The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the ultimate tournament within a tournament on the LPGA. There's much at stake for many in this week's 108-player field in Belleair, Florida.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda returns to the LPGA after a two-month break looking to win her fourth title at Pelican and clinch the final point needed to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
While Korda vies for rare air, much of the field is fighting for next year's status. The top 100 in the Race to CME Globe points standings are secure for next season, while the top 60 earn a place in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
This year's CME at Tiburon Golf Club will offer a purse of $11 million and a $4 million winner's check.
Among those on the
bubble for the CME are a host of 2026 Solheim Cup players, including Angel Yin, who missed a good portion of the season with a stomach ailment. Yin is currently 58th on the list. Other players from the U.S. team fighting for a spot include Lindy Duncan (74th), Andrea Lee (77th) and Megan Khang (105th).
On the European side, 2025 Annika champion Linn Grant has her work cut out at 84th. Spanish bomber Julia Lopez Rameriz, who had a T-9 and T-11 on the Asia swing, moved up to 66th. Right behind her in 68th is Nanna Koertz Madsen (68th). Euro rookies Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes are 86th and 104th, respectively.
That's nine out of a possible 24 Solheim Cup players in danger of missing the year-end, no-cut event.
Sitting on the bubble in 60th is LPGA veteran Jodi Ewart Shadoff. Robyn Choi moved down one position to 61st after a T-47 last week in Japan.
Multiple major winners Ariya Jutanugarn (76th), Minjee Lee (79th), Jin Young Ko (93rd) and Lilia Vu (101st) are all well outside the cutoff. Only Ko and Vu are entered in The Annika field.
Lee, a three-time major winner, finished last in Japan over the weekend. Perennially one of the best ball-strikers in the game, Lee ranks 139th in driving accuracy and 135th in greens in regulation. Her scoring average over the last six events is 74.78.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf. Follow her on X/Twitter (@GolfweekNichols).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA Tour Championship bubble watch includes 9 (!) 2026 Solheim Cup players
