Tag: Race to the CME Globe

Lydia Ko fell from No. 1 to outside the top 100 on the CME points list — what does it mean for next year?

Ko isn’t like most players ranked outside the top 100. She has options.

It’s hard to believe that just over one year ago, Lydia Ko was quite literally on top of the world. It was at this time last year that Ko enjoyed what she called a Cinderella story, sweeping the postseason awards in a comeback year that ended with a dreamy wedding ceremony in South Korea.

Now, Ko tees it up this week in the newly renamed Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican event looking to sneak into the top 100 on the LPGA priority list. The top 100 positions on the CME list are considered full cardholders. Ko currently sits at 101.

Ko, however, who opened with a 3-under 67 at Pelican on Thursday, isn’t like most players ranked outside the top 100. She has options.

More: 10 LPGA players to watch on the CME bubble, including Lexi Thompson and ’22 champ Lydia Ko

Should Ko finish outside the top 100 on the points list this season, she could play out of the winner’s category in 2024. Category 4 includes winners of the past two seasons as well as the current season. Ko won three times in 2022.

Another option Ko could use down the road is Category No. 2, which includes members in the top 20 on the Career Money List as of the end of the previous season. Players can compete under this category twice in their careers. (Ko currently ranks fifth on the career money list with $16,919,487.)

2022 CME Group Tour Championship
Lydia Ko poses for a photo with the Vare Trophy, the Rolex Player of the Year trophy and the CME Globe trophy after winning the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 20, 2022 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Although Ko has sounded at times this year like she might be winding down, the two-time Olympic medalist has her sights set on Paris next summer as well as the LPGA Hall of Fame. She’s currently two points shy of the 27 needed to qualify.

Ko currently has 228.571 CME points. Azahara Munoz occupies the 100th spot at 234.273. For Ko to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship, which she won last season, she would have to finish 60th or higher on the list. Bianca Pagdanganan currently holds the 60th spot at 528.780. Ko would need at least a first (500 points) or second (320 points) at Pelican to have a chance.

Photos: Lydia Ko through the years

The top category on the LPGA priority list, which is used to fill tournament fields, is the top 80 on the CME points from the year prior. That’s as good as it gets. Category 1 is used to fill limited-field events at the start of the year like the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore and the Honda LPGA Thailand. Ko entered the 2023 season No. 1 on the entire list.

Players who finish 81st to 100th on the CME list fall into Category 11.

Those who fall between Nos. 101 to 125 are in Category 16. These folks might want to consider going to Q-Series later this year to improve their status. The top 45 finishers from Q-Series fall in Categories 14 and 15 and are listed in the order they finish.

Those who finish 126-150 fall in No. 19 of 20 total categories. They’ll also be heading back to Q-Series and possibly the Epson Tour.

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Bubble breakdown: A look at who kept their LPGA card and qualified for CME Group Tour Championship — and who didn’t

Here’s a look at some of the highs and lows from a dramatic day on the LPGA.

BELLEAIR, Fla. — While the top of the leaderboard at the LPGA’s Pelican Women’s Championship featured a thrilling shootout between America’s best – Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson – the battle going on down the board had just as much at stake, maybe more.

Rookie Morgane Metraux came into the penultimate event of the season in the 101st place on the Race to CME Globe points list, one position outside of keeping her card. When asked whether she feels more pressure playing to win or keep her card, Metraux, who has won on both the LET and Epson Tour, didn’t hesitate.

“Playing to keep your job 100 percent,” said Metraux, who vaulted up the standings with a T-4 finish at Pelican. “The thing is for me, playing to win you already feel like you’re obviously playing really well if you’re in a position to win the tournament, so you can build confidence on that.

“If you’re playing to keep your job it means you haven’t done quite as good. So I think it’s more pressure. It’s like playing to make the cut on the last hole versus playing to win the tournament. They’re both pressure, but I think the pressure of making the cut is actually harder.”

Meanwhile, Gerina Mendoza was projected to finish 100th on the CME when she got to the difficult par-4 18th,  but found the water and made double-bogey, dropping to No. 102.

LPGA cards weren’t the only thing on the line. Players were also vying to finish inside the top 63 of the points list to qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Only 60 qualify for the event, but three players – Jessica Korda, Linn Grant and Inbee Park – will not compete next week. The winner of the CME will earn a record $2 million.

