The 2026 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour embarks on an eight-month campaign with the largest prize pool in its history.
According to the KLPGA on March 9, this year's tour will feature 31 tournaments with total prize money reaching a record 34.7 billion won ($24 million).
The season opens March 12 with the Rejuran Championship (1.2 billion won purse) at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, and concludes November 8 with the Daebo Housedy Championship (1 billion won purse) at Seowon Hills Country Club in Paju. Players will compete in tournaments nearly every week for eight months.
Total prize money has increased 64% from 2016. The average purse per tournament now stands at approximately 1.12 billion won. In 2016, money leader Park Sung-hyun earned about 1.33 billion won with seven victories. Last year's money leader Hong Jung-min surpassed 1.34 billion won with just three wins, reflecting the tour's growing popularity.
Fan favorites Hwang Yu-min and Lee Dong-eun, both known for their powerful drives, have departed for the LPGA Tour. Yet the KLPGA consistently produces new stars, keeping fans excited about this season's storylines.
The spotlight falls on the "Big Six": Yoo Hyun-jo (21), Hong Jung-min, Bang Shin-sil (22), Noh Seung-hee (25), Park Hyun-kyung (26), and Lee Ye-won (23).
Yoo claimed last year's Player of the Year award with remarkable consistency, finishing in the top 10 across 19 tournaments. Following her rookie-year Rookie of the Year title and second-year Player of the Year and lowest stroke average honors, expectations run high for her third season. During winter training, she focused on developing various shot shapes, setting "versatility" as her keyword for the year.
Hong targets a second consecutive money title. Big hitter Bang seeks her first major championship victory. All three shared last year's wins title with three victories each and now aim for the sole wins title.
Lee Ye-won, with three wins in each of the past three seasons, needs just one more victory to reach the career 10-win milestone. Noh, who finished second in last year's money list with one win and five runner-up finishes, aims to convert more near-misses into victories. Park Hyun-kyung, now in her eighth season with eight career wins, also eyes the 10-win mark.
Kim Min-sol (20), who won twice on the regular tour last year but fell short of Rookie of the Year eligibility due to insufficient tournament appearances, appears the natural favorite for this year's award. However, Yang Hyo-jin (19) has emerged as a challenger. Yang, who topped the qualifying rankings, declared: "Since other rookies are all targeting one win in their first year, I'm setting my goal at two."
Several records could fall this season. Park Min-ji (28), with 19 career wins, needs just one more victory to tie the tour's all-time wins record of 20, held by the late Ku Ok-hee and Shin Ji-ae.
Another storyline to watch: whether anyone will break Park Min-ji's single-season earnings record of 1.52 billion won, set in 2021. An Song-yi, 36, who holds the record for most cuts made at 291, is approaching the historic milestone of 300.