With the 2024 Lotte Championship nearing its end, the LPGA Tour season is down to the final two tournaments before it wraps up. This year’s Lotte Championship brought some exciting changes. The purse saw a big boost, increasing from last year’s $2 million to a hefty $3 million. The event also got a schedule makeover—last year, it took place in April, but this time, it teed off on November 6.

Back in 2023, the Australian rookie, Grace Kim, fought her way through a tense playoff against Yu Jin Sung and Yu Liu to claim her first big win. This year, the competition is just as fierce, with the runner-up now earning nearly as much as last year’s champion—$282,976, per Golf Monthly.

The excitement is palpable, with previous tournament veterans in the mix, including two-time Lotte Championship winner Brooke Henderson. The stakes are high, and the prize money only adds to the intensity. The winner will take home a staggering $450,000, along with a coveted spot at the CME Group Tour Championship. 

Let’s see the prize money breakdown for the 2024 Lotte Championship.

While not everyone will clinch that top spot, many players are aiming for the crucial Race to CME Globe points to secure their place in the Florida finale, where an $11 million purse awaits. With only the top 60 in the Race to CME Globe standings making it to the ultimate showdown, 500 valuable points are on the stake this weekend on the line for the winner. The pressure is really on.

Who may claim the 2024 Lotte Championship Trophy?

With 120 players teeing off at Hoakalei Country Club, it’s tough to say who’ll snag the trophy this year. Still, a few recent standouts could be on the brink of victory. Grace Kim, last year’s champ, is back to defend her title, and she’s not one to count out. After 2 days, she sits at T9 with a score of 8 under. Then there’s Jin Young Ko, former No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. She’s coming off a strong showing at the TOTO Japan Classic where she shot an impressive 7-under 65 in the first round—her lowest score of the season. As of now, she sits at T4 with a score of 10 under. JY Ko is tied with Auston Kim and Yuri Yoshida.

With a score of 14 under as she goes to the final day, Kim A-lim is leading the tournament. Russian pro, Nataliya Guseva is just a stroked behind her, and Ryann O’Toole has 11 under in her bag after two rounds. Talking of field veterans how can we not mention formidable Brooke Henderson, who has not had a winless year on the LPGA Tour since 2020? She sits at T30, so her winning chances are bleak. Joining the field is the 2022 champion, Hyo Joo Kim who sits at T11 with 7 under.

Who do you think will take the trophy home this time? Let us know in the comments!