SHANGHAI (Azat TV) – South Korean golfer Hye-Jin Choi seized control of the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Thursday, carding an impressive 8-under 64 to establish a comfortable three-stroke cushion after the opening 18 holes of play. According to TSN, Choi’s flawless round was anchored by a blistering surge of four consecutive birdies on her final nine holes, propelling her to the top of the leaderboard as she chases her maiden title on the LPGA Tour.
Chasing History and Breaking Through in Shanghai
While Choi has established herself as a dominant force with 12 professional victories in her native South Korea, an elusive first win on the global LPGA circuit remains her primary career objective. Thursday’s opening round performance at Sheshan Golf Club puts her in prime position to break that barrier. Her momentum heading into the back nine proved decisive, allowing her to separate from a packed international field competing in the tournament’s sixth iteration.
Behind Choi, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda sits alone in second place following a solid opening-round 67. Ciganda kept pace during the early stages but enters Friday’s second round facing a three-stroke deficit against the surging South Korean leader. The competitive separation achieved by Choi on the back nine highlights the demanding scoring conditions and the premium placed on executing precise approach shots under pressure at the venue.
Defending Champion Positioned and Asian Swing Dynamics
Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul opened her title defense with a 3-under 69, placing her in a tie for seventh place. As reported by Sportsnet, Thitikul is coming off a strong victory at the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii earlier in the month, marking her fourth LPGA win of the season and the eleventh of her professional career. Thitikul famously triumphed in a dramatic five-hole playoff over Minami Katsu during the 2025 edition of the Shanghai event.
The 2026 tournament marks a notable venue change, relocating to Sheshan Golf Club for the first time. The course carries significant prestige, having previously hosted the HSBC Champions tournament on eleven occasions when it operated as a World Golf Championship fixture. This championship pedigree presents unique architectural challenges that require elite ball-striking and careful course management from the entire field.
The Stakes of the Late-Season Asian Swing
The Buick LPGA Shanghai serves as the critical curtain-raiser for the LPGA Tour’s high-stakes, four-stop late-season Asian Swing. Following the conclusion of play in China, the tour will travel over the next three weeks for successive stops in South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. With valuable points, ranking implications, and lucrative purses on the line, players opening their swing in Shanghai are managing demanding travel schedules and adjusting quickly to new course layouts like Sheshan Golf Club.
As the tournament progresses past the opening day, the focus shifts to whether Choi can maintain her exceptional rhythm or if chasers like Ciganda and defending champion Thitikul can mount a charge during the middle rounds. With 54 holes remaining, the margin for error remains narrow across the elite international roster.