October in Shanghai should mean crisp autumn air and comfortable playing conditions. Instead, the world’s best female golfers are walking into what feels like peak summer—with temperatures soaring to 94°F and greens that look more like practice ranges than championship courses. The Buick LPGA Shanghai hasn’t even started yet, but the tournament is already facing a full-blown crisis.

The LPGA Tour was forced to address the situation head-on. Officials released a statement acknowledging the severity of the problem at Qizhong Garden Golf Club. “We are aware of the course conditions at the Buick LPGA Shanghai,” the statement read. “The golf course superintendent, tournament team and the LPGA rules officials have worked diligently against extreme heat conditions this season in preparation for this week’s event. We will continue to monitor the situation and care for the course appropriately throughout the week.”

But words can only do so much when the photos tell a different story. Leona Maguire, the two-time LPGA winner, posted images to her Instagram Story that exposed the reality. She captioned it “Instagram vs reality 😂” and showed patchy, damaged greens with visible dead spots around the holes. The 18th green looked particularly rough. Matthew Galloway, co-host of Fried Egg’s Mixed Bag podcast and former LPGA caddie, shared equally concerning footage of the 7th green. These aren’t minor imperfections—they’re patches of damaged turf right where players need precision most.

The extreme conditions are taking a physical toll beyond just the grass. Maguire reported that “two caddies went down” during practice rounds due to heat-related issues. The tournament week forecast offers little relief. Thursday brings 87°F with humidity making it feel like 89°F. Friday hits 88°F but feels like 90°F. Saturday peaks at a brutal 94°F, although it will feel closer to 100°F in direct sunlight. Humidity levels sit between 54-60% throughout the week, making every round an endurance test.

This field of 82 players includes some serious firepower. World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul leads the charge, joined by Minjee Lee (No. 4), Miyu Yamashita (No. 6), defending champion Ruoning Yin (No. 7), and 2023 winner Angel Yin (No. 10). They’re all competing for a $2.2 million purse and 500 CME Globe points. Still, nobody expected to battle these conditions in what should be comfortable autumn weather.

China’s record-breaking heat season disrupts professional sports

Here’s the bigger problem—this isn’t just a bad week for one tournament. China experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025. Shanghai alone endured 27 days of temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F) in August, the most since record-keeping began. Normal October temperatures in Shanghai hover around 22°C (72°F). Right now? The city is hitting 34°C (93°F), a staggering 12°C above seasonal averages. Residents are saying it still “feels like peak summer weather” when they should be enjoying fall.

Shanghai’s heat crisis is wreaking havoc across multiple sports. The Shanghai Masters tennis tournament is happening simultaneously, and seven players have already retired from matches due to extreme heat. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner struggled to walk due to severe cramping. Novak Djokovic called conditions “brutal” and vomited during his match. Holger Rune was heard asking an official during a medical timeout, “Do you want a player to die on court?” The ATP is now considering implementing a formal heat policy after these incidents.

The damaged greens at Qizhong Garden Golf Club represent more than just poor course conditions. They serve as a warning sign of how climate extremes are threatening professional sports in Asia. As China’s heat records continue to break and October feels like August, tournament organizers face an uncomfortable question: Is it still safe to hold professional golf events in these conditions?