Extreme heat has taken its toll on the greens at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Even so, plenty of players managed to go low in Round 1 at Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol opened with an 8-under 64, carding one of a dozen bogey-free rounds on Thursday to take a one-shot lead.
“It feels like unbelievable for me,” said Yubol, who had her dad on the bag. “I mean, like the best round for my whole year and with the hard green, hard position.”
Five players carded 65s, including world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 4 Minjee Lee.
Thitikul started off bogey, double-bogey on the first two holes and then rattled off 10 birdies.
“I just told myself, it’s, OK, whatever, don’t take it like personal because it’s like two holes,” said Thitikul, who returned to action this week for the first time since a devastating four-putt on the 72nd hole cost her the title at the Kroger Queen City Championship nearly one month ago.
Thitikul played alongside good friend Ruoning Yin, who returns from a two-month break from the tour to defend her title on home soil. China’s Yin took part in other sports to get her mind off of golf during the break, including rock climbing, basketball and cycling. She opened with a 71.
“It’s my first day back to the office, so definitely a lot – I have a lot of things that need to be improved,” said Yin.
“But I just think golf is just is a game that you need to be humble with, so I do think my swing and everything else feels good. I just need to pick up my mind a little bit.”
As for the greens, the tour told Golfweek that “the golf course superintendent, tournament team and LPGA rules officials have worked diligently against extreme heat conditions this season in preparation for this week’s event.”
All 18 greens have been impacted.
Several tennis players retired from competition at the Shanghai Masters this week due to soaring temperatures and suffocating humidity.
Two-time winner Leona Maguire posted a a close-up of the 18th to her Instagram Story.
Qizhong Garden Golf Club was founded in 1995 and renovated in 2013 by Dana Fry in collaboration with local designer Jun Lu. The Buick Shanghai debuted at Qizhong in 2018. Danielle Kang won the first two editions of the event, which was canceled from 2020-22 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
When LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler gave players a first look at the 2026 tour schedule, the Buick LPGA Shanghai was not listed. Instead, there was a placeholder that said “New Asia Event.”
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