BMW Ladies Championship Loaded With Stars as Sei Young Kim Defends Title

The 2026 BMW Ladies Championship isn't lacking star power. With 14 of the world's top 25 players and nine LPGA Tour winners from this season competing, the tournament promises another fierce battle when play begins Thursday at Pine Beach Golf Links.

Defending champion Sei Young Kim returns to familiar territory after dominating last year's championship, finishing at 24-under 264 for a four-shot victory over Nasa Hataoka.

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Kim, ranked ninth in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, owns or shares the tournament's scoring records after last year's performance. But repeating won't be easy against a field featuring several of the game's hottest players.

"Winning the BMW Ladies Championship in my homeland was a wonderful feeling, and one that I hope to repeat," Kim said.

Leading the challengers is world No. 3 Haeran Ryu, whose 2026 season has been extraordinary. Ryu captured two major championships, winning The Amundi Evian Championship and KPMG Women's PGA Championship, establishing herself among the world's most dangerous competitors.

Ryu returns to competition after collecting 10 top-10 finishes this season.

Hyo Joo Kim, ranked fifth, also arrives with two victories this year, while seventh-ranked Lottie Woad continues an impressive campaign featuring a victory and six top-10 finishes.

Former champion Minjee Lee, ranked 17th, returns seeking another title after winning the tournament in 2023.

The international field also features Celine Boutier, Lauren Coughlin, Jenny Shin, Mi Hyang Lee and rising American standout Yana Wilson.

Another intriguing storyline involves the LPGA's rookie race.

Erika Hara carries a 144-point advantage over Youmin Hwang entering the championship. With 150 points available to the winner, the standings could change dramatically before Sunday's final round.

Amateur Seoah Kim adds another compelling element. The 32nd-ranked amateur in the world received the tournament's lone sponsor invitation and will make her LPGA Tour debut after gaining experience competing professionally in Asia.

The 84-player tournament features 72 holes without a cut and a $2.35 million purse, with $352,500 going to the champion.

Pine Beach Golf Links, a par-72 layout measuring 6,785 yards, hosts the tournament for the second consecutive year.

Beyond the championship trophy, valuable CME Globe points remain available as the LPGA season approaches its conclusion.

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For Sei Young Kim, the mission is straightforward: defend her title before a home-country crowd.

But with Ryu chasing another major accomplishment, several former champions looking to reclaim the spotlight and a talented group of newcomers eager to make an impression, South Korea could deliver one of the most competitive LPGA events of the fall.