Articles by Jill Painter Lopez

November 24th, 2025

Nelly Korda heads this list of the 10 most memorable seasons on the LPGA

The LPGA Tour concluded its 75th season on Sunday, and World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul finished with a bang, winning the CME Tour Group Championship for the second consecutive season. Thitikul highlights a group of players with interesting seasons, the great, the good, the bad and the ugly. This isn’t a list of the top Read more…

November 23rd, 2025

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul can win $4 million and surpass a legend’s vaunted record on Sunday

Jeeno Thitikul can set all sorts of records Sunday, but the most profound would be breaking Annika Sorenstam’s single-season scoring mark. If anything speaks to the kind of year World No. 1 Thitikul has had, it’s that. Heading into the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla., with a six-shot lead, Read more…

November 20th, 2025

After 7 wins a year ago, Nelly Korda has one last chance to win her first this year

It’s almost unfathomable that Korda – ranked second in the world – has yet to win after a seven-victory season where she tied a record for winning five straight.

November 20th, 2025

Everything you need to know about the LPGA’s season finale with $4 million on the line

NAPLES, Fla. — The CME Group Tour Championship finale is here and if any one word describes this LPGA season, it’s parity. There have been a record 29 different winners this season. World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and World No. 3 Miyu Yamashita are the lone players to win multiple times. Thitikul won the Mizuho Read more…

November 20th, 2025

Five things we learned from the new LPGA commissioner’s first state-of-the-tour address

Craig Kessler is four months into his new job as LPGA commissioner and already he’s done much to embolden the tour, players, TV partners, title sponsors and more.

November 20th, 2025

The LPGA Tour released its 2026 schedule: Here’s what you need to know

The LPGA released its 2026 schedule on Wednesday, the tour announcing it will hold 33 tournaments for a record $US132 million in prizemoney payouts.

November 19th, 2025

Jeeno Thitikul has earned her No. 1 ranking, but knows the work is not done to stay there

NAPLES, Fla. — Jeeno Thitikul has been the top-ranked women’s golfer in the world since August and is perhaps the best at consistently putting herself into contention to win on the LPGA Tour. And still, golf is a sport that can humble even the best players in the world. That’s how the 22-year-old from Thailand Read more…

November 19th, 2025

Lydia Ko once had to chase down her puppy because she feared he’d be eaten by (yikes!) alligators

[Photo: Luke Walker] Women’s world No.5 Lydia Ko has enough to worry about when preparing for a golf tournament, but her dog, Kai, is no longer one of them because she’s had her household pet undergo extensive training. Her dog Kai, a Shiba Inu who is almost 2 years old, has benefited from training. And Read more…

November 19th, 2025

LPGA Tour TV coverage is getting a major upgrade in 2026

NAPLES, Fla. — LPGA Tour broadcasts are getting some-much needed enhancements aimed at improving the viewer experience, something the players themselves have been asking for. On Tuesday, the tour announced that it had formed a partnership with Golf Channel, FM and Trackman to add live coverage, state-of-the-art technology equipment, content, cameras and more for all Read more…

November 18th, 2025

This LPGA player had the most inspriring speech about perseverance at Rolex Awards dinner

NAPLES, Fla. — So many times, golf has given Lindy Duncan every reason to quit. Her career has been anything but easy, from taking five tries to earn her LPGA Tour card, to losing it and regaining it, and losing sponsors, to pondering another career. She’s been through it all. The 34-year-old Duncan found the Read more…

November 18th, 2025

Lost in the LPGA’s season-long parity is a confounding American win drought

NAPLES, Fla. — The LPGA has seen an emergence of talented rookies and international players winning this season. So far, there are 29 different event champions heading into this week’s CME Tour Championship. But one thing that’s been lost in all the parity on tour is the drought American players have experienced. With only three Read more…

November 15th, 2025

LPGA set to move its major Chevron Championship to Houston municipal course in 2026, per report

The tournament will switch in 2026 from The Club at Carlton Woods outside Houston across the city to Memorial Park Golf Course, where the PGA Tour holds its Texas Children’s Houston Open in March.

November 12th, 2025

Teenager Kai Trump heads into LPGA start with advice from Tiger Woods and the US president

Kai Trump is teeing it up in her first LPGA event this week and undoubtedly got pre-tournament advice from the most unique mentors of any amateur golfer.

November 3rd, 2025

Miyu Yamashita dazzles in Malaysia, storms from 8 behind then beats Hannah Green and Hye-Jin Choi in playoff

The Women’s Open champion won for the second time this season on the LPGA Tour, joining world No.1 Jeeno Thitikul as the lone two-time winners this year.

October 26th, 2025

Australia rallies to get into semifinals and finals, then tops Americans to capture International Crown

World No. 3 Minjee Lee played like the star she is, and Hannah Green won the clinching point to power Australia to a 2 ½ to victory in the championship of the Hanwha LifePlus International Crown team event on Sunday. Good on Australia. Lee led by example and went 2-0 in singles matches on Sunday Read more…

October 23rd, 2025

With loads of young talent, Japan is a rising power on the LPGA

Five Japanese golfers have won on the LPGA Tour this season, a contingent of immensely talented young players who entered the tour with a big splash this season.

October 20th, 2025

Sei Young Kim thrills crowds in her native South Korea, captures first victory in 5 years

Sei Young Kim went wire-to-wire for her first LPGA victory in five years, but it wasn’t without plenty of nerves.

October 17th, 2025

Caitlin Clark set to play again in The Annika pro-am after thrilling players and fans last year

Caitlin Clark’s introduction to the LPGA Tour was a giant success, and she’ll return to The Annika again next month. It’s another big get for the LPGA Tour. Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA and is a celebrity wherever she goes, loves golf. She played in The Annika pro-am at Pelican Read more…

October 13th, 2025

World No.1 puts an end to this crazy LPGA streak with incredible comeback win in Shanghai

Jeeno Thitikul made a four-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole to win the Buick LPGA Shanghai and end a crazy LPGA streak by becoming the LPGA Tour’s first multiple winner in 2025.

October 9th, 2025

LPGA tournament’s greens looking ROUGH because of Shanghai heat

The LPGA’s month-long Asia swing is getting off to an unfortunate start as the greens at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai appear to be in bad shape.

October 5th, 2025

Non-tour member keeps alive LPGA’s streak of no repeat winners this season

Youmin Hwang made LPGA history, becoming the 26th different player to win an event this season, tying the LPGA record.

September 21st, 2025

With two Aussies two shots off lead, Arkansas weather delays put LPGA event in tough spot

It’s unclear how much golf the LPGA Tour will get in Sunday (Monday AEST) at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship due to an inordinate amount of rain and soggy golf course conditions. And that means the usual 54-hole event could become just 36 holes.