The 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai kickstarts the Tour’s second chapter of the Asian Swing. The fourth edition of the tournament offers 500 Race to CME Globe points. Although none of the world’s top three will be in China this week, the field neither lacks strength nor depth. 

A handful of former major winners, and this season’s LPGA Tour winners are gearing up to throw a tough challenge to Angle Yin’s title defense. The field includes two of the world’s top ten and four from the top 15. You will spot a few Solheim Cuppers as well. Here are the top five players you should keep an eye on.

Ruoning Yin

The Chinese LPGA pro has netted four top-tens this year including a title. Yin ranks 20th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in SG: Tee-to-green. The only concern seems to be her lack of game time in the last month. This will be her first pro appearance since the AIG Women’s Open in late August.

But then, it should be noted that Yin was T2 at St. Andrews at this year’s Women’s Open. She was two months removed from her last LPGA Tour appearance at the Dow Championship. Yin’s record in her home country isn’t great, however. The 22-year-old tied for 41st last year, and in 2019, she netted a T38.

Rose Zhang

Rose Zhang’s second season at the top tier of women’s professional golf has yielded four top tens and one victory. The Solheim Cup champion’s only concern will be her recent form in individual stroke play tournaments. She hasn’t broken inside the top 20 since the CPKC Women’s Open. In her last appearance, the Stanford grad leaked 1.11 strokes from her irons. 

However, if the blistering form at the Solheim Cup means anything, Zhang’s name should be inside the top ten at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Zhang ranks 9th in SG: Total (+1.58), and 5th in SG: Approach (+1.08). Last year, the 21-year-old bagged a T26 in China.

Mao Saigo

The 22-year-old Japanese youngster has quietly climbed the LPGA ladder this year. From 22 appearances till now, she has already knocked off six top-tens, including a runner-up finish at the CPKC Women’s Open.  Saigo will travel to China on the back of her T4 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Saigo’s greatest strength has been her iron play. She is 4th best player in the Tour in GIR percentage (74.5%), and 13th in SG: Approach. This will be Saigo’s Buick LPGA Shanghai debut as well. 

Hannah Green

The top-ranked player in the field, Hannah Green, has already won twice this year. The 27-year-old’s key strength is her ever-reliable irons. The one-time major champion has reached 71.7% greens in regulation this year. The Aussie ranks 21st in the Strokes Gained: Approach, and 17th in GIR percentage in the Tour. 

The Australian has, however, been absent from the greens since the FM Championship where she bagged a T10.  This year’s Buicks LPGA Shanghai will be Hannah Green’s debut at Qizhong Garden Golf Club.

Jeeno Thitikul

Just 21 years of age, and already a three-time LPGA Tour winner, Jeeno Thitikul is coming off a red-hot stretch of form. The Thai prodigy has strung together three back-to-back top-ten finishes since late August, climbing up four spots in the Rolex World Ranking. 

Thitikul’s lone victory came at the Dow Championship, teaming up with Ruoning Yin. The world no.10 is the third-best player in terms of SG: Total (+2.09) LPGA Tour. She has reached 75.7% greens in regulation this season. The 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai will be her debut at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club.

Aside from these five, Patty Tavatanakit, Hye-Jin Choi, and the Jutanugarn sisters are also traveling to the Minhang district this week. USA’s Alison Lee will also tee off after the Solheim Cup triumph. Whereas, Danielle Kang also booked a spot on a sponsor exemption. The $2.1M purse Buick LPGA Shanghai begins on Thursday. Golf Channel will broadcast all four rounds from 11 PM – 4 AM (ET).