Auston Kim – Photo by Max Bechtoldt – Women’s Golf Daily News
The LPGA has finished up its first Asian swing of the year. After three events, we learned a lot about some of the players who will be competing week-in and week-out on the Tour. Here are some of the key takeaways:
- Auston Kim has had superstar potential for her first couple years on the LPGA Tour, but after an excellent Asian swing, it feels like that potential is being accelerated. Kim played in all three events on the Asian swing and finished T18, runner up and T3. Unsurprisingly, she’s been excellent off the tee, but it really feels like her entire game is coming together. Look out for her to stay at the top of leaderboards all year.
- Hannah Green had a fine year in 2025, rounding into good form in the fall for a nice ending to the season. She looks like she is continuing that momentum, grabbing two top-seven finishes and a win in Singapore to get her year started. I would set the expectations high for Green to get back to her 2024 form, where she won three times.
- Jeeno Thitikul is back, and of course, is at the top of the CME Standings. Jeeno’s performance in Singapore was pretty mediocre for her standards, finishing T31 with no rounds in the 60s, but she looked great in an emotional win at home in Thailand.
- For a star of Lydia Ko’s stature, it is interesting how quiet the hype around her has been, considering she’s off to a real nice start after a disappointing 2025. Ko has a bit of an “odd/even” year split, playing great in 2022 and 2024, but struggling a bit in 2023 and 2025. Expect 2026 to continue that pattern.
- Charley Hull only played once on the Asian swing in Singapore, but she continued to prove that she is in some fantastic form. Coming off a win in Saudi on the LET, Hull grabbed a top-10 finish at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. Her run since late Summer 2025 is overshadowed really by Jeeno Thitikul.
- I have been pretty impressed with Youmin Hwang this season in her three starts. She got robbed a bit at the Tournament of Champions, but then turned in back-to-back good showings on the Asian swing, finishing in the top 20 twice. This is a player to really keep an eye on.
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