As the 2025 LPGA season reaches its late mid-November stretch, you can find the world’s best teeing off on the lush fairways of Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Battling for the annual showcase event, the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican has become a must-play stop on the ladies’ tour since its inception in 2020. This year, from Nov 13-16, it’s back with higher stakes, more dramatic tension, and a star-studded field of rising stars and established veterans.

World No. 2 Nelly Korda and Charley Hull will tee off, vying for a prize purse of $3.25 million. Joining in the edging competition, 13-time LPGA Tour winner, Australia’s Brooke Henderson, will bring her powerful swing to the lush greens. Retired pro Lexi Thompson is also expected to turn up for the event. However, fans will feel the stinging absence of a few marquee golfers and course favorites. Here are the top 3 women who’ll not be golfing at Annika this year.

Top Stories

Phil Mickelson Shuts Down Journalist’s Attempts to Get Information About Insider Trading Allegations Against Him

LPGA Star Issues Statement After Being Disqualified from $2M Golf Event: ‘Disappointed’

Exclusive: Megan Khang Talks About the Contrast in Perception Between LPGA and Male Golfers

PGA Tour Pro Quietly Equals Scottie Scheffler Record Despite Zero Victories So Far

LIV Golf Star Taunts Rory McIlroy’s Character Over His ‘Peculiar’ Comments on Format Change

#1: Lydia Ko

One of the biggest names in the female circuit, Lydia Ko‘s absence feels both jarring and surprising. Though the South Korean golfer hasn’t provided an official explanation for this absence, apparently, this is not the first time Ko has opted out of any LPGA event this year.

Earlier this year, Ko also skipped the Meijer Classic. She provided rest and recovery as the reason behind this decision. Following this, right before the AIG Women’s Championship, Ko missed the FM Championship. More recently, Ko decided to sit out of the Buick LPGA Shanghai, reflecting her strategic scheduling and carefully-managed LPGA schedule. This hiatus right before the CME Group Tour Championship could serve as a checkpoint for her to assess her game before the season-ending tournament.

#2: Jeeno Thitikul

Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul of Thailand also won’t be teeing it up at the Annika next week either. The rising Thai star eclipsed the former World No. 1 Nelly Korda to assume that position in the world rankings. Her meteoric rise in the 2025 season is a reflection of that caliber. She secured two titles this year. The first title came at the Mizuho Americas Open at 17-under, while she edged M Katsu in the Buick LPGA Shanghai to win at 24-under.

With 8 top-10 finishes, including 4 runner-ups, her 2025 season was reminiscent of her incredible shot-shaping and technical mastery. Owing to this heavy schedule, it is possible that Thitikul decided against Annika this year. However, something which might be more plausible is her relationship with the Pelican field. At the 2023 Annika, Thitikul placed tied for 31st. In the leading year, the Thai star opted out of the event, saying:

“Last week, one of the reasons, it’s going to be I’m not really suited for that golf course as well, because I played that last year, [it] was my first time playing that course, and I’m not really good.” Whether she still holds that belief is doubtful. But that could still very likely influence her decision.

#3: Minjee Lee

Last on our list is Australia’s Minjee Lee. While the golfer is yet to release an official statement on her absence, this only comes as a surprise given her stellar season. Sitting at No. 2 in the Race to CME Globe points, she sat high in contention for the Rolex Player of the Year honors, too.

However, to edge Thitikul, she needed two wins in her two remaining starts: the Toto Japan Classic and the CME Group Tour Championship. After a rough second round at the Toto Classic, however, she fell off pace, sitting outside the top 50.

Missing Annika during this testing stretch of the year does not seem to click. The pressure is mounting because she’s clearly in the mix for major honours. The Annika might have acted as a last-ditch opportunity for the golfer to receive the honors.

Regardless, she’s still in the mix for other honors, given one title win, 3 runner-ups, 2 thirds, and several other top-10 finishes. Moreover, she leads the ranks in the official money list and sits close to Jeeno Thitikul in the Vare Trophy rankings. And apparently, not all hope is lost for the golfer, who’s set to tee off at the CME Group Tour Championship later this month, from Nov 20-23.

As the dust settles at Pelican Golf Club, the absence of Ko, Thitikul, and Lee leaves a noticeable gap. But it also opens the door for new contenders to seize the spotlight. With the CME Group Tour Championship looming, the stakes have never been higher for those still in the chase.