A staggering $4 million winner’s check awaits at Tiburón Golf Club this week. That’s the largest single prize in women’s golf history. The 2025 CME Group Tour Championship brings together the LPGA’s elite 60 players for one showdown in Naples, Florida, from November 20-23.

But here’s the twist that sets this tournament apart. Unlike most LPGA events, there’s no cut at the CME Group Tour Championship. Every qualified player competes through all 72 holes, regardless of their first two rounds.

Most professional golf tournaments use a cut system to trim the field after 36 holes. Typically, only the top 60-70 players and ties advance to weekend play. The rest head home without competing in the final two rounds. This system rewards consistent performance through the opening rounds. However, it also means one bad day can end a player’s tournament prematurely.

The CME Group Tour Championship operates differently. All 60 qualified players complete four full rounds at Tiburón’s Gold Course. This format creates unique tournament dynamics. Players who struggle early can mount comebacks knowing they’ll compete through all 72 holes. That safety net removes mid-tournament elimination anxiety, letting golfers fight their way back into contention.

The no-cut structure means every player chases their share of the $11 million purse. Even those trailing the leaders can climb the leaderboard for significant paydays. The championship uses a 72-hole stroke-play format over four days. Players compete in threesomes during the first two rounds, alternating between morning and afternoon waves.

Rounds three and four follow traditional scoring-based pairings. The highest scorers tee off first. Leaders go out last, creating television-friendly weekend drama. If players tie after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff is held on the 18th hole until a winner emerges.

Greg Norman designed the Gold Course at Tiburón, which measures 6,734 yards at par 72. TifEagle Bermuda greens present challenges throughout the week—their grain and speed demand a precise touch from every competitor.

The tournament launched in 2014 as the LPGA’s season finale. It succeeded the LPGA Tour Championship (2009-2010) and CME Group Titleholders (2011-2013). Prize money has grown dramatically since its inception. The inaugural 2011 event offered $1.5 million with a $500,000 winner’s share. By 2024, the purse jumped to $11 million with that historic $4 million first-place prize.

Past champions include Lydia Ko (2014, 2022), Charley Hull (2016), Ko Jin-young (2020, 2021), Amy Yang (2023), and defending champion Jeeno Thitikul (2024). Thitikul’s victory featured a dramatic eagle-birdie finish on the final two holes at 22-under par.

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Field strength and championship contenders

Jeeno Thitikul returns as defending champion and World No. 1. She’s posted two wins this season at the Mizuho Americas Open and Buick LPGA Shanghai. Her record at Tiburón remains pristine. She’s never finished worse than T10 in four appearances at this venue.

Nelly Korda enters as World No. 2 despite a winless 2025 season. The contrast is stark. She dominated 2024 with seven victories but hasn’t captured a title this year. Still, her ball-striking statistics remain elite. Korda has six top-10 finishes at Tiburón, including a T5 last year.

Lydia Ko makes her return as a two-time champion at this venue (2014, 2022). She won the HSBC Women’s World Championship earlier this season. Ko finished T3 here last year and brings momentum from consistent play throughout 2025.

Minjee Lee leads the Money Title race with $3,822,388 in earnings. She captured her third major at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June. Lee holds a strong course history with a T8 in 2023 and a T5 in 2021.

Miyu Yamashita headlines the rookie class. She’s already secured the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award with two victories this season. Her wins came at the AIG Women’s Open and Maybank Championship. Yamashita now sits at World No. 3.

The 2025 season produced 29 different winners across 30 official events. That sets an all-time LPGA Tour record for competitive depth. Eleven first-time winners broke through this year.

Multiple season-long awards hang in the balance. Thitikul leads the Rolex Player of the Year race by just 16 points over Yamashita. Yamashita must win to claim the award. She would become only the second player ever to capture both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in one season, alongside Nancy Lopez.

The Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average remains undecided. Thitikul leads at 68.88, with Korda trailing at 69.58. The Money Title sees Lee holding a $244,058 edge over Thitikul. With $4 million available to the winner, multiple players can still claim that crown.