The Buick LPGA Shanghai hasn’t started yet, and there’s already cause for concern. Photos of two of the greens at Qizhong Garden Golf Club reveal rather shocking conditions this week for the best players in the world.
Two-time LPGA winner Leona Maguire posted a close-up of the 18th green to her Instagram Story.
Matthew Galloway, former LPGA caddie and co-host of Fried Egg’s Mixed Bag podcast, posted this view of the seventh.
When reached for comment about the condition of the greens for this week’s event, the LPGA provided Golfweek the following statement:
We are aware of the course conditions at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. The golf course superintendent, tournament team and the LPGA rules officials have worked diligently against extreme heat conditions this season in preparation for this week’s event. We will continue to monitor the situation and care for the course appropriately throughout the week.
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 to 2022 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
China’s Ruoning Yin won last year’s Buick Shanghai by six strokes and returns to action this week after a two-month break from the tour. This year’s field of 82 players is highlighted by four top-10 players, including No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, Minjee Lee (No. 4), Miyu Yamashita (No. 6), Yin (No. 7) and 2023 champion Angel Yin (No. 10).
Several tennis players have retired from competition at the Shanghai Masters this week due to extreme heat.
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