The CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida is known for its lack of Sunday upsets, with only one winner, Lydia Ko in 2014, coming from behind to claim the title. Every other winner of the tournament has held at least a share of the lead heading into Sunday. However, this year is slightly different as no overnight leader has the $4 million paycheck on their mind, making it uncharted territory for the women’s game.
Lydia Ko, a two-time winner of the CME, stated that the money is not her main focus this week. She is aiming to finish the season on a high note, currently sitting at 8 under for the tournament and seven strokes behind leaders Angel Yin and Jeeno Thitikul, who shot a 9-under 63 to top the leaderboard at 15 under.
The record for single-season earnings on the LPGA tour currently stands at $4,364,994, held by Lorena Ochoa in 2007 after winning eight times. Ko expressed her excitement about the opportunities provided by Terry Duffy, the person behind the record-breaking purse for women’s golf, and hopes to see women’s golf continue to grow for future generations.
There are five players within five shots of the lead heading into the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship. Ruoning Yin is at 12 under, followed by Charley Hull and Narin An at 11 under, and Lucy Li and Nataliya Guseva at 10 under. The competition is tight, and any of these players could potentially make a move to claim the title.
Despite the history of Sunday leads holding on to win at the CME Group Tour Championship, there is excitement and anticipation about the potential for a shake-up in the final round. With a large purse on the line and a talented field of contenders, anything can happen in the world of women’s professional golf.
As the tournament reaches its conclusion, fans and players alike are on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the CME Group Tour Championship. With multiple players in contention and a record-breaking purse at stake, the final round promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the LPGA season.
