SEOUL/KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese Yuri Yoshida overcame a four-stroke deficit entering the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship to record a one-shot victory on Sunday in Haenam-gun, South Korea.
Yoshida recorded an eagle on the par-5 second hole and three straight birdies on Nos. 5-7 to highlight a 4-under-par 68 on Sunday at Pine Beach Golf Links. She finished the tournament at 17-under 271 to capture her first LPGA Tour victory and pocket a first-prize check of $352,500.
"It's a special moment for me, and actually, I was nervous," Yoshida said. "But at this moment, I'm really happy."
Yoshida, 26, became the fourth player from Japan to win this season and the fourth first-time winner on the LPGA Tour.
And she will be among the stars as the LPGA swings for the Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) beginning on Thursday (Oct 29). This is the third of four events on the fall Asian swing, as the tournament moves on to Japan next week.
A host of Major champions, LPGA Tour winners and South-East Asia’s emerging talents will also converge at the meet, and with a US$3mil (RM12.3mil) prize purse, the competition for the coveted Tiger Trophy has never been more intense.
Among them is also defending champion and Major winner Miyu Yamashita of Japan, who has become one of the most in-form players this season, highlighted by a dominant nine-stroke victory at the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada in August, and a playoff win at the Sony JLPGA Championship in Japan in September.
Besides the Japanese duo, South Koreans Hye-Jin Choi and World No. 3 Haeran Ryu (73), will also lead the charge for honours after finishing second and third, respectively, at the BMW Championships.
The spotlight will also firmly be turned on Korean ace Ryu, who is among the stars of the LPGA Tour this year, having won successive Major victories in 2026 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Yin Ruoning of China, the 2024 Maybank Championship winner and a Major champion, will also return to Malaysia in winning mode, having triumphed at the FM Championship in August.
Other fan favourites who have signed up include emerging English sensation Lottie Woad and her experienced compatriot Charley Hull, and Japanese twins Akie and Chisato Iwai.
For Malaysian fans, there will be plenty to roar about.
Liyana Durisic qualified through the Asean qualifier recently and is in great form, having already claimed four PGM Tour titles in 2026.
Completing the cast of five golfers to form the local challenge are Mirabel Ting, Genevieve Ling, Natasha Andrea Oon and Kelly Tan.
Mirabel has already sealed her spot in the LPGA Tour and will be looking to keep the momentum going on home turf. -- Reports from AFP/Agenices/LPGA Tour
