BMW LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP 2025: WELCOME TO THE "KOREAN PEBBLE BEACH"

When the LPGA Tour Moves to the Coast and Prize Money Rises to Record Levels

Imagine breathtaking ocean views, waves crashing against rocky shores, and fairways lined with coastal winds. No, we're not in California's Pebble Beach – welcome to Pine Beach Golf Links, the new home of the BMW Ladies Championship and possibly the most beautiful golf course in South Korea.

The LPGA Tour continues its Asian fall swing this week with the sixth edition of the prestigious BMW Ladies Championship bringing so many new developments that we don't even know where to start. New course? Higher purse? Return of legends? Let's break it all down.

NEW COURSE, NEW ERA

After five years at various locations, the BMW Ladies Championship is moving to Pine Beach Golf Links for the first time – and this is no ordinary move. When locals started calling the course the "Korean Pebble Beach," it wasn't a random nickname.

The course layout winds along the coastline similar to its American namesake, offers equally dramatic ocean views and – most importantly for the players – similarly challenging conditions. Ocean winds, firm greens, and strategically placed hazards make Pine Beach one of the toughest courses in the region.

And it's not just about beauty. Pine Beach Golf Links is officially ranked among the top-50 golf facilities in the Asia-Pacific region and stands at the absolute pinnacle in Korea. For LPGA Tour players, that means one thing: mistakes aren't overlooked here.

MONEY TALKS – AND BMW LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP TALKS LOUD

If you think women's golf is stagnating, here's proof to the contrary. The tournament's total purse has increased to $2.3 million – a $100,000 increase from last year. And that's not all.

BMW Korea has committed to long-term support and plans to increase the prize money to $2.6 million by 2029, making the BMW Ladies Championship the highest-paying women's golf tournament in all of South Korea. That's a statement not just about the tournament's prestige, but also about the growing popularity of women's golf in the region.

The format remains unchanged: 72 holes, limited field of 78 players, no cut. That means every player will complete all four rounds – great news for fans who want to enjoy their favorites all weekend.

STAR-STUDDED FIELD: WHO ARE THE FAVORITES?

Let's get to what everyone's waiting for – who's actually playing? And the answer is: almost everyone who matters.

The field includes 16 players from the top 25 of the Rolex World Rankings and 20 tournament winners from this LPGA season. That's a concentration of talent you only see at majors. Let's look at the biggest stars:

HANNAH GREEN: DEFENDING CHAMPION WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE

Australian Hannah Green arrives as the defending champion after last year's wire-to-wire victory, when she defeated Celine Boutier by just one stroke. It was a classic example of mental toughness – leading from the first round and maintaining your nerve until the end is never easy.

Green has had a mixed season this year. She's had her moments but hasn't been able to find the consistency that propelled her to the top last year. The question is: can a fresh start on a new course restart her season?

MINJEE LEE: WINNER WITH MAJOR CREDENTIALS

Minjee Lee is another Australian in the field, but this one has even more reasons for optimism. Not only did she win the BMW Ladies Championship in 2023, but this year she added the title from the KPMG Women's PGA Championship – one of the five majors on the LPGA Tour.

Lee is known for her stability under pressure and ability to play brilliantly in Asian conditions. She's one of the betting favorites and it's no wonder why.

JIN YOUNG KO: THE QUEEN'S RETURN

This might be the most interesting story of the tournament. Jin Young Ko, the local legend and 2021 winner, is returning for the first time since 2023. Her absence has been painful for Korean fans – Ko is one of the most successful golfers in the country's history.

Ko was long the world number one, and while her form has fluctuated in recent years, you can never write her off. Playing at home, in front of a home crowd, on a new prestigious course? That's a story that could end in a fairytale return.

MIYU YAMASHITA: FRESH MAJOR WINNER

Miyu Yamashita arrives with tremendous confidence after winning the AIG Women's Open – another major. For the Japanese player, it's her debut at the BMW Ladies Championship, but the form she's shown in big tournaments makes her an immediate contender for victory.

