LPGA embarks on 4 week Asian swing without world's No. 1 player

The LPGA is about to begin its fall Asian swing with four straight weeks of action in four different countries. That also means no U.S. tournaments for a month, and, no appearances from the world's No. 1 player over that stretch. With the 2026 calendar reaching mid-October, there are only six more e

What is the story about?

The LPGA is about to begin its fall Asian swing with four straight weeks of action in four different countries. That also means no U.S. tournaments for a month, and, no appearances from the world's No. 1 player over that stretch.

With the 2026 calendar reaching mid-October, there are only six more events in all for the LPGA this season. Here's a look at the next month.

Jeeno Thitikul hits a tee shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai 2025 at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

2026 LPGA fall swing tournaments

Oct. 15-18: Buick LPGA Shanghai, China. Defending champion: Jeeno Thitikul.
Oct. 22-25: BMW Ladies Championship, Korea. Defending champion: Sei Young Kim.
Oct. 29-Nov. 1: Maybank Championship, Malaysia. Defending champion: Miyu Yamashita.
Nov. 5-8: Toto Japan Classic, Japan. Defending champion: Nasa Hataoka.

When does the LPGA return to the U.S.?

The final two touraments of 2026 will be in the U.S. In fact, both are in Florida.

Nov. 12-15: The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Belleair, Florida. Defending champion: Linn Grant.
Nov. 19-22: CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Florida. Defending champion: Jeeno Thitikul.

When we fans see Nelly Korda next?

Korda, ranked No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, is skipping the fall Asian swing. We last saw her in the Solheim Cup in September. She chose not play the Lotte in Hawaii and an LPGA official confirmed she did not enter any of the four events in Asia. Those fields are closed.

In addition, while Korda leds

the Vare Trophy race for low scoring (69.38), she won't be eligible for the award because she won't have enough rounds played in 2026. But it's not that uncommon for the tour's leading scorer to not win the Vare Trophy. In fact, it's happened seven times since 1992: Nancy Lopez, 1993; Laura Davies, 1996; Annika Sorenstam 2003, 2004; Sei Young Kim, 2020; Korda, 2021; Jeeno Thitikul, 2024.

Category leaders are as of Oct. 14, 2026.

Go to Golfweek.com for the latest LPGA news.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA embarks on 4 week Asian swing without world's No. 1 player