Here’s a look at some of the highs and lows from a dramatic day in Belleaire, Florida (with final CME ranking):

10 surprising players currently outside the cutline for CME Group Tour Championship, including three former No. 1s

With eight events left in the 2023 LPGA season, it’s crunch time for players needing to make a move.

With eight events left in the 2023 LPGA season, it’s crunch time for players needing to make a move. The top 60 players on the Race to CME Globe points list gain entry into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, where anyone in the field can win the top prize in women’s golf of $2 million. The last player in this year’s field is guaranteed to make at least $40,000.

Last week’s winner, Ally Ewing, jumped from 71st to 30th with her victory in Cincinnati. Maria Fassi, who finished a career-best solo third, jumped from 96th to 67th, just outside the mark. The story around Fassi suddenly shifted from possible Q-Series to possible Tour Championship.

The top 100 on the CME points list keep their LPGA cards for 2023.

LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship tweaks field size, purse in 2020

The CME Group Tour Championship will have a larger field but smaller prize money payout for 2020.

The season-ending CME Group Tour Championship will be a bit bigger in 2020.

The LPGA announced on Thursday that this year’s field will include the top 70 from the Race to the CME Globe points standings, an increase of 10 spots. In addition, two sponsor exemptions will be given out. The 72-hole tournament will not have a cut and will offer a purse of $3 million. The winner will receive a check of $1.1 million, the highest first-place check on the LPGA.

“The 2020 LPGA Tour season has certainly faced its challenges, and thanks to incredible partners like CME Group, we have been able to stage competitive opportunities for our players,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan in a statement. “Terry Duffy and his team are among the greatest ambassadors for women’s golf, and we are incredibly appreciative that they have remained with us through this season. The LPGA and CME Group intend to return the Tour Championship back to its original format in 2021.”

Last year’s field played for a $5 million purse and a record $1.5 million payout to winner Sei Young Kim. This year’s event has been pushed back from its traditional week before Thanksgiving date and will now take place Dec. 17-20 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. The first three rounds will be televised on Golf Channel, and Sunday’s round will be on NBC.

“We are extremely proud to continue our long-standing relationship with the LPGA Tour, which supports female athletes while also elevating the sport of women’s golf,” said Terry Duffy, CME Group Chairman and CEO. “Through the CME Group Tour Championship, we are also very proud to continue our support of St. Jude Children’s Hospital – where no family ever receives a bill because all they should worry about is helping their child live. We believe this year’s Tour Championship will provide an exciting finish to one the most uncertain years in history.”

Following this week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic, there are six events left on the LPGA schedule, including two majors.