JEENO THITIKUL: RED-HOT FORM

And then there's Jeeno Thitikul, who arrives as a fresh two-time winner this season after her triumph at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. The Thai star ended the streak of 26 different winners this season with her second triumph, proving that when she's in form, she's nearly unstoppable.

Thitikul is only 21 years old, but plays with a veteran's confidence. If she finds the same rhythm at Pine Beach as she did in Shanghai, she'll be very hard to beat.

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: CHELLA CHOI RETURNS

Among all the stars, there's one player who deserves special attention – Chella Choi.

Choi is returning to the LPGA Tour after maternity leave. In March 2024, she welcomed her first son, and now, after seven months, she's back in action. Her last start on the LPGA Tour was at The Amundi Evian Championship in 2023 – that's a long time away from elite competition.

But don't be fooled – Choi is no amateur. She has one LPGA Tour victory to her name (Toledo 2015) and an impressive 51 top-10 finishes. That's the resume of a player who knows how to win.

She recently shared a video on Instagram training with her longtime coach Mike Bender, suggesting she's taking her return very seriously. Will it be a storybook comeback? We'll see, but one thing is certain – everyone will be rooting for the story of a mother returning to professional golf.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY: FROM INAUGURATION TO TODAY

The BMW Ladies Championship isn't that old a tournament – it only started in 2019 – but it's already built a nice tradition.

It replaced the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship and from the beginning had ambitions to be more than just another tournament. The first year was won by Jang Ha-na in a thrilling playoff against Danielle Kang – it was clear this would be a tournament where decisions are made on the final holes.

In 2021, Jin Young Ko triumphed, in 2022 Lydia Ko surprisingly won in Wonju – which was symbolic because Wonju lies about 140 km east of Seoul, in Ko's birthplace country (Lydia was born in Seoul before moving with her family to New Zealand).

In 2023, Minjee Lee dominated the tournament, and last year Hannah Green won. The tradition is short but intense – no winner has yet defended their title. Can Green break this trend?

WHAT MAKES BMW LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL?

Is it just another tournament? Definitely not. Let's talk about why the BMW Ladies Championship is special:

1. Location, location, location – Pine Beach Golf Links isn't just a course, it's an experience. The similarity to Pebble Beach isn't accidental – both courses share dramatic coastal scenery and challenging conditions.

2. Growing prestige – with prize money climbing to $2.6 million by 2029, the tournament is quickly ranking among the most important stops on the Asian portion of the LPGA Tour.

3. No cut – all 78 players play all four rounds. That means no Friday survival drama, but four days of full competitive golf.

4. Elite field – 16 players from the top 25 world rankings and 20 winners from this year? That's a concentration of talent you rarely see outside majors.

5. Home stars – for Korean fans, the chance to see Jin Young Ko, Jang Ha-na, and other domestic icons playing on home soil is unmissable.

PREDICTION: WHO WILL WIN?

Here's the toughest question – who actually wins? With such a field, prediction is nearly impossible, but let's try.

Favorites:

Jeeno Thitikul – red-hot form from Shanghai and youthful confidence
Minjee Lee – 2023 winner and this year's major champion
Miyu Yamashita – fresh major winner seeking another triumph

Dark horses:

Jin Young Ko – home environment and desire for a return
Hannah Green – defending champion who needs to restart her season
Chella Choi – a mother's comeback would be the story of the year

But honestly? At Pine Beach Golf Links, anyone in the top 20 of the field can win. Wind, fast greens, and the pressure of a new course will create conditions where mental toughness will be as important as technical skill.

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T MISS THIS

The BMW Ladies Championship 2025 isn't just another golf tournament. It's a debut at one of the most beautiful courses in Asia, the return of legends, a mother's comeback, a battle of world number ones, and possibly the beginning of a new era for women's golf in Korea.

Whether you're a fan of Australians dominating world golf, local Korean hopefuls, or simply love watching the world's best golfers compete on a stunning course, the BMW Ladies Championship has something for you.

So set your alarms (the time difference isn't exactly favorable), prepare your coffee, and watch as another chapter is written in the history of this rising tournament.

Welcome to the "Korean Pebble Beach" – where every shot counts and every view takes your breath away.

Photo: Today's Golfer

More information:24live.com

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