is Shanghai. She won here in 2024, and she plays as one of the leading Chinese golfers on tour. Local interest will follow her.
Two more local notes:
- The Shanghai Golf Association president, Lin Kaiwen, said that continued hosting and upgrading of the event enriches the city's golf development.
- Organizers describe the 2026 event as a season-opening event of the LPGA Asia Fall Swing.
The weather forecast for tournament week is not available yet. Check it closer to 15 October.
Buick LPGA Shanghai Prize Money and Purse
The 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai purse is $3,200,000. The winner's share is $480,000. The LPGA described it as the largest purse of any LPGA event in Asia. A Buick official described it as the highest in the history of women's professional golf in Asia.
| Year | Purse | Winner's share | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2,100,000 | $315,000 | Angel Yin |
| 2024 | $2,100,000 | $315,000 | Yin Ruoning |
| 2025 | $2,200,000 | $330,000 | Jeeno Thitikul |
| 2026 | $3,200,000 | $480,000 | To be decided |
The purse rose by $1,000,000 from 2025, an increase of about 45 percent. The winner's share rises by $150,000.
For another event on the 2026 LPGA calendar, see our page on the CPKC Women's Open.
A full prize money breakdown by finishing position is not yet published. Information is not currently available.
Ranking points for 2026 are also not confirmed. The LPGA does not use FedExCup points, which belong to the PGA Tour. LPGA players earn points toward the Race to CME Globe and the Rolex Rankings.
Buick LPGA Shanghai Players and Field
The confirmed 2026 field is not yet available. Information is not currently available. The LPGA's official entry list is the source to check. Do not rely on older lists from past years, because they show last year's entries.
Golfweek reported on 4 October that the field for the event was yet to be finalized. Withdrawals and alternates are normal in the days before an event that follows a long trip from Hawaii.
Here is what is known about who is likely to attract attention, based on form and past results rather than entries:
| Player | Country | Why she matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jeeno Thitikul (Atthaya Thitikul) | Thailand | Defending champion; four 2026 wins |
| Nelly Korda | USA | Four 2026 wins; two majors; Race to CME Globe leader |
| Haeran Ryu | South Korea | Two 2026 majors (KPMG Women's PGA, Evian) |
| Yin Ruoning | China | 2024 champion; won the FM Championship in August |
| Miyu Yamashita | Japan | Two 2026 wins; third at Lotte |
| Minami Katsu | Japan | 2025 runner-up; still seeking a first LPGA win |
This table is not an entry list. Treat each name as a player to check against the official field.
The tournament also includes China LPGA Tour qualifiers. Chinese players and qualifiers add local interest, though names are not confirmed. Rising stars and important absences: Information is not currently available.
Defending Champion Jeeno Thitikul (Atthaya Thitikul)
Jeeno Thitikul, whose full name is Atthaya Thitikul, is the reigning Buick LPGA Shanghai champion and a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2026.
She won the 2025 event at Qizhong Garden. She trailed Minami Katsu by four shots with five holes left. She birdied holes 14 to 16, then made an eagle on the 17th for a 63, nine under par on Sunday. She finished at 24 under (264), level with Katsu, and won on the fifth playoff hole with a birdie. She earned $330,000.
It was her sixth LPGA win at that time, and it made her the first two-time winner on the tour in 2025.
Her 2026 wins:
- Honda LPGA Thailand, February
- Mizuho Americas Open, May
- Standard Portland Classic, August
- Lotte Championship, October (21 under, three shots clear)
She also won the Standard Portland Classic in August. You can read about Thitikul's earlier 2026 win in Portland before the tour moves to Shanghai.
The Lotte win gave her 11 LPGA titles, 65 top-10 finishes in 101 starts, and more than $20 million in career earnings at age 23. It also tied her with Korda for the most wins on tour this season, at four.
The win had one rough patch. She made a double bogey on the par-4 16th hole at Lotte to fall into a tie, then recovered with birdies on 17 and 18. That ability to respond helped her in Shanghai last year as well.
Main Contenders and Season Form
Nelly Korda. She has four 2026 wins: the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the Chevron Championship, the Riviera Maya Open and the U.S. Women's Open. She won the U.S. Women's Open by one shot over Charley Hull and Gaby López. Korda leads the Race to CME Globe, according to the latest tour notes. Her summer was mixed. She had a tie for fourth at the AIG Women's Open, a missed cut at the Evian, and a tie for 50th at the FM Championship. She did not play in Shanghai in 2024. Her 2026 plans for Shanghai are not confirmed.
Haeran Ryu. She won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at 13 under and the Evian Championship at 19 under. Read more about Haeran Ryu's win at the Evian Championship. Korda and Ryu are the first pair of players to win multiple majors in the same LPGA season. Ryu is in the race for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
Yin Ruoning. She won here in 2024 by six strokes, with rounds of 70, 66, 63 and 64. She has six LPGA wins, including the 2026 FM Championship at 14 under on 30 August. She also finished tied for second at the Chevron Championship in 2025 and 2026. A strong home result would fit her record in Shanghai.
Miyu Yamashita. She has two wins this season and finished third at Lotte at 17 under.
Minami Katsu. She led after 54 holes in 2025 and shot a bogey-free 65 in the final round. She has eight wins on the LPGA of Japan Tour and finished tied for second at the 2025 Women's British Open. She has not yet won on the LPGA Tour. Her runner-up finish in 2025 gives her useful experience, though not on this course.
Others with 2026 wins. Hyo Joo Kim and Hannah Green each have two wins this season, according to Golfweek's list through the Lotte Championship. Whether they play in Shanghai is not confirmed.