Race to the CME Globe points standings

Rank Player Points
1 Danielle Kang 1589
2 Inbee Park 1235
3 Minjee Lee 949
4 Austin Ernst 892
5 Nelly Korda 848
6 Stacy Lewis 845
7 Nasa Hataoka 830
8 Georgia Hall 773
9 Celine Boutier 756
10 Jasmine Suwannapura 747
11 Jodi Ewart Shadoff 688
12 Lydia Ko 676
13 Madelene Sagstrom 673
14 Mirim Lee 645
15 Cheyenne Knight 641
16 Hee Young Park 589
17 Brooke M. Henderson 588
18 Gaby Lopez 585
19 Amy Olson 569
20 Anna Nordqvist 552
21 Yu Liu 532
22 Moriya Jutanugarn 528
22 Ashleigh Buhai 528
24 Azahara Munoz 512
25 Caroline Masson 477
26 Yealimi Noh 442
27 Cydney Clanton 437
28 Perrine Delacour 427
29 Angela Stanford 420
30 Jennifer Song 417
31 Marina Alex 401
32 Lexi Thompson 394
33 Carlota Ciganda 381
34 Sei Young Kim 376
35 Xiyu Lin 373
36 Lizette Salas 368
37 Andrea Lee 362
38 In Gee Chun 361
39 Kelly Tan 358
40 Christina Kim 350
41 Brittany Altomare 347
42 Mi Hyang Lee 345
43 So Yeon Ryu 337
44 Mel Reid 333
45 Kristen Gillman 329
46 Ally McDonald 327
47 Hannah Green 314
48 Emma Talley 312
49 Amy Yang 311
50 Alena Sharp 306
51 Katherine Kirk 303
51 Lindsey Weaver 303
53 Maria Fernanda Torres 301
54 Leona Maguire 298
55 Stephanie Meadow 295
56 Cristie Kerr 288
57 Linnea Strom 277
58 Anne van Dam 272
59 Pernilla Lindberg 248
60 Megan Khang 247
61 Maria Fassi 241
62 Jenny Shin 229
63 Yui Kawamoto 228
64 Annie Park 224
65 Sarah Schmelzel 221
66 Jessica Korda 207
67 Brittany Lang 204
68 Nanna Koerstz Madsen 192
69 Mariah Stackhouse 187
70 Ariya Jutanugarn 185
71 Charlotte Thomas 183
72 Patty Tavatanakit 175
73 Pajaree Anannarukarn 171
74 Angel Yin 170
75 Dottie Ardina 163
76 Robynn Ree 157
77 Klara Spilkova 154
77 Gemma Dryburgh 154
79 Lee-Anne Pace 152
80 Dana Finkelstein 151
81 Haru Nomura 146
82 Elizabeth Szokol 145
83 Morgan Pressel 144
84 Mina Harigae 137
84 Matilda Castren 137
86 Haeji Kang 136
87 Mi Jung Hur 135
88 Chella Choi 133
88 Peiyun Chien 133
90 Kendall Dye 132
90 Brittany Lincicome 132
90 Caroline Inglis 132
93 Eun-Hee Ji 126
94 Jennifer Kupcho 124
94 Nicole Broch Larsen 124
96 Charley Hull 119
97 Jing Yan 118
98 Dani Holmqvist 106
99 Sarah Kemp 102
100 Su Oh 100
100 Sarah Burnham 100
102 Albane Valenzuela 98
102 Bronte Law 98
104 Jeong Eun Lee 95
105 Lindy Duncan 94
105 Kim Kaufman 94
107 Alison Lee 90
107 Pornanong Phatlum 90
109 Lauren Stephenson 86
110 Wichanee Meechai 81
110 Haley Moore 81
112 Kristy McPherson 80
113 Paula Reto 76
113 Pavarisa Yoktuan 76
113 Esther Lee 76
116 Alana Uriell 75
117 Jiwon Jeon 74
118 Tiffany Joh 71
119 Jeongeun Lee6 67
120 Jennifer Chang 65
121 Bianca Pagdanganan 63
121 Gerina Piller 63
123 Jillian Hollis 62
124 Jaye Marie Green 60
125 Isi Gabsa 57
126 Caroline Hedwall 56
127 Jane Park 55
128 Min Seo Kwak 48
129 Sophia Popov 47
130 Jenny Coleman 45
131 Jackie Stoelting 43
131 Ilhee Lee 43
133 Sung Hyun Park 39
134 Yujeong Son 38
135 Lee Lopez 37
136 Ssu-Chia Cheng 36
137 Suzuka Yamaguchi 32
137 Celine Herbin 32
137 Ruixin Liu 32
140 Kris Tamulis 31
140 Tiffany Chan 31
142 Mind Muangkhumsakul 29
143 Julieta Granada 28
144 Esther Henseleit 27
145 Sandra Gal 26
145 Mariajo Uribe 26
147 In Kyung Kim 22
147 Aditi Ashok 22
149 Linnea Johansson 21
150 Karine Icher 20
150 Mo Martin 20
152 Louise Ridderstrom 18
152 Youngin Chun 18
154 Ryann O’Toole 17
155 Ayako Uehara 16
155 Cheyenne Woods 16
155 Wei-Ling Hsu 16
158 Nuria Iturrioz 15
158 Catriona Matthew 15
160 Becky Morgan 13
161 Lauren Coughlin 11
162 Sakura Yokomine 8
162 Muni He 8
164 Clariss Guce 7
164 Katelyn Dambaugh 7
166 Marissa Steen 4
167 Daniela Darquea 3
168 Maia Schechter 2
168 Sarah Jane Smith 2
170 Na Yeon Choi 1
170 Juli Inkster 1
170 Beatriz Recari 1
170 Laetitia Beck 1
170 Giulia Molinaro 1