Lone LPGA tournament in Korea to return to southern course for 2026

Kim Sei-young poses with the trophy after winning the BMW Ladies Championship at Pine Beach Golf Links, Haenam, South Jeolla Province, Oct. 19. AP-Yonhap

The LPGA Tour will return to the southern coast of Korea for its only tournament in the country next fall.

The LPGA released its 2026 schedule on Wednesday (U.S. local time), with 33 tournaments offering a record purse of $132 million.

And for the second consecutive year, the BMW Ladies Championship will be played at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, from October 22 to 25. It will have a purse of $2.35 million, up from $2.3 million this year.

Kim Sei-young won this year's tournament to become the first Korean champion of the event since Ko Jin-young in 2021.

The LPGA and BMW Korea have been taking the tournament around the country since the southeastern city of Busan hosted the first two editions in 2019 and 2021 — with the 2020 event canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 tournament was held in the eastern town of Wonju, and the city of Paju in Gyeonggi Province, hosted the next two editions.

Designed by Gary Roger Baird and Davie Dale, Pine Beach Golf Links features several greens and tee boxes sitting along the beach and atop seaside cliffs. It has long been regarded as one of the best courses in Korea thanks to its scenic backdrop and challenges it presents with sloping fairways and intimidating bunkers.

Earlier this year, BMW Korea extended its partnership with the LPGA to host its namesake tournament in Korea through 2029.