With the Buick LPGA Shanghai, the much-awaited Asian leg of the LPGA Tour has begun. Taking place from October 9 to 12, the tournament takes place at Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, China. Serving as the first stop of the fall leg, it is the first of the five-event stretch across Asia. Following this, tournaments will be held in South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan before the tour returns to its home in the United States.

Despite being remarked as “financially punishing,” many players have made their way to China. Some are trying to save their Tour status, while others are just polishing off their skills and enjoying the last few events of 2025. Yet, Buick does offer much more than that. This year’s edition features a boosted prize purse of $2.2 million—a $100,000 increase from the previous total. This is the first change in the event’s prize money since 2018, a good perk for the players.

The winner will take home $330,000. But that is not all; every player on the ground will take a few bucks home, thanks to the tournament’s no-cut format. This financial growth of the event is a reflection of the LPGA’s broader monetary compensation for its players. There has been a record-breaking total prize money of $131 million across the season.

Beyond the prize money, of course, there are several other perks for those contesting. The winner will collect 500 CME Global points, helping them to qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, which in turn offers a massive $11 million purse of its own. Then there are Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking points too, which will be awarded based on the finishing positions. Moreover, like many other LPGA events, the Buick LPGA Shanghai also has a philanthropic component.

It contributes to the CME Group Cares Challenge. $20,000 is donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for each hole-in-one made during the event. In the end, there will be a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000.

The detailed prize breakdown is as follows:

With so much at stake, the competition will surely be at its peak. Victory will not come easily, especially if several marquee players adorn the event’s course.

Players to look out for at the 2025 Buick LPGA Shanghai

Of course, with Jeeno Thitikul‘s presence on the course, the majority of the attention will be on her. The 22-year-old Thai sensationalised the LPGA world when she snatched the World No. 1 ranking from Nelly Korda in August, breaking the latter’s 71-week run at the top. Her performance speaks for itself. Thitukl has posted 11 top-10 finishes in 17 starts, including a win at the Mizuho Americas Open in May.

Next in line is Minjee Lee, who is looking for a career renaissance. The Australian captured her third major this year at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Alongside this, she has been a consistent name on leaderboards, with top-three finishes at both the CPKC Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship, which led to her claiming the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award for the best overall performance across the five majors.

At last, there is Arpichaya Yubol, a Thai star who has been making waves on the Tour, with her father back on her bag. This is her third LPGA season, and it’s needless to say that she has established herself as one of Asia’s rising stars. A victory awaits, but otherwise, Yubol has impressed the golf world with 12 cuts made in 20 starts, including a fifth-place finish at the 2024 US Women’s Open. She has 14 pro wins worldwide, including nine on the Thai LPGA Tour and two gold medals from the 2022 Asian Games.

The tournament is already underway, with these players fighting a tough fight for the coveted trophy. Only time will tell who gets to take it home. As for the money, there will be a happy ending for each of the 82 players.