Key Storylines
1. A new course for everyone. Sheshan has not hosted this LPGA event, so past winners have no course history. Short preparation time may favor players who adapt quickly to elevated greens and water. For more on the 2026 women's golf calendar, see the Solheim Cup teams, schedule and venue guide.
2. The Player of the Year picture. Korda and Ryu each have two majors. Thitikul now has four wins and has joined the conversation, according to Golfweek. Korda and Thitikul share the most wins on tour in 2026, at four. A strong result in Shanghai would help any of the leaders. Each point matters with only a handful of events left. The season also included the Solheim Cup. See how the Solheim Cup finished for the team result.
3. Thitikul's defense. Winning back-to-back titles at the same event is difficult when the venue changes. She comes off a win, which gives her momentum.
4. A Chinese winner on home soil. Yin Ruoning won the event in 2024 and has one of the best records of any Chinese player on tour. Do not confuse her with Angel Yin of the USA, who won in 2023.
5. The first stop of an Asia swing. Golfweek says the Buick LPGA Shanghai begins a five-tournament Asian swing. Players who arrive from Hawaii must manage the long trip and time change.
6. Katsu's unfinished business. She came closest to winning last year and has the experience of leading after 54 holes.
7. The record purse. At $3.2 million, the purse is the largest of any LPGA event in Asia. It gives players a strong reason to make the trip late in the season.
Buick LPGA Shanghai History and Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Country | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Danielle Kang | USA | Not confirmed | Won by two shots |
| 2019 | Danielle Kang | USA | Not confirmed | Tournament record |
| 2020 | No event (canceled, COVID-19) | |||
| 2021 | No event (canceled, COVID-19) | |||
| 2022 | No event (canceled, COVID-19) | |||
| 2023 | Angel Yin | USA | Not confirmed | First LPGA win |
| 2024 | Yin Ruoning | China | 263 (25 under) | Won by six shots |
| 2025 | Jeeno Thitikul | Thailand | 264 (24 under) | Five-hole playoff over Minami Katsu |
Kang is the only player with two titles. She won the first two editions. Scores for 2018, 2019 and 2023 are not confirmed in the sources used here.
Course record details: Minami Katsu shot a 61 (11 under) in the second round in 2025, the lowest round in the tournament's record list. That course was Qizhong Garden. The Sheshan course record at this event starts from zero.
Qizhong Garden hosted the event through 2025. The tournament began as part of a five-year deal between the LPGA and Buick announced in 2018.
Winning scores have been low. The two most recent winners finished 24 under or better. Whether that holds at Sheshan depends on setup and weather.
How to Watch the Buick LPGA Shanghai
In the United States, Golf Channel carries the event. The LPGA's tournament listing shows live windows of 3:00 AM to 8:00 AM UTC. Check the day-by-day schedule, because Round 1 and the final round can have different windows.
Approximate local times for the listed window:
| Region | Local time |
|---|---|
| Shanghai (UTC+8) | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| UK (BST, UTC+1) | 4:00 AM to 9:00 AM |
| US and Canada East (EDT, UTC-4) | 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM (starts the night before) |
| US Pacific (PDT, UTC-7) | 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM (starts the night before) |
| Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11) | 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
These conversions are calculated from the listed UTC window. For Golf Channel viewers in the U.S., Thursday's round airs on Wednesday night.
Live stream details for the UK, Canada, and Australia are not confirmed. Information is not currently available. Check your local broadcaster. Many viewers will follow the Buick LPGA Shanghai leaderboard on the LPGA website or on ESPN, which lists a leaderboard page for the event.
Tickets and Spectator Information
Ticket prices, sales channels, and spectator rules for 2026 are not confirmed. Information is not currently available. The new venue means last year's ticket details do not apply. Check the official Buick LPGA Shanghai channels for admission, parking and transport information.
Statistics at a Glance
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| First edition | 2018 |
| Editions played before 2026 | 5 |
| Years canceled | 3 (2020 to 2022) |
| Most titles | 2 (Danielle Kang) |
| 2025 winning score | 24 under (264) |
| 2024 winning score | 25 under (263) |
| 2025 playoff length | 5 holes |
| 2026 purse | $3,200,000 |
| 2026 winner's share | $480,000 |
| Purse increase from 2025 | $1,000,000 |
| Thitikul 2026 wins | 4 |
| Korda 2026 wins | 4 |
| LPGA events in 2026 | 31 |
| Total LPGA purse in 2026 | $132 million |
The 2026 LPGA season runs from 29 January to 22 November. The tour returns to Florida about six weeks after the Hawaii stop, according to Golfweek.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai?
The tournament runs from 15 to 18 October 2026.
Where is the Buick LPGA Shanghai being played?
It is played at Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, China. This is the first year at Sheshan. The event previously used Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
Who is the defending champion?
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand won in 2025 at 24 under after a five-hole playoff against Minami Katsu.
Who is Atthaya Thitikul?
Atthaya Thitikul, known as Jeeno Thitikul, is a Thai professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. She won the 2025 Buick LPGA Shanghai in a five-hole playoff. She has four wins in 2026 and 11 LPGA wins in total.
How much is the Buick LPGA Shanghai prize money?
The purse is $3.2 million, and the winner receives $480,000. This is the largest purse for an LPGA event in Asia, according to the LPGA.
Who is playing in the 2026 Buick LPGA Shanghai?
The final field is not confirmed. Information is not currently available. Check the LPGA entry list in tournament week.
How can I watch the Buick LPGA Shanghai live?
Golf Channel carries it in the United States. Listings show live coverage from 3:00 AM to 8:00 AM UTC. Check your local broadcaster in other countries.
Who has won the Buick LPGA Shanghai before?
Danielle Kang won in 2018 and 2019. Angel Yin won in 2023. Yin Ruoning won in 2024. Thitikul won in 2025. The event was not played from 2020 to 2022.